Facing off under lights at Mullanpur, Gujarat Titans opened the innings after Punjab Kings chose to bowl. Out cheaply went Sai Sudharsans early wicket, then came a brief spark – Shubman Gill chipped in with 39 while Jos Buttler added 38, linking for 46 runs between them before silence returned. Momentum never took hold though, because once they fell, the next set couldn’t push forward. Middle overs dragged, shot options dried up, scoreboard crept like stone.
Out of nowhere, GT shifted Washington Sundar up to number five, skipping past proven closers such as Shahrukh Khan and Rahul Tewatia. That choice didn’t pay off. Facing the ball, Sundar scraped together 18 runs from 16 throws, clearly uneasy when tested by bouncers, his rhythm never quite clicking during his stay.
Out near the boundary line, he finally gave up his wicket to Vijaykumar Vyshak. At 144 runs for five down in just past eighteen overs, moving Sundar higher in batting order sparked backlash online. His stop-start form during IPL 2026 resurfaced as a talking point after that moment.
The Reason Sundar Got Promoted
Up front in the lineup, Sundar fits a pattern that seems to echo what Gautam Gambhir likes. Though his performance wobbles now and then, he still gets picked ahead of others – Axar Patel, for one.
Sundar brings equilibrium, especially when facing sides stacked with left-hand batters, plus he shifts tactics smoothly. Still, using him that way in the IPL rubbed supporters the wrong way – they wanted Gujarat Titans to stick with finishers they already trusted.
