The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 is about to kick off, and one of the first matches is set to feature the Punjab Kings (PBKS) going head-to-head with the Gujarat Titans (GT). This first game promises to be quite the spectacle, and fans are eagerly anticipating it. Mark your calendars for March 24, because that’s when it all goes down at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
One player everyone will be watching closely is the captain of GT, Shubman Gill. He’s been particularly strong against PBKS, and it’s interesting to look into his performance stats against them.
Six half centuries against PBKS
Over the course of 13 matches against PBKS, Gill has scored an impressive 521 runs, boasting a nifty strike rate of 143.52. This includes six innings where he’s reached fifty runs, which isn’t too shabby at all. In fact, only Faf du Plessis and Virat Kohli have outscored him since 2018, the year Gill made his debut in the IPL.
Average of over 60 against PBKS:
But what’s even more remarkable is Gill’s batting average against PBKS. He stands out with an average of 65.12, which is the highest among players who have scored more than 500 runs against this team. Du Plessis and Chris Gayle are the only other players with averages above 50 against PBKS. It’s worth noting that Gill has yet to cross the 500-run mark against any other team in the league. In his five innings wearing the GT jersey against PBKS, he’s managed three fifties and has racked up a total of 296 runs at an average of 74.
A IPL great in making
Looking at Gill’s IPL journey, he started his professional career with the Kolkata Knight Riders back in the 2018 season right after shining in the U19 World Cup. Now, reflecting on his overall statistics, he has accumulated 3,216 runs from 103 matches, which breaks down into 100 innings at an average of 37.83. His strike rate stands at 135.69 and in his time on the field, he has notched up four centuries and 20 fifties.
Last season, 2024, was a pivotal one for Gill as he took on the captaincy for GT. This was his first big opportunity to lead a team at the senior level, and it surely was a learning experience. Not to forget, he had an outstanding performance in IPL 2023, winning the Orange Cap for being the highest run-scorer with a remarkable total of 890 runs. As the IPL 2025 season gears up, all eyes will be on him and how he continues to evolve as a player and a leader on the pitch.
