GT vs SRH, IPL 2025: Gujarat Titans turn on the heat with Shubman Gill himself looking so agitated

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Gujarat Titans are peaking at the right time in IPL 2025, with the 38-run win against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Friday (May 2) night providing it's share of thrills and spills.

Firsts the thrill, how Rashid Khan, the safest fielder, produced the catch of the season to plot the exit of Travis Head with Prasidh Krishna bowling with great rhythm. Head took a crack and the ball flew on the leg side, in the air.

What was then enacted and captured by TV cameras was fascinating as Rashid ran like a hare, almost 32 metres, and then keeping an eye on the ball took the catch. He hit the deck to compete the catch.

Indeed, what stood out was how the Afghani had followed the trajectory of the ball all in those seconds and then took it clean. To borrow a phrase from Late Richie Benaud, 'catches win matches.'

For sure, getting rid of Head is a major headache over for any bowling side. This is the business end of the IPL and Gujarat Titans are pumping in more effort and aggro to look like winners all the way.

What's interesting in the course the IPL 2025 has charted out, it appears till the last few set of league matches are gone through, the race for Top 4 and also the Top 2 is turning out to be a bit like the 100m heats, then the semi-finals and final.

At this stage, the collective effort from GT, who had in Shubman Gill in the IPL 2024 season, a new skipper is now settled. Obviously, Gill has shown leadership skills which are very effective. Not only is he setting an example by scoring runs at the top, he then goads the team members to produce more effort.

It's no secret, when the top order clicks in batting and the Power Play is productive, it does good to the team. The focus has been on Sai Sudharsan, a batter who looks 'all format' and is being praised sky high by the pundits.

When someone like Ravi Shastri says in his inimitable voice and tone, "bring him on for the England series" it is no PR plug. Shastri has watched Indian cricket at various levels as a player, mentor, director and coach.

Now, back as an expert, he has an eye for spotting talent. Sai is special, though what will be the future of his cricketing career is not a. Sample what happened with Sarfaraz Khan from Mumbai.

The Mumbai cricketer was made out to be a batter in the Bradman class and then treated so shabbily by coach Gautam Gambhir, Sarfaraz has lost it. Nobody cares what went wrong and if at all he was even spoken to. So, Sai will do well to just keep performing. After all, there is a lot of work to be done even now for GT in the IPL.

Where there was a jarring note, Shubman Gill getting run out and then having a scrap with the umpires. These days, every bit of action is caught on camera. The IPL 'picture production' is like watching any other TV spectacle, covered from all angles.

And when there is something controversial, add fuel to fire, is the TV job. Gill was also seen arguing even after he returned to the dugout and is bound to face some action from the BCCI today.

Point is, any runout leaves a batter frustrated. Gill had scored runs in plenty and a ton was loading. So, when he fell for 76 runs which came at a fast clip, he was distraught. Old school says never get into a scrap with the umpires, where, these days, it is not just two men in the middle.

Like a court of law, there is a match referee and so many referral umpires as well, it is futile to engage in any form of dissent. This is a blemish on Gill's part, since those watching the reviews had seen it from multiple angles.

Back to the match, the solidity in the GT batting line up is standout. When the openers are firing and Jos Buttler also stokes the flame with 64 runs in a breezy manner, it's a delight to watch.

For GT to have scored 224 for six in 20 overs showed the Sunrisers Hyderabad bowlers in poor light. The way Mohammed Shami is being hammered like hell for runs is not even a joke. He is past prime, though the BCCI is pushing for him big time.

The ageing SRH attack looked even more pedestrian as Jaydev Unadkat, jaded, was also hammered. The worst, skipper Pat Cumins looks no longer the bowler and captain who is in command. He is in for trouble unless the team does something drastic in the remainder of the matches

If the SRH fast bowlers and medium pacers looked club class, Prasidh Krishna stood out for Gujarat Titans. Surely, the BCCI is looking for a decent fast bowler to support Jasprit Bumrah on the hard Test tour to England.

With Shami looking every bit a spent force, Prasidh looks fit. He had been taken to Australia as well for the BGT Series but coach Gautam Gambhir treated him like a tourist and did not play him much.

The Prasidh who bowls with the red ball and the Prasidh who has worked on his skill set in white ball cricket is so different. Given his height and high arm action, he bowls a fuller length and troubles the batters even in the IPL. He has added more skills to his repertoire, though the slower delivery has not been perfected.

Yet, in each match of the IPL 2025, he has worked hard, with two wickets for 19 runs in four overs against SRH winning him the Player Of The Match Award. Mohammed Siraj, who has also been given the short shrift by the BCCI is also fired up and took two wickets. Surprisingly, Rashid Khan has been under-bowled. If he is used more smartly, GT will look even more potent in the remaining matches.