Shubman Gill Says “Don’t Play The Occasion” After GT Enter IPL 2026 Final

Gujarat Titans captain Shubman Gill credited his side’s clarity of mindset and ability to stay detached from pressure after leading his team into the IPL 2026 final with a commanding seven-wicket victory over Rajasthan Royals in Qualifier 2 at Mullanpur on Friday.

Gill, who played a match-winning innings of 104 off 53 balls featuring 15 fours and three sixes, said Gujarat Titans thrive when they avoid overthinking the stakes of high-pressure matches. His century helped chase down Rajasthan Royals’ imposing total and sealed GT’s place in the final, where they will face Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

Speaking after the match, Gill emphasized that the team’s approach has been to treat knockout games like any other fixture. “If you don’t play the occasion it brings the best out of us. Let’s take the occasion out and play some good cricket. Whether we win or lose, we should play good cricket,” he said, highlighting the team’s focus on process over pressure.

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The foundation of Gujarat’s victory was a dominant 167-run opening partnership between Gill and Sai Sudharsan, who scored 58 before being dismissed hit-wicket for the second consecutive game. Gill praised the partnership, noting the strong communication between the duo and their ability to identify and target specific bowlers during the innings.

Gill also reflected on the nature of his own innings, saying he focused on finding gaps and trusting his rhythm rather than forcing big shots. He added that while the team initially believed Rajasthan could be restricted to a lower total, the opposition’s 214/6 made the chase more challenging, though Gujarat still backed themselves to complete it with a strong start.

Rajasthan Royals captain Riyan Parag acknowledged that his team fell short despite a competitive performance, suggesting that a score closer to 230–240 would have been more challenging on the surface. He also praised young batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for his composed 96, describing the innings as calculated rather than purely aggressive.

Parag further reflected on Rajasthan’s campaign, highlighting the emergence of young talent and the team’s unexpected qualification for the playoffs despite an inexperienced squad. He expressed optimism that the exposure gained this season would help the players develop further in future campaigns.

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