After starting the season on the back foot with 2 consecutive losses, the Gujarat Titans (GT) turned a corner and came roaring back in the tournament. They went on a 5-match winning streak to jump up in the table. They made Ahmedabad their fortress after the initial games and then won on the road, too. Yes, there were speed breakers along the way. We remember how they lost to RCB in Bengaluru and KKR in Kolkata recently, but those were just mere blips. GT have been consistently led by a very stable captain in Shubman Gill and have done well this season after a good run last season as well.
GT have improved in all three facets of the game. They have improved their catching based on what we saw last night in Ahmedabad. The bowling has a blueprint which is successful and working well, while the batting may be dependent on the top 3 batters, but they are doing well and doing their jobs. There is role clarity in the team, and they are functioning as a well-oiled machine and most importantly, peaking at the right time. We will analyse the performance of GT as a whole here.
What’s Going Right For GT?Â
GT has a well-oiled machine and is working in all cylinders as we speak. Their batting revolves around the top 3 of Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill, and Jos Buttler. Yes, people might say they are overdependent on them, but for the last two seasons, they have been doing the job for their side. This year, it has been no different, with two of them topping the charts in the orange cap list.
Sai Sudharsan notched up his 5th consecutive fifty to join the elite list of players having this feat. He and his opening partner, Gill, have been exchanging the Orange Cap list, with Gill getting it before Sai got it back as well. So, both the openers are right up there in the Orange Cap list, and Sai won the Orange Cap last year. Jos Buttler has had less batting and might have wanted to contribute more, but he has done his job. Their role clarity is defined, and Buttler is enjoying his role at 3, and yesterday he came to bat in the 13th over. He played the role of a finisher.
The inclusion of Jason Holder in place of Glenn Phillips has made a massive difference to the side as he has chipped in with the bat whenever needed and also chipped in with the ball. Holder has stepped up whenever required, and Washington Sundar has done his bit in the middle order and has done well as a pure batter. GT hasn’t used him at all as a bowler. But he has done his job due to role clarity.
The main improvement or strength has been their bowling and pace attack. Mohammed Siraj and Kagiso Rabada are so good that Gill uses them exclusively in the power play, 3 overs each. More often than not, they have done their job. Jason Holder is a great addition, and he has also picked up wickets. Prasidh Krishna may not be making that much of an impact now, but as an impact player in certain matches, he has done well. Then we have seen them use Arshad Khan and Ashok Sharma as pacers, especially in Ahmedabad.
And if these were not enough, GT possesses a wily leg-spinner and one of the best in Rashid Khan, who has got his mojo back now. Yes, he goes for runs in an odd game here and there, but that can happen in IPL cricket. They have spin options in Manav Suthar and Sai Kishore, if they need them, who are quality players. So, GT are a well-oiled machine and has everything clicking for them.
The role clarity given by the coaching staff and captain is helping them do well, and the team looks calm and well-settled. They have been very consistent this season after the initial couple of matches.
Areas of Concern or Areas of Improvement, if any
GT has got most bases covered. But there are chinks in armour here and there, and GT is no different. It’s very minor, but it can be major, especially in big games. Yes, the inclusion of Holder and Sundar doing well has helped GT for sure to have more depth. But the reality is this. The bulk of the runs will have to be scored by the top 3 of Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan and Jos Buttler. If one or two of the three fires, GT are in good hands. But the test will be if the aforementioned top 3 on a given day fall cheaply within power play or 10 overs. Then what happens to the innings?
It could be that it happens in the playoffs, where all three fail due to the law of averages, then the thing that remains to be seen is whether the middle order can rebuild the innings and get them to a competitive total or chase down a sizeable total. The chances of all three failing at the same time look slim at this stage, but this is a hypothetical situation we are talking about.
The bowling is their strength, but on certain days, they can be clobbered for runs. As we saw at Eden Gardens, they conceded 247 against KKR as their bowling went the distance. The bowling had an off-day that time, and the GT team will be hoping they don’t have that in the playoffs. If they get top 2, then it’s fine, as one bad day can still be dealt with a second chance. But going into the playoffs, they will have to ensure that they are up with their A-game. Rashid sometimes gets taken down.
So, there are no areas of concern as such for GT if we look at it, just a few areas to work on and fine-tune their skills. If they do that, then the sky is the limit for them, as the grand finale is set to be in Ahmedabad yet again. So, GT can win Qualifier 1 and directly settle at their home base after that. So, this is a huge incentive for GT to win IPL for the second time.
What Lies Ahead
GT has to wait for a few hours to see whether their top 2 is guaranteed or not. 3rd placed SRH will take on defending champions RCB in a mouth-watering clash. SRH will have to win by a big margin to finish in the top 2. RCB is almost secured in the top 2, we can say. Let’s see how that game will pan out in Hyderabad with all to play for there between two powerhouses.
Also Read:Â GT vs CSK: CSK Push For Play Off Spot Against High-Flying GT