GT for long, has been one of those teams, who don’t like to make a lot of changes to their playing XIs. Hence, their visible deficiency in the batting department continues. In a way, it is a double-edged sword; sometimes, their top 3 clicks, and on a very few occasions, they don’t. Clearly it didn’t in the qualifier 1 against RCB the other day, and they certainly would have to come up with a few corrections.
In fact, they could do with bowling changes in their line up as well. They have been lacking a pacer in the XI, like Ashok Sharma for reasons unknown, who should be straightaway drafted in the team. Insidesport takes a look at the GT predicted XI for the RR qualifier 2.
Kumar Kushagra in place of Tewatia
Even though Rahul Tewatia went on to score 68 from 43 in the RCB clash, one doesn’t understand the point of a batter, who is only to play, 12 deliveries at max. He bats at 7 or 8 at best, and in maximum matches, doesn’t even get to face enough balls. Instead, the team needs to go back to Kumar Kushagra, and slot him in the middle order.
The latter has good credentials in T20s, where he has scored 694 runs in 33 matches, at a strike rate of 145. Though, with him too, it won’t be the best batting attack, but a lot depends on how Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill and Jos Buttler fare.
Persist with Nishant Sindhu
There is space for Nishant as well in the team. Even though in 6 matches he has scored only 43 runs, but then, perhaps, if the need arises, he could be used as an impact sub. He has a ton to his name in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, and his overall strike rate is 138. He could add a bit of depth to the XI.
Get in Ashok Sharma
The team has a lot of bowling options here, but they need to be lil smart, and come up with a surprise move of getting in Ashok Sharma for the all-important clash. He has been sitting out for a long time, and he should be given a chance in place of Prasidh Krishna. Even though the latter has picked up 15 wickets, his economy of 10.52 is a bit worrisome.
Ashok also has his economy up, at 10.85, but he has enjoyed a big break, and should be raring to go.
Shubman Gill (c), Sai Sudharsan, Jos Buttler (wk), Kumar Kushagra, Washington Sundar, Nishant Sindhu, Jason Holder, Rashid Khan, Mohammad Siraj, Kagiso Rabada, Ashok Sharma. Impact Sub: R Sai Kishore.
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