Gill's 43 off 18 powers GT to four-wicket win over RCB in IPL 2026
Synopsis
Shubman Gill's 18-ball blitz set the tone, but it was GT's bowling — led by Arshad Khan's 3 for 22 — that won the day. RCB's 155 proved defensible on a surface where execution mattered; GT's four-wicket margin masks a chase that wobbled in the middle but held firm through Tewatia's finishing touch. This is GT's third straight win this season.
Key Takeaways
Shubman Gill struck 43 off 18 to lead Gujarat Titans to a four-wicket win over RCB in IPL 2026 Match 42 on 1 May .
Arshad Khan took 3 for 22 ; Rashid Khan and Jason Holder picked up two wickets each .
RCB restricted to 155 in 19.2 overs ; Devdutt Padikkal ( 40 ) and Virat Kohli ( 28 ) were the main contributors.
GT chased down 156 , reaching 158/6 in 15.5 overs ; Jos Buttler made 39 , Rahul Tewatia remained unbeaten on 27 .
GT now on 10 points from five matches ; face Punjab Kings on 3 May .
Shubman Gill struck an aggressive 43 off 18 balls to steer Gujarat Titans to a four-wicket victory over Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Match 42 of the Indian Premier League 2026 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on 1 May. Chasing 156, GT reached 158/6 in 15.5 overs, with the captain's explosive Power-play setting the foundation for a composed chase despite middle-order wobbles.
RCB's below-par total
Put in to bat, Royal Challengers Bengaluru were restricted to 155 in 19.2 overs — a total Gill rated as below par on the surface. Arshad Khan led the bowling assault with 3 for 22, while Rashid Khan and Jason Holder each claimed two wickets, starving RCB of momentum despite contributions from Devdutt Padikkal (40) and Virat Kohli (28).
Gill's aggressive intent
"Feels very satisfying. On a wicket like this, restricting them to under 160 was a tremendous job by the bowlers," Gill said post-match. The captain credited his own approach to early momentum-building: "I was just feeling I was in the zone. On the first ball, I got a bit lucky, but on the second ball, I got into my zone. Felt it was my day and wanted to take the bowlers on." His 18-ball blitz included aggressive strokeplay that forced RCB's bowlers onto the back foot.
Buttler and Tewatia steady the ship
Jos Buttler contributed a steadying 39, while Rahul Tewatia remained unbeaten on 27 to seal the chase despite a few middle-order collapses. Gill praised Tewatia's finishing: "He is a very important player, happy he finished the game. We lost a couple more wickets than we would have liked, but he got some nice runs, and everyone got a hit in the middle."
Fielding turnaround
Gill also flagged improvement in the field — an area he acknowledged had been inconsistent through the season. "Our fielding was one of the things in phases; we have not fielded well. Energy in the field was very nice, and how we came back together after the second over was pleasing," he noted, underscoring a holistic team performance.
What's next
With this win, Gujarat Titans now sit on 10 points from five matches and will face Punjab Kings on 3 May.
Point of View
But this was a bowling-led victory. Arshad Khan's 3 for 22 was the real difference; RCB never built momentum despite Kohli and Padikkal's contributions. GT's middle order still looks fragile — they lost wickets in clusters — but Tewatia's composure under pressure and the bowlers' discipline masked that weakness. If GT's batting can stabilise beyond the top three, they could be dangerous in the back half of the season.
NationPress
1 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Shubman Gill perform in GT's win over RCB?
Gill struck an aggressive 43 off just 18 balls in GT's chase, setting the tone with an explosive Power-play. He credited his early momentum to getting into the zone and feeling confident to take on RCB's bowlers.
What was RCB's final score in Match 42?
RCB were restricted to 155 in 19.2 overs after being put in to bat. Arshad Khan took 3 for 22, while Rashid Khan and Jason Holder claimed two wickets each.
Who were the key contributors in GT's successful chase?
Besides Gill's aggressive 43, Jos Buttler contributed 39 and Rahul Tewatia remained unbeaten on 27 to guide GT to 158/6 in 15.5 overs.
How many points does GT have after this win?
GT now sit on 10 points from five matches after this four-wicket victory. They will next face Punjab Kings on 3 May.
What did Gill say about GT's bowling and fielding?
Gill praised the bowling unit for restricting RCB to under 160, calling it 'a tremendous job.' He also highlighted an improvement in fielding energy, an area he admitted had been inconsistent earlier in the season.
