Gujarat Titans (GT) captain Shubman Gill claimed the Orange Cap after a match-winning performance against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in IPL 2026. After topping the run charts, the 26-year-old opening batsman downplayed the individual rewards and said his main focus is on winning the title for GT.
Gujarat Titans defeated Kolkata Knight Riders by five wickets at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Friday, April 17. Chasing a target of 181, Gill smashed 86 off 50 balls with the help of eight fours and four sixes, helping the home team win with two balls to spare.
Shubman Gill defeated Virat Kohli to get the Orange Cap in IPL 2026
Shubman Gill started the attack with back-to-back boundaries off Karthik Tyagi and continued his attack against Vaibhav Arora. He scored 34 runs in the powerplay and completed his half-century in just 27 balls.
After the dismissal of Jos Buttler in the 10th over, Gill changed his approach and focused on building the innings. He added 46 runs with Washington Sundar to keep the target steady, before Cameron Green dismissed him with a diving catch at backward point.
Gill’s innings helped him top the run charts with 251 runs. When he was out, Gujarat Titans needed 23 runs from 18 and subsequently won by five wickets with two balls to spare and moved into the top four with six points from five matches.
To be honest, I don’t think it matters – Shubman Gill on Orange Cap
After the match, Shubman Gill said that personal milestones are not his priority. He said that personal achievements like the Orange Cap do not matter to him and his main focus is on winning games, reaching the final and lifting the trophy.
“To be honest, I don’t think it matters. The only thing that matters is winning and obviously, playing the final and winning the cup will be something I’m looking forward to,” Gill said in the post-match presentation.
Fitness was something I worked on – Shubman Gill
Shubman Gill said that he used the time before the tournament to improve his fitness and overall game. He not only worked on his technique but also on understanding situations better and taking better decisions during matches.
“Yes, definitely. I think fitness is something that I got a few months before this. And fitness was something that I worked on. And also, working on the mental aspect of the game and trying to get better, not just technically, but tactically as well.”
“It’s all about, try to stay in the present, try not to think too far ahead or look at your past mistakes. Obviously, you want to learn from them, but you don’t want to dwell on them. And it’s something, it’s a conscious decision every time, you go to bat or go out to the field, your mind takes you to all sorts of places, but it’s important to stay in the present.”
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