Shubman Gill produced an elegant 86 as Gujarat Titans held their nerve to beat Kolkata Knight Riders by five wickets in IPL 2026 on Friday. After Kagiso Rabada and Mohammed Siraj delivered a sharp new-ball impact, KKR were left chasing momentum for most of the innings. Cameron Green tried to counter that with a determined 79 off 55, but regular wickets at the other end kept him from turning his effort into a match-winning platform. In reply, Gill’s control during the powerplay and a steady chase from the Titans’ batting order carried them smoothly to the target.
Key takeaways
- Gujarat Titans won by five wickets, with Shubman Gill’s 86 forming the backbone of the chase.
- Kagiso Rabada (3/29) and Mohammed Siraj (2/23) dismantled KKR early to blunt their momentum.
- Cameron Green made 79 off 55, but wickets elsewhere prevented him from building a decisive partnership.
- KKR were reduced to 37 for 3 during the powerplay and never fully recovered from that early setback.
- Gujarat Titans moved up to fourth on the IPL 2026 points table, while KKR remained bottom after the loss.
Rabada and Siraj set the tone with early breakthroughs
Kolkata Knight Riders struggled from the outset as the Titans’ pace duo struck with discipline and movement. Siraj’s new-ball spell started the damage immediately, with Ajinkya Rahane dismissed for a golden duck in the opening over. The early wicket put KKR under pressure at the very start of the innings.
Soon after, Rabada continued to pummel the top order, taking two more wickets. One dismissal came after a sharp outswinger that produced an edge from Angkrish Raghuvanshi, while another saw Tim Seifert removed for a short-of-a-length delivery. Seifert was caught at point by Glenn Phillips, further tightening the net around KKR’s batting group.
By the time the powerplay ended, KKR were reeling at 37 for 3. Even though Green tried to keep the chase alive with a measured approach, the innings never truly regained stability. The Titans maintained regular breakthroughs, ensuring that any momentum KKR attempted to build was interrupted before it could gather pace.
Green’s resistance falls short; Gill takes GT home
Despite the early wickets, KKR found their main source of resistance in Cameron Green. He played a lone, determined hand, scoring 79 off 55 balls with controlled aggression. Green’s innings included strong partnerships, notably with Rovman Powell and Anukul Roy, and it stood out as the most impactful performance of his season.
Green also had a couple of near-misses along the way. He survived an early LBW appeal, watched an edge race away for four, and was dropped on 62 by Washington Sundar. Still, the pressure from the other end meant Green could not assemble a match-defining stand for long.
Eventually, the innings ended with Green falling in the final over to Rashid Khan, sealing KKR’s fate after a tough chase setup. While KKR had the benefit of Green’s resistance, wickets at regular intervals ensured they could not reach a total from which they could threaten Gujarat’s chase.
Gujarat Titans then seized control early in their reply. Gill shaped the chase by dictating proceedings in the powerplay, striking three boundaries and a six within the first three overs. His shot-making included a crisp straight drive that set the tone for how the Titans would build their innings.
Gill followed that early surge with a careful blend of fluency and restraint, keeping the chase on track while wickets fell intermittently. His 86 came with eight fours and four sixes, and the ability to stay ahead of the required rate ensured GT remained in command throughout.
Sai Sudharsan offered early support before Jos Buttler injected quick momentum after arriving at the crease. Buttler struck a boundary and then hit a six soon after, lifting the tempo during a crucial phase of the chase.
Although KKR managed to take wickets in the middle overs, they were unable to create sustained pressure. Gujarat’s batting depth meant there were no major jolts, and the Titans cruised towards the target to secure the win.
Table impact after the match
With this result, Gujarat Titans climbed to fourth place in the IPL 2026 points table. Kolkata Knight Riders, meanwhile, slipped to the bottom position after yet another defeat.
