Gujarat, Delhi look to build on shaky yet winning starts

Gujarat Titans and Delhi Capitals were far from their best in their respective opening encounters of the Indian Premier League 2022 but the two sides still ended up on the right side of the result, which is all that matters at the end. The two franchises, led by fierce and flamboyant Hardik Pandya and Rishabh Pant, will now look to build on that momentum when they come face to face against each other at Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune on Saturday (April 2).  

The Titans have one of the most formidable bowling units in this competition and we got a glimpse of what they can do in their first game against Lucknow Super Giants. Meanwhile, Delhi looked down and out against Mumbai Indians in a 178-run chase but Lalit Yadav, Shardul Thakur and Axar Patel stepped up with the bat and managed to get the better of Jasprit Bumrah and Co. The two teams don’t have “established” finishers in their arsenals, but despite that, the likes of Rahul Tewatia, Abhinav Manohar, Lalit and a few others got the job done under pressure. The Capitals will also be bolstered by the inclusions of Lungi Ngidi and Mustafizur Rahman.

Tewatia, Lalit need to keep up the good work

It was pleasing to watch some of the Indian domestic players prove their mettle on the big stage. Against Lucknow, Gujarat needed 67 runs in the last five overs and their skipper Pandya was already back in the hut. South African batter David Miller’s stocks have surely gone down over the last few years, while Tewatia has often been criticised for his inconsistency. However, the two put on 60 runs in less than six overs against Lucknow before Karnataka's Abhinav Manohar got the Titans over the line in the final over. The team management would now want them to do this on a regular basis, just like what Delhi would expect from Lalit and Axar.

Prithvi Shaw and Tim Seifert got Delhi off to a pretty decent start against Mumbai but Mandeep Singh, Pant and Rovman Powell could only score one run between them, leaving Lalit and the lower-middle-order to score 101 runs in the last 10 overs. Lalit often finds himself in these scenarios while playing for his stateside and he brought all that experience against Mumbai. However, it was Thakur and Axar who chipped in with fiery cameos and made Lalit’s life easier. Thakur and Axar will be needed more in the bowling department but the two will always have to be ready to swing their blades if and when required.

Impactful Shaw

Ever since making his IPL debut in 2018, Shaw has scored 931 runs in the powerplay which is among the most in the competition in this phase. His strike rate of 147 in the powerplay is the best for an Indian since IPL 2018. And, the numbers have only got better since 2020. 

When it comes to run chases, Delhi have not lost a single game when Shaw has scored 30+ (eight times) and that tells you something about his impact. Even in the first encounter against Mumbai, the right-handed opener smoked four fours and two sixes in his 34-ball 38 and kept the required rate under control. However, he will have to be careful against Shami in the powerplay, with his weakness against the swinging ball well known.

Could this be Kuldeep’s season?

The last few years haven’t been great for Kuldeep Yadav. The left-arm wrist-spinner has been in and out of the Indian side and has only featured in 14 encounters in the last three seasons of IPL. With Varun Chakravarthy and Sunil Narine in the set-up, Kuldeep didn’t get to play a single game for Kolkata Knight Riders in the first half of IPL 2021 and then missed the second half because of a knee injury. In IPL 2019 and 2020, Kuldeep picked up only five wickets in 14 games at an average of 75.6 and an economy of 8.4. 

The 27-year-old was acquired by Delhi in the mega auction and Kuldeep straightaway made an impact. The left-armer got the wickets of Rohit Sharma, Anmolpreet Singh and Kieron Pollard and was named player of the match against Mumbai. That performance will serve as a perfect morale-booster for Kuldeep who looks eager to ace this season and get back in the India reckoning. 

"Kuldeep was struggling in the IPL as his place was not secured at KKR. But he feels that surety of playing matches after coming over here. If you know your place is secured, and not that you have to perform in two matches otherwise you will be sacked from the team, then you can give your best," said Axar.

Hardik Pandya is a man on a mission

The Indian team management and selectors would be mighty pleased with the way Pandya operated against Lucknow. The all-rounder bowled his full quota of four overs and looked in great rhythm, bowling constantly over 135 kmph. Then batting at No. 4, the 28-year-old also played a crucial knock of 33. He is one of the cleanest strikers of the ball but the Indian team management has made it clear that Pandya will only be considered for selection if he starts bowling regularly. 

And, if Pandya could keep giving at least two-three overs every game, it won’t just help him get back in the Indian set-up, but will also make Gujarat’s bowling more formidable.

Gujarat’s bowling looks threatening

It’s only been a week but we have already seen quite a few phenomenal spells of bowling with the new ball. We all saw what Trent Boult and Prasidh Krishna did when Rajasthan Royals played Sunrisers Hyderabad at Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium and you could expect something similar from Mohammed Shami and Lockie Ferguson. 

There will be some help on offer with the new ball, and if that’s the case, Shami could wreak havoc once again, just like he did against Lucknow. The right-arm paceman claimed three big wickets in the powerplay and that played a massive role in Gujarat’s five-wicket win over Lucknow.

"It was important to get a good start in the first match, I looked to bowl a Test-match line and length here. I have worked very hard on this seam position. People say it is god-gifted, but that's not the case," said Shami. 

The 31-year-old will be expected to do nothing different in Pune and he will have the likes of Ferguson and Rashid Khan by his side. Varun Aaron leaked more than 11 runs per over and Gujarat have the option of bringing in one of left-arm seamer Yash Dayal or left-arm spinner R Sai Kishore in the mix against Delhi. The latter is a proven performer in the domestic circuit and could do what Axar does for the Capitals, that is to keep things tight at one end.

Probable XIs

Gujarat Titans - Shubman Gill, Matthew Wade (wk), Vijay Shankar, Abhinav Manohar, Hardik Pandya (c), David Miller, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Lockie Ferguson, Varun Aaron/Yash Dayal, Mohammed Shami.

Delhi Capitals - Prithvi Shaw, Tim Seifert, Mandeep Singh/Sarfaraz Khan/Yash Dhull, Rishabh Pant (c & wk), Rovman Powell, Lalit Yadav, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Khaleel Ahmed, Kuldeep Yadav, Lungi Ngidi/Mustafizur Rahman.