Gujarat Titans beat Kolkata Knight Riders by 5 wickets with two balls remaining in Indian Premier League Match 25, with Shubman Gill producing a match-winning 86 off 50 balls. In a chase of 181, Gill’s controlled aggression and support from the top order carried GT to 181/5 in 19.4 overs and extended their strong early-season run.
This was another important result in a fast-moving IPL campaign that had already seen GT win Match 14 by 1 run and Match 19 by 7 wickets, while KKR arrived needing a response after a mixed start to the season. Match 25 does not decide anything in a league stage spread across 70 matches, but it strengthens Gujarat’s position as the tournament moves deeper into its first half. Next up in the competition are Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Delhi Capitals and Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Chennai Super Kings on Saturday, April 18.
KKR post 180 thanks to Green’s 79
Kolkata’s 180 all out looked competitive rather than imposing, and that was largely because Cameron Green held the innings together with 79 from 55 balls, striking seven fours and four sixes. KKR lost Ajinkya Rahane first ball, dismissed for 0, and Angkrish Raghuvanshi’s brisk 8 off 4 was also short-lived, leaving them in need of repair work.
Tim Seifert made 19 from 14 at the top, but the innings was rebuilt by Green, who combined power with enough calm to keep KKR moving through the middle overs. Rovman Powell added a useful 27 off 20, while Ramandeep Singh’s 17 off 8 gave the finish some punch. But there were also stumbles that prevented Kolkata from turning 180 into something bigger: Anukul Roy made 9 off 7, Rinku Singh fell for 1 off 2, Sunil Narine scratched around for 0 off 5, and Vaibhav Arora was out for 0 off 1.
GT’s bowlers shared the damage effectively. Kagiso Rabada was the standout wicket-taker with 3/29 from 4 overs, striking at key moments to disrupt KKR’s push. Mohammed Siraj set the tone with 2/23 in a disciplined spell, while Ashok Sharma took 2/45 despite an expensive outing. Prasidh Krishna claimed 1/32 and Rashid Khan finished with 1/44.
Gill headlines a chase full of intent
Gujarat’s reply began at the tempo the target demanded. Sai Sudharsan continued his excellent tournament with 22 off 16 balls, including two sixes, before Gill took command. The GT captain was at his best, making 86 from 50 deliveries at a strike rate of 172.0, and his innings featured eight fours and four sixes. It was the defining knock of the match and another major addition to an already outstanding campaign.
Jos Buttler ensured KKR could not settle, hitting 25 off 15 with two fours and two sixes. The early momentum meant Gujarat were always close to the required rate, even as Kolkata found wickets through the middle overs. Washington Sundar made 13 off 13, Glenn Phillips added 19 off 16, Rahul Tewatia chipped in with 7 off 6, and M Shahrukh Khan’s 3 off 2 helped close it out.
The chase was not without tension. Varun Chakravarthy kept KKR in the contest with 2/34 from his 4 overs, while Sunil Narine returned 1/28 in another tidy spell. Vaibhav Arora had 1/35, and Ramandeep Singh struck in his brief 0.4-over burst. But KKR could not quite land the decisive blow once Gill had laid the platform, and GT got home at 181/5 with two balls to spare.
Match-turning moments
The first swing came in the powerplay of KKR’s innings when Rahane was dismissed for 0 and Raghuvanshi for 8, forcing Green to rebuild earlier than Kolkata would have liked. The second came when Rabada’s 3/29 cut into KKR’s middle and lower order just as they looked set for a total beyond 190.
In the chase, the combination of Sudharsan’s brisk start, Buttler’s 25 off 15 and Gill’s commanding 86 ensured Gujarat were rarely forced into panic. Even when wickets fell and the equation tightened late, GT had enough batting left to hold their nerve.
Key performers
- Shubman Gill (GT): 86 off 50 balls, 8 fours and 4 sixes
- Cameron Green (KKR): 79 off 55 balls, 7 fours and 4 sixes
- Kagiso Rabada (GT): 3/29 from 4 overs
- Mohammed Siraj (GT): 2/23 from 4 overs
- Varun Chakravarthy (KKR): 2/34 from 4 overs
NerdSports Stat: Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan began the night already among the IPL 2026 run leaders, and after scores of 86 and 22 they moved GT’s opening pair to a combined 864 runs for the season.
Frequently Asked Questions
Gujarat Titans won the match by 5 wickets with 2 balls remaining.
Shubman Gill was named Player of the Match for his 86 off 50 balls in the chase.
This was Match 25 of 70 in the Indian Premier League, and Gujarat Titans strengthened their position in the league stage with another win while the tournament continues on April 18.
Shubman Gill top-scored with 86 off 50 balls.
The next matches in the series are Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Delhi Capitals and Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Chennai Super Kings on Saturday, April 18.
