MI vs GT: Sunil Gavaskar honours Shubman Gill with Player of Match for captaincy-OxBig News Network

Indian legend Sunil Gavaskar adjudged Gujarat Titans captain Shubman Gill the Player of the Match for his all-round impact against Mumbai Indians on May 7 in IPL 2025 – not just for being the top scorer, but for his smart leadership in a rain-marred nail-biter.

Gill was handed the award after GT clinched a three-wicket win via the DLS method, where his 43 off 46 stood out on a challenging Wankhede surface. More importantly, it was his composed reading of the pitch and bowling strategy in the first innings that played a vital role in keeping MI down to just 156.

During the post-match presentation, commentator Harsha Bhogle informed Gill that Sunil Gavaskar, the official adjudicator, picked him as the Player of the Match not only for his batting but also for his shrewd captaincy under pressure.

IPL 2025. MI vs GT: Highlights

“There was a little bit of chaos when we came to bat after the break. But it was good to get this result. The game plans were different when we were batting in the powerplay when there was some rain. It felt like a Test match and we thought of playing normal cricket. The rain kept coming and it was not easy to come back in and play,” Shubman Gill said.

“Lot of emotions. Most of them were frustrating because at one stage, we were ahead of the game. But one of those phases of play when we lost four wickets. Felt like a Test match. But we got one more chance and we got across the line,” he added.

In a match interrupted twice by rain, Gill’s tactical blend of spin – using Sai Kishore and a resurgent Rashid Khan – and pace through Prasidh Krishna helped control MI’s middle overs. His calls proved decisive as the visitors failed to build momentum on a track that typically favours batters.

Even during GT’s tense chase, Gill’s partnership with Jos Buttler helped lift the side above the DLS par score after a slow powerplay, triggered by Sai Sudharsan’s early dismissal of MI’s Trent Boult.

Though the final flourish came from Rahul Tewatia and Gerald Coetzee – who chased down the DLS-adjusted 15 runs in the last over – it was Gill’s solid knock and decision-making that laid the foundation for the win.

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