IPL 2026 Final: 'We Never Got Momentum': Shubman Gill Reflects after losing Final

The grand finale of the IPL 2026 season delivered high-stakes drama at the Narendra Modi Stadium. Winning the toss, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) elected to field first to utilize the evening conditions. The tactical move paid off perfectly as the RCB bowling unit completely decimated the Gujarat Titans' (GT) dangerous top order.

Stifled by a disciplined opening spell, the Titans never found their rhythm and were restricted to a meagre total of 155, setting a target of 156 runs for RCB to chase down for the title.

Chasing a target of 156, RCB's second-innings reply faced early speed-bumps, but Virat Kohli stepped up as the ultimate spine of the innings.

Anchoring the chase with pure aggression, Kohli chose the grandest stage of all to slam a breathtaking 25-ball half-century marking the fastest fifty of his illustrious IPL career.

The Captain's View: Shubman Gill Breaks Down the Final Loss

During the official post-match presentation, Gujarat Titans captain Shubman Gill reflecting on the defeat during the post-match presentation, was candid about where the match slipped away from the home side, highlighting the early pitch conditions and the failure to build first-innings momentum.

"If we'd have gotten 180-190, it'd have been a good match," Gill stated. "Maybe a little two-paced but not too much. There's some early movement for pacers. We lost early wickets and never got momentum."

Despite defending a low score, Gill felt the Titans could have put up a tighter fight if they had managed early breakthroughs during the second-innings powerplay, where Kohli and RCB ultimately broke the back of the chase.

"We felt we'll be in the game if we took 1-2 in the powerplay. We gave 15-20 too many, they got away in the powerplay," Gill explained. "We were one of the best bowling sides. We came back strong after losing the first two games. Kept challenging and improving ourselves. Very happy overall. Couldn't get over the line. Still would've had things to improve on even if we'd won the trophy."

While the night ended in heartbreak for the Gujarat Titans on their home turf, Shubman Gill's post-match reflections reveal a captain proud of his team's resilience throughout the tournament. As Rajat Patidar lifted the ultimate trophy for RCB, Gill and his squad left the field with a clear blueprint of what needs to be refined for the next season.