Former Indian opener turned veteran commentator Aakash Chopra has predicted that Gujarat Titans (GT) opener Shubman Gill will have a great best season during the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) released him before the IPL mega auction and the Gujarat franchise picked him for ₹8 crores.
Analyzing the Gujarat squad ahead of their opening clash against the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), Chopra said on his YouTube channel: “For the Gujarat Titans, obviously Shubman Gill should open. I think this will be his best season. There is a time in your life when you feel things are going to change. KKR released him and I think Gujarat is going to benefit from it. I am seeing Matthew Wade as the other opener for GT. He is a cracking player. I would have Vijay Shankar at 3. Since Wade would be keeping, there is no place for Saha. I would go with Hardik Pandya at 4 and David Miller at 5. Miller played the Bangladesh series, so he has some form. When you play competitive cricket, you are in a better space.”
READ HERE: Gary Kirsten all set to work with Hardik Pandya
They recently named Afghanistan leg-spinner Rashid Khan as their vice-captain for the 2022 IPL season as well. Aakash Chopra also added that they should add off-spinner Jayant Yadav to the playing XI since LSG have a couple of left-handers in their ranks as well.
He explained: “In the bowling, the Gujarat Titans should go with off-spinner Jayant Yadav. Lucknow have left-handers in Quinton de Kock at the top of the order and Krunal Pandya in the middle. One of the pacers Yash Dayal and Varun Aaron could play. If Mohammed Shami and Lockie Ferguson are also part of the playing XI, this looks a good team.”
READ HERE: India will struggle if Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma don’t score, says Mohammad Hafeez
Gujarat Titans’ IPL 2022 squad:
Shubman Gill, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Abhinav Manohar, Vijay Shankar, Hardik Pandya, Rahul Tewatia, Dominic Drakes, Rashid Khan, Mohammed Shami, Lockie Ferguson, Yash Dayal, Jayant Yadav, R Sai Kishore, Noor Ahmad, Alzarri Joseph, Pradeep Sangwan, David Miller, Matthew Wade (wk), Gurkeerat Singh, B Sai Sudharshan
