Shubman Gill’s 24-Run Over Against Hazlewood Shifts Momentum in GT’s Favor
In a thrilling encounter at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Gujarat Titans’ skipper Shubman Gill sent a powerful message to Josh Hazlewood during their IPL 2026 clash. Gill’s aggressive performance, particularly against Hazlewood, shifted the momentum in favor of GT and put RCB under immense pressure right from the start.
Hazlewood, who had been impressive in the previous match, faced a tough night on Tuesday as he bowled the first over of the innings. He conceded 24 runs in that over alone, marking it as the second most expensive over of his T20 career. This is the same number of runs he had previously conceded in 2014 against England in Hobart and again in 2022 for Punjab Kings in Mumbai.
Gill’s approach was bold from the very first ball. He hit two fours and followed up with two massive sixes, making it one of the longest sixes of the league so far. This explosive display not only showcased Gill’s confidence but also pushed Hazlewood into a difficult position early on. The over ended with Gill scoring 24 runs, equaling his personal best and also matching Harshal Patel’s record for the most runs conceded in a single over in the IPL.
Gill’s Blistering Attack Puts RCB on Back Foot
Gill’s performance was nothing short of sensational. His aggressive batting style set the tone for the entire team. From the first ball, he targeted Hazlewood with precision, hitting a six straight to the deep mid-wicket and another boundary past the bowler. This left Hazlewood struggling to find his rhythm and ultimately led to a costly over.
Despite not taking any wickets, Hazlewood conceded a significant number of runs. His new-ball partner, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, however, delivered an excellent spell. Kumar took crucial wickets of Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan, and Jos Buttler, finishing with figures of 3-28 from his four overs.
RCB’s Disappointing Batting Performance
Earlier in the game, Royal Challengers Bengaluru struggled with the bat. Their openers managed a quick start, but it didn’t last long. By the end of the powerplay, RCB were already in trouble. Devdutt Padikkal’s 40 off 24 balls was the highest individual score, while captain Rajat Patidar could only manage 19 runs.
With the team at 79-2 after eight overs, RCB collapsed rapidly. They were all out for just 155 in 19.2 overs, with Arshad Khan (3-22), Jason Holder (2-33), and Rashid Khan (2-35) sharing the wickets among themselves. This poor batting performance left RCB in a precarious position, especially after facing a strong Gujarat Titans lineup.
Most Runs Conceded by Josh Hazlewood in an Over in T20s:
- 24 (Australia) vs England, Hobart, 2014
- 24 (RCB) vs PBKS, Mumbai (Brabourne), 2022
- 24 (RCB) vs GT, Ahmedabad, 2026
Hazlewood returned strong in the later overs, finishing with 0-56 from his four overs. However, the damage had already been done. It was Gill’s fearlessness against Hazlewood that truly put RCB on the back foot, from which they never seemed to recover.
Overall, this match highlighted the importance of key performances in high-stakes games. Shubman Gill’s ability to dominate even the most challenging bowlers proved to be a turning point for Gujarat Titans, setting the stage for a potential victory.
