Former India player Sunil Gavaskar added that the Gujarat Titans (GT) could once again qualify for the playoffs in the upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2024) under the young and talented Shubman Gill’s leadership and Ashish Nehra’s guidance. However, the Titans won the title in IPL 2022 and finished as the runners-up last season as well. However, they will be without Hardik Pandya’s services this year as their former captain was traded to the Mumbai Indians before the auction.
During a discussion on Star Sports, Gavaskar said: “Over and above, Ashish Nehra will be the one who will be holding the reins. With Ashish Nehra holding the reins and guiding Shubman Gill, I won’t be surprised if the Gujarat Titans once again get into the top four. Shubman Gill, young cricketer, it’s difficult to say whether he would be able to have the same impact that Hardik Pandya had. Shubman Gill was in unbelievable form last year himself.”
However, Sunil Gavaskar also added that the youngster’s great form with the bat should hold him in good stead. Gill was the Orange Cap holder in IPL 2023. He amassed a massive 890 runs, including three centuries and four half-centuries, at an outstanding average of 59.33 and an amazing strike rate of 157.80 last season as well. Sunil Gavaskar said that Shubman Gill’s equation with the other youngsters and senior players could define the Gujarat Titans’ season as well.
READ MORE: Virat Kohli shares the importance of maintaining diet
“When a captain is in such good form, he is able to lead also a lot better. With his own place being guaranteed and certain, the rest know that here is a performer and we have got to do what he is asking us to do. Shubman Gill is not quite that extrovert as yet but he is not an introvert either. So how Shubman Gill gels with the other younger players and also some of the senior players is going to be the key,” he further stated.
However, Sunil Gavaskar also feels that the Gujarat Titans (GT) will greatly benefit in IPL 2024 if Vijay Shankar can create an impact similar to Hardik Pandya who has been traded to the Mumbai Indians (MI) ahead of the IPL 2024 auction. They spent ₹30.30 crore to acquire eight players, which also included Afghanistan all-rounder Azmatullah Omarzai, at the auction in December last year.
Gavaskar added: “Vijay Shankar would have learned so much from Hardik Pandya. How Hardik Pandya adapted to a particular situation, how he bowled in certain situations, if he has learned from that, he can do pretty much what Hardik Pandya could do. Not maybe have the same kind of impact but even if he has about 80 or 90% of the impact and the game-changing abilities that Hardik Pandya had, he would have done wonderfully for his team.”
Vijay Shankar smashed 301 runs at a strike rate of 160.10 in 10 innings in IPL 2023 as well. However, he wasn’t used with the ball as the Titans had enough bowlers, especially with the Impact Player rule as well. Sunil Gavaskar also shared about the Gujarat Titans reassembling India’s 2015 ODI World Cup seam-bowling trio of Mohammed Shami, Mohit Sharma, and Umesh Yadav as well.
“At their age, bowling only four fours, and that too not in one spell, is a huge plus. Mohammed Shami has been nothing short of spectacular in white-ball cricket in the last year and a half. I expect him to bowl the same way, get the wickets at the top and towards the end by bowling those yorkers spot on. Umesh Yadav too, with the experience that he has, will be able to get some early wickets, and Mohit Sharma was again a revelation. Spencer Johnson will bring the left-handed variety to the bowling attack. So clearly, the Gujarat Titans have done a lot of homework in getting their squad together,” Sunil Gavaskar concluded.
