1745323611542Gill Joins Kohli in Unlucky 90s Club After Another Near-Century in IPL 2025 Thriller at Eden

 

A familiar pattern returned to the Indian Premier League on April 21. At Eden Gardens, Gujarat Titans skipper Shubman Gill played strikingly well, only to return to the pavilion after his 90th run. It was a reminder of cricket's unpredictable nature. It was also his second dismissal in the 90s in his IPL career.

 

A Rare Club of Near-Centurions

 

This near-century now puts Gill alongside Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, and Ruturaj Gaikwad in a rare club—players dismissed in the 90s at least twice in the IPL. Gaikwad tops the list with three such dismissals. Kohli and Rahul, much like Gill now, have done it twice each.

 

Pressure, Performance, and a Missed Century

 

Gill’s 90 off 55 balls came during a high-pressure clash against Kolkata Knight Riders. He looked set for three figures before misjudging a full toss, offering a catch to Rinku Singh.

That moment tilted the spotlight back to a peculiar stat—India's best batters falling just short of glory. It also brought up another layer in the Gill vs Kohli narrative.

 

More Than Just Missed Milestones

 

These repeated 90s are not just missed centuries. They speak volumes about consistency, match influence, and temperament under pressure. Gill, just 24, has emerged as Gujarat's batting backbone.

His latest knock pushed his tally to 305 runs from 8 matches in IPL 2025, placing him seventh in the Orange Cap race with a strike rate of 153.26.

 

Sai Sudharsan Shines at the Top

 

His opening partner, Sai Sudharsan, certainly was not far behind. The solid half-century from Sudharsan was nonetheless vital in Gujarat posting 198 for 3.

Now, Sudharsan stands at the top of the Orange Cap table with 417 runs in 8 matches. The duo's opening partnership of 114 runs had set the tone for the top order display by Gujarat.

 

Taming Eden's Two-Paced Challenge

 

While the Eden Gardens surface tested the pacers with its two-paced bounce, Gujarat's batters adjusted well. Late fireworks from Jos Buttler added another 41 runs from just 23 deliveries, sealing a total that proved too much for KKR.

 

Bitter Sweet Brilliance Ideally Eclipsing the Past

 

Needless to say, that was not Gill's first flirtation with the 90s; in 2022, he actually made 96 versus Punjab Kings. The frequency of these scores has now become a poetry about bittersweet brilliance-magnificent innings that fall short.

 

Gill vs Kohli: The Growing Parallel

 

As the IPL 2025 season unfolds, the comparison between Gill and Kohli becomes profound. While Kohli continues to shape his own destiny, Gill is galloping to occupy and make his own footprints. And this very unwelcome tally in the 90s now becomes a new statistic, bridging the past and the present of Indian cricket.

 

The 90s That Speak Loudly: Eyes Still on the Century Mark

 

Gill's 2025 run in the IPL is more than just numbers; it is a narrative of prospect, pressure, and performance. The 90s may seem quite unlucky, but they are shaping his very identity in this fast-paced league.

With such a long way to go, the hunt for a century remains on. But even these 90s have already started to speak louder than hundreds in telling Gill's growing tale in the IPL.