Follow UsGujarat Titans (GT) have lost two matches in a row in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 for the first time, and it comes at the wrong time for them as they go into the playoffs with some doubts in their minds.
Their bowling has taken a massive blow, having conceded 230 or more in back-to-back matches. The first instance was against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), where a dominating 117 from Mitchell Marsh saw them concede 235/2. In reply, GT's top three, consisting of Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill and Jos Buttler - who have more often than not had at least one half-century in every game - could not do the job for the team when it mattered the most.
Even in the following game against a bottom-placed CSK, GT's bowling took a beating as they conceded 230/5. On this occasion, they could not contain Dewald Brevis, who struck a 19-ball fifty and out on a quick 74 off 39 with Raivindra Jadeja.
Their top three have been so dominant that they are almost 400 runs ahead of the next team - Rajasthan Royals (RR). Between the top three, GT have scored at an average of 55, and have scored at a run-rate of 9.5. Moreover, Sherfane Rutherford, who has come in at four on most occasions, too has scored at a brisk pace, scoring 267 runs at a SR of 157.1
However, there were evident holes in their batting with their top three letting them down in the last couple of matches. With the middle and lower middle-order exposed, they could not come to the party to give the team confidence ahead of the playoffs.
The main issue with GT has been the form of Rashid Khan, the leading wicket-taker in T20 cricket. He has managed just nine wickets this season at an average of 53.7 and strike rate of 34 - all of which point towards his worst IPL season yet.
The pacers led by Prasidh Krishna and Mohammed Siraj have picked up 38 wickets between them, but support from elsewhere, either from Gerald Coetzee and Kagiso Rabada, has been bare minimum.
GT could argue that their worst performances are behind them, and now they could bring their A game in the playoffs. It is their batting that they have built their entire season on, specifically their top three. However, Buttler will play no part in the playoffs, which sets GT back quite a bit.
Could it get worse for GT in the playoffs, as a result?