Ahmedabad, April 4: A last-minute injury to Shubman Gill forced the Gujarat Titans to shuffle their leadership and lineup for Saturday’s high-stakes match against the Rajasthan Royals. The 2022 champions confirmed that a muscle spasm prevented the Indian international from taking the field in Ahmedabad.
Rashid Khan, who assumed the captaincy for the day, noted that the team remains focused on maintaining a positive outlook despite the loss of their primary opener and leader. Gill had previously contributed 39 runs in the Titans’ initial game of the 2026 season.
The match began with a rare tactical decision by Rajasthan’s Riyan Parag, who elected to bat first upon winning the flip. Both teams introduced changes to their starting elevens, with Gujarat’s selection heavily influenced by Gill’s sudden medical condition.
This is not the first time the veteran batter has faced such issues; records show he missed significant international play last year due to a neck spasm. Rashid affirmed that the team is taking the positives from their competitive performance in the last match while striving for better execution.
“We need to bring our A-game here and give our 100 per cent,” Rashid declared during the pre-match proceedings. He asserted that the group is committed to improving their skills and building on the strengths shown during the early stages of the tournament.
The Titans’ revised playing XI for the contest included Glenn Phillips and Jos Buttler, while the Royals’ lineup featured the likes of Jofra Archer and Ravindra Jadeja.
