IPL 2026: Gujarat Titans extend KKR's losing streak, Shubman Gill lights up Ahmedabad

Kolkata Knight Riders continued their winless streak in IPL 2026 after succumbing to another loss at the hands of Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad on Friday. The KKR bowling attack seemed toothless soon after setting a modest target of 181 for an equipped Gujarat batting line-up.

Shubman Gill stayed the course for Gujarat with a solid 86 as Gujarat clinched the home game with a five-wicket margin.

Kolkata Knight Riders’ innings began on a shaky note after Ajinkya Rahane fell for a golden duck to Mohammed Siraj in the very first over. The early dismissal set the tone for a difficult powerplay, as young Angkrish Raghuvanshi also departed cheaply.

Tim Seifert showed brief promise in his first outing of IPL 2026 but couldn’t convert his start, falling for 19. With KKR reduced to 37/3 in the powerplay, Gujarat Titans had firm control.

The innings needed stabilisation, and that came through Cameron Green, who anchored the recovery with composure and calculated aggression.

What role did Cameron Green and Rovman Powell play?

Green found an able partner in Rovman Powell, who counterattacked to shift momentum. Powell took on bowlers like Prasidh Krishna and Ashok Sharma with big hits, helping KKR move past the early slump.

Their partnership ensured KKR reached 80 by the halfway mark, rebuilding the innings through a mix of singles and boundary-hitting. Powell’s 27-run cameo ended at the hands of Ashok Sharma, but the platform had been set.

Green then accelerated, targeting even world-class bowlers like Rashid Khan with confidence. His calculated assault brought up his maiden IPL 2026 half-century and kept KKR on track for a competitive total.

Why couldn’t KKR fully capitalise at the death?

Despite Green’s strong presence, KKR lost momentum in the final overs due to regular wickets. Rinku Singh continued his lean run, while contributions from Ramandeep Singh and Sunil Narine were short-lived.

Gujarat Titans’ bowlers executed a strong comeback, conceding just 15 runs in the last three overs. Kagiso Rabada was the standout performer with three wickets, while Siraj and Ashok Sharma picked up two each to restrict the final flourish.

KKR were eventually bowled out for 180, with Green’s 79 off 55 balls emerging as the defining contribution.