Former India captain Anil Kumble slammed Shubman Gill‘s captaincy during Gujarat Titans’ (GT) loss to Punjab Kings (PBKS) in IPL 2026 on Tuesday. Kumble questioned Gill’s tactical use of pacer Prasidh Krishna, who was introduced only in the 13th over, arguing that last year’s Purple Cap winner should have been brought on much earlier. Prasidh returned figures of 3/29 to momentarily derail the 163-run chase, but Cooper Connolly‘s unbeaten 72 on debut ultimately secured a narrow three-wicket victory for PBKS.
“It was very surprising that the Gujarat Titans brought in Prasidh Krishna, the Purple Cap holder, only in the 13th over. The first one, of course, was a lucky breakthrough. Shreyas Iyer had been hit on the hand a couple of balls earlier, so maybe there was a loss in concentration.
“It was a half-volley — he wanted to pick it up and hit it straight to the fielder. Then there was a very good ball to get Shashank Singh, that short length troubled all batters throughout the game, and Prasidh found that very early in his spell. But he was brought in too late in the innings, because you rarely have a bowler bowl all four overs in the last eight overs of the innings.
Kumble pointed out that Prasidh conceded 14 runs in his final over, arguing that the pacer should not be utilized in the death overs.
“You can’t hold him back like that, and that’s why the last over of Prasidh Krishna went for 14 runs. For GT’s sake, Prasidh should have possibly bowled at least one over between the 6th and 10th overs, because he was ideally suited to that surface,” he added.
Meanwhile, Connolly struck a match-winning 72 not out (44 balls; 5 fours, 5 sixes) in his maiden IPL outing as Punjab Kings made a winning start to IPL 2026 here on Tuesday.
The 22-year-old said he looks up to former Australia and PBKS player Shaun Marsh as his idol.
“It was a nice moment when I got picked up. Shaun Marsh was the first person I spoke to about it and he gave me some good words,” Connolly said.
“Growing up, I played at Western Australia with him for a long period of time and he has always been good to me. I looked up to him as a mentor and an idol,” he added.
(With Agency Inputs)