Ravi Shastri describes Gujarat Titans as already qualified in yet another gaffe on-air: 'You've got the Q...'

Veteran commentator Ravi Shastri committed a gaffe on air while conducting the toss during Saturday's Indian Premier League showdown between Kolkata Knight Riders and Gujarat Titans at Kolkata's Eden Gardens.

Speaking to GT captain Shubman Gill, who elected to field after the coin fell in his favour, Shastri mistakenly described the Titans as a team that already had a 'Q' against their name on the IPL points table.

"You've got the Q alphabet already stamped against your team, how are you approaching this one?" Shastri asked Gill, who also leads India in Tests and ODIs, during the toss.

GT currently are level with current leaders Royal Challengers Bengaluru on 16 points but occupy the second spot due to an inferior Net Run Rate (+0.551) compared to the defending champions (+1.053). The two teams are virtually assured of a place in the playoffs as 16 points is normally considered a safe number for a team to finish among the top four.

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However, given the fact that there still are a number of permutations and combinations at play with each of the remaining teams having at least two games in hand, the Titans and the Royal Challengers are yet to officially qualify for the next round.

Gill ignores Shashtri's gaffe during toss interview

Gill, meanwhile, did not correct Shastri during the toss interview and stated that the Titans were aiming to finish top of the table with two wins in as many outings, including against the Knight Riders on home turf on Saturday.

"It's about how the momentum is with us and we have to consistently keep doing the things that we have been doing well. This is not the stage or the time to take any team lightly, but we're hoping to win the next two and be stable in the top two positions," said the 26-year-old.

Shastri had recently committed a major blunder while on commentary duty during the final of the T20 World Cup between India and New Zealand at Ahmedabad's Narendra Modi Stadium.

The former India all-rounder, who has called some of the most iconic moments in Indian cricket history, made a mess of the Men in Blue's winning moment by describing it as the ninth New Zealand wicket to fall.

Knight Riders post mammoth total at Eden

As for Saturday's showdown, KKR posted a commanding 247/2 after being asked to bat at their home ground, with Finn Allen (93 off 35), Angkrish Raghuvanshi (82 not out off 44) and Cameron Green (52 not out off 28) smashing fiery half-centuries after captain Ajinkya Rahane was dismissed for a run-a-ball 14.

KKR currently are mathematically alive with 9 points in 11 outings, and will have to beat GT if they are to have a practical chance of sneaking into the playoffs. A victory for GT, on the other hand, will make them the first team to officially qualify for the playoffs in the ongoing season.