IPL 2022 – Gujarat Titans best predicted 11 and team analysis
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Hardik Pandya has a fifer in England but may not bowl in IPL 2022
IPL 2022 will see two new teams take the field and one of them is Gujarat Titans (GT). Them, along with, Lucknow Super Giants comprises what is now a ten-team IPL. The IPL thus will see a new format debuting from the 2022 season.
The ten teams have been divided into two “virtual” pools wherein each team will play the teams in the same pool twice, one team from the other pool twice and the remaining four teams from the other pool once to make up the 14 games. The points table, however, will be one consolidated chart with all ten teams.
GT’s virtual group comprises CSK, SRH, RCB and PBKS. Interestingly, from the other group, Gujarat Titans will play twice against fellow new entrant Lucknow Super Giants. Both teams, heading into the IPL 2022 mega auction, were allowed to draft in three players to help them level the playing field with the other eight franchises who were allowed to retain up to four players.
Gujarat chose Hardik Pandya, Shubman Gill and Rashid Khan. Hardik was later announced the captain of the franchise.
IPL 2022 – Gujarat Titans team analysis
One would look at the three drafted players and be pleased with the selection. The three cricketers represent a varied range of abilities. Pandya, an all rounder and destructive finisher, is among the more rare and sought after category of players in the T20 format. In Rashid Khan, GT purchased a four overs bank. The Afghan is among the most skilful bowlers going around and already one of the top all time IPL spinners. And Shubman Gill is widely regarded as India’s brightest young player – one who will consistently play for the country for a long time.
Thus, heading into the auction, GT were ticking the right boxes. And began the bidding very well, landing one of India’s premier fast bowlers in Mohammed Shami. The quick bowler can bowl across a T20 innings and on helpful tracks, scare batters. Lockie Ferguson was poached next, making a fearsome new ball pair. The Kiwi is full of pace and played a key role in KKR’s UAE leg revival last IPL.
It is from here the franchise faltered. Gujarat went aggressively for players they perhaps did not need to and ended up assembling a top order that will hardly worry any opposition. Gill, albeit limitless in potential, is far from a finished T20 batter. And he is their best Indian – or overseas – batter. He will likely be partnered at the top by Wriddhiman Saha – who after the recent controversy will be keen on enhancing his powerplay reputation. However, Saha is not a match winner with the bat.
The remaining Indian options from number three down are between Vijay Shankar, Gurkeerat Singh Mann, Sai Sudarshan, Abhinav Sardarangani and skipper Pandya, who is yet to prove himself as a dependable batter in the IPL. It is crucial for Gujarat he fires with bat and all rounder Rahul Tewatia – all of INR 9 crore – plays his best ever season.
The most baffling story of the IPL 2022 mega auction emanated from the Gujarat camp as they left it very late to pick up a wicketkeeper. Now they have three. Two auction purchases and Afghan Rahmanullah Gurbaz who replaced Jason Roy after the Englishman pulled out of IPL 2022 due to bio-bubble fatigue. Matthew Wade, purchased in the auction, should walk in to the team and perhaps even as a pure batter, leaving Saha to take up the keeping duties.
Lower down, R Sai Kishore is expected to find a regular place in GT’s starting 11. The left arm orthodox bowler attracted attention from as many as six teams in the mega auction before Gujarat managed to secure his services. Sai Kishore, apart from his spin bowling, is a decent lower order batter. Roy’s absence will also allow Gujarat to use the all round abilities for Dominic Drakes who is a powerful finisher and a regular bowler who can bowl Yorkers at the death.
Overall, GT will need two among Pandya, Gill and Wade to score more than 500 runs, else they could be in for a very long first season.
IPL 2022 – Gujarat Titans predicted 11
Shubman Gill, Wriddhiman Saha (WK), Vijay Shankar, Matthew Wade, Hardik Pandya (C), Dominic Drakes, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, R Sai Kishore, Mohammed Shami, Lockie Ferguson.
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Arinjay Ghosh
(77 Articles Published)