Shubman Gill took aim at Gujarat Titans (GT) fielders, stating that “we didn’t deserve to win” after GT dropped four chances, three of them sitters against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).

“Looking at the wicket, we thought 200-220 was a par score. But we dropped too many catches and when you drop three to four catches in a game, it is never easy for the bowlers,” Gill said after GT went down to KKR by 29 runs.

Finn Allen was dropped twice, one a tough chance in the covers by Jason Holder when he was on 14 and then an absolute dolly by Mohammed Siraj on 33 at long-on. Allen went on to score a bruising 93 off 35 balls as KKR amassed 247, the highest score ever against GT in the IPL. Even Cameron Green was dropped on 23 by Arshad Khan, while Angkrish Raghuvanshi was put down by Washington Sundar at fine leg. Both batters scored unbeaten fifties.

“The pitch was good. The odd ball was stopping and sticking. We batted well to the score that we did (218 for 4),” Gill said. “But our fielding could have been a lot better. We set a certain standard and dropping three sitters in a game like this, I don’t think we deserved to win this one.”

Gill, however, brushed aside the game as just another loss and suggested that it was better for the bowlers to have an off day now rather than in the playoffs, if GT manage to make it.

“Best to have a game like this, 240-250 game, the bowling having an off day, a game like that now than in the qualifiers,” Gill said. “[We] rest and recover for a couple of days, travel back to Ahmedabad, and see how the wicket is and plan accordingly.”

GT are still second on the points table with 16 points and play Chennai Super Kings next at home on May 21.