At this point, the Gujarat Titans have had an incredible journey in the IPL. They won their first tournament they participated in and then narrowly missed winning the IPL 2023 final. However, this time around, it seems they have a few more hurdles to overcome. Shubman Gill is the new captain, and in this regard, he’s somewhat untested. Moreover, replacing Hardik Pandya is nearly impossible as there isn’t a genuine all-rounder in bowling in India besides him. The news that Mohammed Shami won’t be available for selection also significantly weakens the team. Does this make GT a weak link or a weak team? Far from it. We expect Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan, and David Miller to play crucial roles. They are all proven match-winners who thrive in the absolute paradise for batting that Ahmedabad usually provides. Riddhiman Saha at the top is useful only for quick starts but can actually harm a team that plays too long. Shahrukh Khan, Vijay Shankar, and Azmatullah Omarzai might be players who start from a middle level and try to provide GT with the necessary power against spinners. The bowling lineup is a bit weaker than usual. Umesh Yadav will have to recreate some magic to fill the void left by Shami, while Azmatullah Omarzai may be seen as a replacement for Hardik Pandya. Rashid Khan returns after a long injury layoff, but his partnership with Nur Ahmad in the middle will be crucial. Kartikeya Tyagi is another Indian pacer picked by GT. He has pace but isn’t very reliable and seems to be lagging behind lately.
The Mumbai Indians typically represent a seasoned team, gearing up for the new season. As we’ve mentioned before, this isn’t the case, but we don’t think it’s a bad thing. Hardik Pandya is an astute leader who can free up Rohit Sharma to play at his best. Ishan Kishan has been at the center of a storm for his absence from domestic cricket, and how this will affect him remains to be seen. We hope to see a rejuvenated Kishan, knocking down doors with his performances. However, a couple of failures will only increase the pressure on him. The middle order of MI is very strong. SKY, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Tim David, and Nehal Wadhera – all have found a place in the eleven. In fact, we could also slot Mohammad Nabi lower down the order. This depth and power far exceed what’s in GT’s ranks. The main challenge will be for players to bat in positions they are most comfortable with. MI offers world-class bowling options, but their player composition is extremely weak. Mohammad Nabi and Piyush Chawla can be the leading players for MI, while Jasprit Bumrah, Gerald Coetzee, or Romario Shepherd can lead the seam attack. Hardik Pandya adds balance by being a finisher, but others like Tilak Varma might also need to turn their arm over.
