Shubman Gill’s Back Spasm Mars GT’s Loss to RR Despite His Stunning 84 in IPL 2025
Gujarat Titans (GT) suffered a heavy defeat at the hands of Rajasthan Royals (RR) in their IPL 2025 encounter on Monday night, despite a brilliant 84-run knock from captain Shubman Gill. The match was overshadowed by Gill’s subsequent back spasm, which forced him to leave the field after the GT innings. While Gill’s scintillating 50-ball innings, studded with elegant boundaries and powerful sixes, propelled GT to a formidable total of 209/4, it proved insufficient against the onslaught of RR’s teenage prodigy, Vaibhav Suryavanshi. Suryavanshi’s breathtaking century, achieved in a mere 35 balls, decimated the GT bowling attack and secured a resounding victory for the Royals.
Gill’s injury added insult to injury for the Titans. He was replaced by veteran pacer Ishant Sharma as the Impact Player, with vice-captain Rashid Khan taking over the leadership reins. In the post-match presentation, Gill confirmed the precautionary nature of the substitution. “I just felt a little back spasm, and with another game just a couple of days away, the physio said it was best not to take a chance,” he explained, looking ahead to their upcoming home game against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on Friday. This quick turnaround influenced the decision to prioritize Gill’s long-term fitness.
Despite the setback, GT remains well-positioned in the IPL 2025 standings. With six victories from their first nine matches, they are firmly in contention for a playoff berth. Analyzing the defeat, Gill acknowledged RR’s early dominance. “They took the game away from us in the powerplay and credit to them for that. There were a couple of things we could have done better, but it’s very easy to say those things after the game,” he admitted, reflecting on the team’s performance. He also praised Suryavanshi’s exceptional innings, describing it as a “special performance” and acknowledging the young batsman’s masterful exploitation of the conditions. “It was his day. His hitting was just tremendous and I think he made full use of it,” Gill commented.
From a tactical perspective, RR’s aggressive approach in the powerplay paid rich dividends. Their bowlers effectively utilized the conditions and restricted GT’s scoring rate early on, while Suryavanshi’s blitzkrieg batting performance shifted the momentum decisively in RR’s favor. The official statistics highlighted the stark contrast in the two teams’ batting performances, with RR achieving a significantly higher run rate. GT will aim to regroup and return to winning ways when they face SRH at their home ground in Ahmedabad, a venue where they have enjoyed considerable success in recent matches. The team management and fans alike will be hoping for Gill’s swift recovery and return to the playing XI.
