Can Gujarat Titans Overcome A Bad Auction?
Gujarat Titans along with Lucknow Super Giants are the two new IPL teams. They picked three players from the draft ahead of the auctions. Gujarat seems to have cracked the code in picking key players. They picked Hardik Pandya, Shubman Gill, and Rashid Khan through the player draft. Pandya and Khan are two proven T20 match winners while Gill’s stocks are perennially on the rise. What they needed was a good-to-decent auction to cement their status in the league. In this article we have discussed Can Gujarat Titans Overcome A Bad Auction?
How was their auction strategy?
The new team, Gujarat Titans, seemed pretty aloof in the auctions. Their inexperience clearly showed clearly in the crunch moments of the mega auction. They remained actively passive for the large parts of the auction. Their auction strategy was clearly below par.
What does their team look like?
They don’t seem to have a solid top-order. Their team balance is entirely dependent on the fact if Hardik Pandya bowls. Captaincy in itself will be a new kettle of fish for Hardik. On top of that having a team that revolves around you might prove to be too big a task. Jason Roy partnering with Shubman Gill at the top will be clearly something they will be banking on. Gujarat has to play the likes of Wriddhiman Saha and Vijay Shankar in their starting lineup. These are two proven domestic performers but their recent performances have been on the decline. It is a big worrying sign for the Titans.
Is everything downhill for the Titans?
Their team looks pedestrian on paper for sure. Their bowling though lacks variety is still their stronger suite. Mohammad Shami is their star Indian pacer. They have overseas imports in the likes of Dominic Drakes, Alzarri Joseph, and Lockie Ferguson.
Ferguson is one of the most underrated pacers in the world. He was mighty effective for KKR last season. His ability to bowl throughout the game makes him an exciting prospect. Their Indian spin department lacks experience but has loads of promise. Jayant Yadav and R. Sai Kishore are their two frontline spinners. Neither have shouldered the responsibility but this team can offer them the chance to shine.
What is their X-factor?
Gujarat’s middle order is their biggest hope. They have their talismanic captain, Hardik Pandya at the thick of things. If he gets going Gujarat will look a completely different side. David Miller will look to prove that he isn’t a spent force. Rahul Tewatia is the glue that will hold the lower middler order and tail together. Another ace in Gujarat’s pack is Rashid Khan. He will be Gujarat’s biggest X-factor. If all these pieces come together, Titans do have a chance to upset the applecart.
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