Shubman Gill played a match-winning knock for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) after getting promoted up the batting order against Chennai Super Kings (CSK). Gill came in to bat when KKR was in trouble, having lost a few quick wickets. Gill held on to one end as KKR made advances towards the target of 178. The 18-year-old scored 57 runs from 36 deliveries including 6 fours and 2 sixes at a strike rate of 158.33.
However, Gill made a mistake while fielding in the first innings. He dropped the catch of “in-form” CSK skipper MS Dhoni in the 18th over. Kuldeep Yadav bowled a wrong one but Dhoni picked it early and pulled it for a maximum. The ball went straight to Gill fielding at deep square leg position. It seemed an easy take for Gill, but the ball went between his hands and over the ropes for a six.
Here’s what Gill had to say about the dropped catch in a post-match candid interview with KKR skipper Dinesh Karthik:
“Nobody gave me an angry look but I was feeling really embarrassed that how can I drop such an easy catch. I was hoping that MS Dhoni gets out in the next ball but then he hit a terrific sweep shot which was coming towards me, and I was like I have to save the boundary at any cost now,”
Butter fingers Gill drops MSD https://t.co/mgDBYAaHOh
— Sports Freak (@SPOVDO) May 3, 2018
Here’s the video of the dropped catch:
Shubman Gill on dropping Dhoni’s catchhttps://t.co/ovoNH288vh
— Faizal Khan (@faizalkhanm9) May 4, 2018
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Gill went on to explain what went through his mind when he came out to chase the target.
He said:
“I dropped MS Dhoni’s catch, so I was feeling the pressure that I have to win the match for the team, and if we lose, then I will have to face the brunt of the defeat,”
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Gill-Karthik shared a partnership of 83 runs from 36 balls. Karthik was on a rampage at Eden Gardens, Kolkata as he manipulated the field with his unorthodox shots. He scored 45 runs off just 18 deliveries at a stupendous strike rate of 250.
