BATTLE OF TOP GUNS
Gujarat Titans and Lucknow Super Giants look to seal place in play-offs in clash of the newcomers
On a slippery slope after back-to-back losses, Gujarat Titans will need their batters to fire when they take on high-flying Lucknow Super Giants as both teams look to seal IPL play-offs berth here on Tuesday.
The two new entrants are having a dream run in their maiden season.
While Gujarat led the points table for most part of the league, Lucknow moved ahead of them to take the top spot. The Hardik Pandyaled Gujarat side's winning streak came to an end with back-to-back losses against Punjab Kings and Mumbai Indians last week. Both teams have 16 points each from 11 outings and a win for either of them will confirm the passage to the next stage.
LSG, who have won their last four games, would be brimming with confidence as they head to the fixture with a morale-boosting 75run win over Kolkata Knight Riders.
KL Rahul has led from the front and the opener is the second highest run scorer in the tournament, collecting 451 runs from 11 games with two hundreds and as many fifties. The team has relied heavily on him to get the job done with the bat. But the likes of Quinton de Kock and Deepak Hooda have taken more responsibility in recent games which will definitely take the pressure off Rahul. Their bowling unit has been right on the mark. While LSG were able to defend 153 against Punjab Kings, they polished off KKR for just 101, with pacers Avesh Khan and Jason Holder proving to be too hot to handle for the former champions.
Pacers Mohsin Khan (5.35) and Sri Lanka's Dushmantha Chameera (7.90) have bowled economically as has Krunal Pandya (6.64), while Ravi Bishnoi (8.23) and Avesh (8.14) have been a tad expensive. But the bowling unit has often found a way to get over the line.
Gujarat's stellar run in the IPL can be attributed to their ability to come back from tough situations. They had different players winning games for them but that was not the case against MI when they failed to get nine runs off the last over in what should have been an easy run chase.
The batting department needs to be more consistent. The top order batters have failed to take their innings deep.
Shubman Gill has endured a hot and cold season, while Wriddhiman Saha has shown good intent.
Skipper Pandya, David Miller and Rahul Tewatia have also looked off colour recently and need to get into the groove again in the business end of the tournament. Gujarat have a lethal bowling attack, studded with world-class bowlers like Mohammed Shami, Lockie Ferguson and Rashid Khan.
Rashid continues to remain economical but the star spinner will be eager for more wickets.