Former Indian cricketer, Sanjay Manjrekar opines that Rajasthan Royals (RR) in-form opener Jos Buttler must bat with extreme caution against Gujarat Titans (GT) spinner Rashid Khan. He suggested Buttler can go after the other bowlers to accumulate runs in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 final. Rashid has been sensational with the ball for Gujarat Titans and, despite a slump in a few games though, he has managed to take 18 wickets in 15 games so far.

Rashid Khan also has one of the best economy rates at 6.74, with a four-wicket haul to boot. Buttler has been in red-hot form and scored 824 runs, the charismatic cricketer cannot afford to play risky shots against the Afghanistan spinner. Manjrekar said as much on ESPNcricinfo’s IPL T20 Time: Out by pointing out that Buttler should be wary of Rashid’s accuracy.

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During the chat, Sanjay Manjrekar said, “(Gujarat Titans) may try Rashid Khan in the first six overs because he bowls stump to stump and Buttler has been in trouble with that line, which is straight on into the stump. I think they (RR batters) will, as there are enough bowlers they can go after.”

He further added, “And if (GT skipper) Hardik Pandya doesn’t bowl, there could be a few more bowlers that they (RR) could go after. So, yes, Rashid Khan is somebody that they can, maybe, just play him out and there are enough bowlers they can go after I guess (after that).”

Talking about, Gujarat Titans, Sanjay Manjrekar opined that they need to make a tactical change in the final and replace seam bowler Alzarri Joseph with Lockie Ferguson, after the right-arm West Indian pacer was smacked for 27 runs in two overs in Qualifier 1 at the Eden Gardens on May 24.

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Sanjay Manjrekar explained, “I can see that change (bringing in Ferguson) happening. I’m expecting them to play Ferguson on a pitch that has something for the seam bowlers. (Alzarri) bowled two overs for 27 runs in the last game (Qualifier 1 vs RR). It wasn’t like he was unlucky, he didn’t bowl well… the control was pretty poor. “Lockie, with more IPL experience, could get the nod. So, I’m expecting that change to happen.”