In the 23rd match of IPL 2025 between Rajasthan Royals and Gujarat Titans, GT skipper Shubman Gill came under heavy fire—not for his batting alone, but also for his questionable decisions as captain.

Gill’s Struggles Continue Against Archer

After Rajasthan Royals opted to bowl first, the move paid off immediately as Jofra Archer dismissed Shubman Gill for just 2 runs. Once again, Archer's inswinger outfoxed Gill—this was the third time Archer has dismissed him, with Gill managing just 10 runs off the last 15 balls he faced from the English speedster.

Gill’s vulnerability against high-quality pace attacks has been a consistent flaw, exposed time and again—most recently during the Champions Trophy as well.

The Toss Blunder: Wrong Playing XI Announced

Adding to the chaos, Gill wrongly announced the playing XI at the toss, stating "no changes" had been made, when in fact two players were dropped, and Rutherford and Arshad Khan were brought in. Most notably, Washington Sundar, the star of the last match with a blistering 49 off 29 balls, was left out without explanation.

This has sparked massive confusion and criticism. Fans and analysts alike are questioning why a player who helped secure the last win was benched in the very next game.

“What kind of captaincy is this? Gill forgets his own team at the toss and then drops the match-winner?” a fan wrote on social media.

A Rare Bright Spot: Gill's Long-Awaited Half-Century

Just one match earlier, against Sunrisers Hyderabad, Gill finally ended a 267-day drought by scoring a half-century in T20s. His unbeaten 61 off 43 helped Gujarat chase down a target comfortably. That knock was a glimpse of Gill’s potential—but his inconsistency remains a major concern.

His previous T20 fifty came against Zimbabwe, during a tour after the T20 World Cup 2024, where he led the team and scored back-to-back fifties in the third and fourth games.

Despite Flaws, Gujarat Titans Stay Strong

Despite Gill’s repeated failures with the bat and his unsteady leadership, Gujarat Titans have managed to win 3 out of their 4 matches, holding on to the second spot in the points table. However, with tough matches ahead, questions are being raised:

Can Gill handle the pressure as both a batsman and captain?
Or will GT’s campaign start to wobble under his leadership lapses?