IPL 2025: Gujarat Titans Captain Shubman Gill Emphasizes the Importance of Optimizing the Powerplay | Cricket News

### IPL 2025: Gujarat Titans Commandant Shubman Gill Aims to “Maximize the Powerplay”

Gujarat Titans (GT) captain Shubman Gill has articulated a clear strategy for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) campaign, emphasizing the importance of maximizing the powerplay phase. This tactical focus stems from a retrospective assessment of last season, where GT’s suboptimal performance during the initial overs contributed significantly to their failure to progress to the playoffs, despite two stellar prior seasons.

GT is set to commence their IPL journey against Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the Narendra Modi Stadium on March 25. Reflecting on last year’s performance, the team recorded the lowest powerplay run rate at 7.72, with Gill himself striking at 131.08. Partner Sai Sudharsan lagged further with a strike rate of 115.49 among those accumulating over 150 runs during the powerplay. From a history of reaching consecutive finals and securing a title, GT concluded the last season eighth with merely five victories out of twelve matches. As the team prepares for this season, Gill aspires to establish a solid foundation for substantial scores with the bat.

In a pre-tournament press conference quoted by ESPNCricinfo, Gill stated, “We intend to score heavily while preserving wickets. Our performance in the powerplay and subsequent phases was lacking in the previous season, which reflected in our inability to qualify for the playoffs. My role as a batsman involves optimizing performance during the powerplay, which I aim to do by rectifying past errors.”

The previous IPL season was marked by several high-scoring instances with eight totals exceeding 250 runs, with teams often capitalizing on powerplays. However, Gill highlights that GT’s approach will adapt to the match conditions, rather than pursuing an arbitrary 300-run target. “Depending on conditions, scoring 240, 250, or 260 runs might be achievable, but there can be instances where a target of 150 or 160 is more suitable. The essence of a great team lies in its adaptability to varied conditions and arising challenges,” he explained.

Having taken the reins as captain for the first time with Gujarat Titans in IPL 2024, following limited captaincy stints with Punjab and international experience with India T20Is, Gill acknowledges the journey of growth in this leadership role. “The experience with GT, alongside guidance from Ashish [Nehra] and Vikram [Solanki], has been invaluable. Leadership offers numerous learning opportunities about the team and oneself, necessitating personal development to excel as a captain,” Gill reflected.

Gill’s tenure as captain comes on the back of a breakthrough 2023 IPL season, where he accumulated 890 runs, garnishing his tally with three centuries and four half-centuries. Despite a promising start last year, his performance regressed towards the season’s close. Addressing this, Gill emphasizes maintaining a distinction between his dual roles of batting and captaincy. “It’s pivotal to treat batting and captaincy separately for optimal results. When batting, my focus remains solely on performing as a batsman, reserving captaincy duties for other times,” Gill elaborated.

Anticipating a rejuvenated season, Gill expresses confidence in his team’s prospects, supported by an impressive track record of 28 victories over the past three seasons—the highest amongst all teams. “Our consistent performance over recent years positions us strongly. We don’t need drastic changes, but should continue the successful cricket we have been playing,” he concluded.

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