Follow UsGujarat Titans (GT) named Sandeep Warrier as a replacement for ace pacer Mohammed Shami as the pacer is recovering from surgery on his right Achilles tendon that he suffered during the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023.
Warrier, the Tamil Nadu pacer, has so far played five IPL matches and will join GT for his base price of INR 50 Lac. Warrier had played one T20I for India in 2017, but since then, he has been relegated to a red-ball role for Tamil Nadu, whom he represents now after moving on from his home state Kerala.
While Warrier will form a backup to the likes of Mohit Sharma, Kartik Tyagi, and Joshua Little, he is no match to what Shami has provided for Gujarat Titans in the last couple of overs. In the last two editions, no other bowler has more wickets than Shami, who has taken 28 wickets at an average of 21.3 in the first six overs.
Gujarat Titans also have the services of Umesh Yadav, who is historically known for his new-ball bowling. The 36-year-old didn't have a great IPL 2023, picking up only one wicket in eight innings and leaking 9.9 runs per over. Kartik Tyagi is another new addition but an average of 44.1 and an economy of 10 after 19 IPL games isn’t inspiring at all. Darshan Nalkande and Sushant Mishra also haven’t done much at this level.