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Gujarat Titans defeated Kolkata Knight Riders by five wickets at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. KKR slumped onto their fifth defeat in six games in IPL 2026. For Gujarat Titans, this is their third win on the trot.
KKR's Varun Chakaravarthy (L) and Gujarat Titans' Shahrukh Khan at the end of play after their IPL 2026 match. (PTI)Shubman Gill led Gujarat Titans from the front with an 86, complemented well by new-ball spell from Kagiso Rabada and Mohammed Siraj as the home side registered a commanding five-wicket win over laggards Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) match on Friday.
This was Gujarat Titans' third win on the trot in five matches while KKR's winless streak extended to five matches. KKR are languishing at the bottom with just a point from six games. Opting to bat first on a flat track, KKR once again conceded the powerplay by losing three wickets.
Captain Ajinkya Rahane was the first to fall, dismissed for a golden duck in the opening over by Siraj. Rabada then struck with the ball, producing a lovely outswinger that drew young Angkrish Raghuvanshi into a tentative poke, only to find the edge through to the wicketkeeper.
Tim Seifert, playing his first game of the season, stay was cut short as Rabada deceived him with a short-of-a-length delivery, which the Kiwi slapped straight to his compatriot Glenn Phillips at point.
Cameron Green finally comes to the party
Green, who found it hard to get going in the beginning, weathered the early storm before breaking free in the middle overs, smashing seven fours and four sixes in his 55-ball stay. He stitched together a 55-run stand with Rovman Powell and followed it up with a 60-run stand with Anukul Roy.
Green particularly relished facing Rashid Khan, taking him apart for five boundaries and four sixes but the Afghanistan spinner had him caught behind off the final ball of the innings. Luck, too, favoured him.
The Australian all-rounder survived an early LBW appeal, saw an outside edge fly to the boundary, and was dropped on 62 by Washington Sundar off the very next ball. However, he waged a lone battle as no other KKR batter could survive in the middle for long.
To add to KKR's woes, Green was starved of strike towards the fag end of the innings, watching wickets tumble at the non-striker's end. At the end, it was Green's 79 that powered KKR to 180 all out in 20 overs.
Shubman Gill sets the tone early
In reply, Gill was in complete command and set the tone from the outset, striking three boundaries, including a pristine straight drive, and a six in the first three overs. He then anchored the innings with poise, pacing his knock to perfection. His innings was peppered with eight fours and four sixes.
The two powerplays told the tale of the match. While KKR limped to 37/3, Gill powered Gujarat Titans to a commanding 71/1, seizing early control of the chase. While KKR managed to pick up a few wickets, they were never able to stem the flow of runs or apply sustained pressure.
IPL 2026 points table after GT vs KKR
| 1. | Punjab Kings | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 1.067 |
| 2. | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 1.503 |
| 3. | Rajasthan Royals | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 0.889 |
| 4. | Gujarat Titans | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0.018 |
| 5. | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0.576 |
| 6. | Delhi Capitals | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0.322 |
| 7. | Lucknow Super Giants | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 4 | -0.804 |
| 8. | Chennai Super Kings | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 4 | -0.846 |
| 9. | Mumbai Indians | 5 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 2 | -1.076 |
| 10. | Kolkata Knight Riders | 6 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 1 | -1.149 |
Next, KKR will host Rajasthan Royals at Eden Gardens on April 19 while Gujarat Titans play Mumbai Indians on April 20.
About the Author
Koushik Paul
Koushik lives and breathes sports. After transitioning from his own aspirations of becoming a professional athlete, he successfully channeled that lifelong passion into a prolific career, documenting the action both from the sidelines and the editorial desk. With over eight years of industry experience, Koushik joined LiveMint as a Deputy Chief Content Producer in 2024, following impactful stints at Outlook India, India.com, Sportskeeda, Women’s CricZone, and OrissaPOST. A 2017 Journalism and Mass Communication graduate from Maharaja Manindra Chandra College, Kolkata, Koushik has reported on high-profile events including the FIFA U17 World Cup 2017, Ranji Trophy, FIH Pro League, FIH World League finals, the Indian Premier League, and Lionel Messi’s historic visit to Kolkata in 2025. <br><br> While he possesses a versatile command over all sports, he finds his niche in cricket, specializing in breaking news, long-form interviews, global sporting updates, and high-energy live blogs. Koushik’s professional perspective was further sharpened through the 2020 AIPS Young Reporters Programme, where he gained invaluable insights from renowned international journalists, including Keir Radnedge and Riccardo Romani from the United Kingdom, and Martin Mazur from Argentina. Currently based between Kolkata and Delhi, Koushik remains at the forefront of the breaking developments that shape the public sporting discourse. When he isn't tracking scores or deconstructing plays, he can be found exploring new landscapes on his travels or channeling his creative energy into the kitchen. <br><br> If you have a compelling story to share or know an individual who deserves the spotlight, please reach out via email at <a href="koushik.paul@htdigital.in">koushik.paul@htdigital.in</a>.
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