Not even one batter has a strike rate above 200

Former Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) cricketer Rohan Gavaskar has criticised Gujarat Titans (GT) for their batting approach during the IPL 2026 clash between the two sides. The teams faced off in Match 60 on Saturday, May 16, at Eden Gardens.

Chasing 248, GT fell short by 29 runs, finishing on 218/4 in 20 overs. Speaking during a discussion on Cricbuzz after the match, Gavaskar pointed out that the key difference for KKR was that only Ajinkya Rahane had a strike rate of 100, while all the other batters scored at strike rates above 180.

On the other hand, for GT, only Sai Sudharsan had a strike rate above 180, while the rest failed to do so. The 50-year-old noted that this should not happen when a team is chasing a target above 240 and no batter scores at a strike rate above 200. He said:

“I can clearly see the difference. If you really want to understand the difference in batting, then forget everything else and look at the strike rates. For KKR, Ajinkya Rahane was the only batter whose strike rate was around 100. Every other batter had a strike rate above 180. For Gujarat Titans, only Sai Sudharsan had a strike rate above 180. The rest of the batters all had strike rates below 180.

“So when you are chasing 240, it shouldn’t happen that not even one batter has a strike rate above 200. You want one or two batters to play impactful cameos. Even if someone scores just 25 runs, that innings should come at a strike rate of 200, 225, or even 250. Here, Sai Sudharsan’s strike rate was around 190, but no other batter had a strike rate above 180,” he added.

Meanwhile, this marked KKR’s fifth win of the season, with the team now sitting seventh on the table with 11 points from 12 games.

“Raises questions somewhere” – Mohit Sharma’s blunt remark on GT’s tactics

In the same discussion, former GT seamer Mohit Sharma questioned the team’s tactics. During the innings, Sai Sudharsan walked off after getting hit on the elbow in the third over while he was on 23 off 13 balls. He later returned after Shubman Gill was dismissed for 85 off 49 in the 17th over, when GT needed 71 off 22 balls.

Mohit noted that at that stage, the team could have sent in Rahul Tewatia or Jason Holder, but the franchise showed faith in players who have been consistently delivering for them, and said:

“But there were options. I would still say that the thought process behind sending Sai Sudharsan back out raises questions somewhere. But yes, they did have options. They could have sent Rahul Tewatia, and it was a perfect situation for him. After that, they also had Jason Holder, who could have come in and used his long hitting ability in that situation.

“But yes, this is how Gujarat Titans operate. GT tends to show more faith in the players who have been consistently delivering for them and are already settled in the setup. So, that’s their way of thinking. But for me, Sai Sudharsan coming back again and again keeps raising the same question,” he added.

Gujarat Titans currently occupy second place in the table with 16 points from 13 games.