Gujarat eye top-2 finish; Lucknow aim to seal play-offs berth
The credit for GT’S phenomenal run in their opening season largely goes to their ability to fight back from adverse situations
With play-offs berth already secured, high-flying Gujarat Titans would look for nothing less than a win to ensure a top-2 finish when they take on out-of-reckoning Chennai Super Kings in an Indian Premier League match on Sunday.
Under the brilliant leadership of Hardik Pandya, GT rose above expectations to book their play-offs berth with two matches in hand.
GT are currently at the top of the table with 18 points from 12 games and a win on Sunday will more or less secure them a top-2 finish, which means they will get an extra chance of making it to the final.
Lying at the second-last spot, defending champions CSK are out of the competition and will play for pride in their remaining two games.
While GT ensured their play-offs berth ater a comprehensive 62-run win over Lucknow Super Giants, CSK slumped to a five-wicket loss against Mumbai Indians.
Young opener Shubman Gill, skipper Hardik, David Miller, Wriddhiman Saha and Rahul Tewatia have been GT’S bating mainstay throughout the season and they would be hoping to carry on in the same vein. The credit for GT’S phenomenal run in their opening season largely goes to their ability to fight back from adverse situations.
But of late, GT’S bating unit has misfired and Hardik would be looking for some consistent performances from his baters.
In their last match, only Gill (63 not out) made a substantial score and bated through the innings to take GT to a modest 144 for 4, which they defended with ease.
Thegtteammanagementwouldalsobehoping for Hardik, Miller and Tewatia to return among runs.
But GT’S main strength is their potent bowling atack, comprising world-class bowlers like Mohammed Shami, Lockie Ferguson and Rashid Khan.
Shami, the team’s highest taker with 16 scalps, has been lethal upfront, while Ferguson’s ability to generate pace is a cause of concern for any bating line-up.
CSK, meanwhile, have endured a nightmarish season with nothing working for them from the start.
MS Dhoni’s decision to hand over captaincy to Ravindra Jadeja backfired as the all-rounder never looked in his comfort zone with the responsibility, forcing him to return the leadership mantle to the talismanic stumper.
If that was not enough, there were rumours about a fall out between CSK and Jadeja, who was released from the camp before their last match due to a bruised rib.
Meanwhile, in impressive form throughout the season, Lucknow Super Giants would look to bounce back from their previous match defeat and register a win to confirm their IPL play-offs berth when they face another aspirants, Rajasthan Royals, here on Sunday.
The KL Rahul-led side, which is now at second spot with 16 points, would not want to lose another game just before the start of the knockout round.
The Royals would also look to make amends for their all-round failure in their comprehensive eight-wicket defeat at the hands of Delhi Capitals in their last match.
With 16 points from 12 matches, a win for LSG on Sunday will confirm their play-offs berth. For the Royals too, a victory will take them on the verge of securing a last-four stage spot.
Captain Rahul and his opening partner Quinton de Kock will have to score the bulk of runs once again for LSG. Both fell cheaply against the Titans and they would look to bounce back against the Royals.
Rahul, the tournament’s second most prolific bater with 459 runs from 12 matches, has been in impressive form with two centuries and as many half centuries.
De Kock has scored three half centuries to accumulate 355 runs from 12 outings.
Deepak Hooda is another bater who is in form with 347 runs and three half centuries, and he has the ability to make a difference.
The Royals will rely heavily on England wicketkeeper-bater Jos Butler, who has scored 625 runs from 12 matches with the help of three centuries and as many half centuries. His team-mates though have not been in the best of form.