Washington Sundar Faces Backlash After Slow Knock in GT vs PBKS IPL 2026 Match

Gujarat Titans were asked to bat first by Punjab Kings at Mullanpur Stadium, New Chandigarh. After Sai Sudharsan’s early exit, Shubman Gill (39) and Jos Buttler (38) stitched a 46-run partnership but failed to turn it into a big innings. The Gujarat Titans batting struggles continued as the middle order struggled to maintain momentum.

GT management promoted all-rounder Washington Sundar to No. 5 over finishers like Shahrukh Khan and Rahul Tewatia. The bold move did not work as expected. Sundar scored only 18 runs off 16 balls. He avoided short balls, struggled to find timing, and never looked comfortable at the crease. 

His innings ended when Vijaykumar Vyshak forced him to hole out to Arshdeep Singh. With five wickets down at 144/5 in 18.1 overs, fans questioned GT’s decision to back Sundar over specialist finishers. This incident highlighted the inconsistency in Washington Sundar IPL 2026 performance.

The Gambhir Philosophy Behind Sundar’s Promotion

Washington Sundar’s promotion reflects the strategy introduced under India head coach Gautam Gambhir. Sundar has often been backed over alternatives like Axar Patel, even when performances were underwhelming.

“The possible reason behind Gambhir's backing is that Washington Sundar offers balance, is useful against teams with left-hand-heavy lineups and the team management values his tactical flexibility,” sources say. Applying this philosophy in IPL 2026 angered fans, who expected GT to rely on proven finishers.

GT Post a Respectable Total Despite Hiccups

Despite the Gujarat Titans batting struggles, the team finished at 162/6 after 20 overs. Yuzvendra Chahal (2 wickets) and Vijaykumar Vyshak (3 wickets) applied crucial brakes on PBKS, while Marco Jansen impressed with a tight four-over spell conceding just 20 runs. 

GT’s scoring rate dipped significantly in the middle and death overs, emphasizing the impact of Sundar’s slow knock.