Gujarat Titans captain Shubman Gill has been fined Rs 24 lakh for maintaining slow over rate during the IPL match against Chennai Super Kings. It was his side’s second over rate offence of the season, and subsequently rest of the playing 11 members, including the Impact Player, were individually fined either Rs 6 lakh or 25 per cent of their respective match fees, whichever is lesser. On Friday, GT defeated defending champions CSK by 35 runs to stay alive in the IPL.
Gill and B Sai Sudharsan made hundreds in GT’s total of 231 for three before restricting CSK to 196 for eight.
The Titans are now eighth on the points table with 10 points from 12 matches, and CSK held on to their fourth place despite the defeat with 12 points from as many games.
Gill, who scored 104 off 55 balls, shared a 210-run opening stand with fellow centurion B Sai Sudharsan (103 off 51 balls) in Gujarat’s total of 231 for 3 which could have easily breached the 260-run mark.
In the end, CSK scored 196 and Gujarat’s NRR of improved to -1.063. They have 10 points from 12 games with maximum chance of getting up to 14, which might not be enough for play-off qualification.
“Honestly at one point 250 was for the taking and we fell short. In the last two-three overs they bowled well. I thought we were 10-15 short, not in terms of the match but in terms of net run rate,” Gill said at post-match presentation ceremony.
He left the field early during CSK chase as Rahul Tewatia led the side but he assured one and all that it was mere cramps.
“It’s just a cramp, nothing more.” About his 210 run opening stand with Sudharsan, Gill said that he loved the freedom with which they executed their shots. Gill hit six maximums while Sudharsan had one more to his credit.
“Loved the freeness of it (partnership with Sudharsan), we didn’t have targets in mind, we maximized every over and opportunity in front of us. We have a good camaraderie between us, we run the twos, we understand each other well. In terms of numbers, definitely it is [our best opening partnerships].”
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