Defending Indian Premier League (IPL) champions Gujarat Titans will be aiming to show their pedigree under skipper Hardik Pandya in the upcoming 2023 edition. GT are seen as favourites and will be backing themselves to defend the prestigious trophy. How the side responds to expectations after the heroics in their debut campaign remains to be seen.
Gujarat got a specialist batter in Kane Williamson in the IPL 2023 mini-auction. Utility player Joshua Little from Ireland was picked for a costly 4.4 crore. Also, Gujarat spent quite a lot of money for former KKR speedster Shivam Mavi, bolstering their quality pace attack. In Srikar Bharat, they addressed the wicket-keeping segment.
Gujarat had a strong performance where most players chipped in with the goods. Pandya will expect a similar performance and consistency going into IPL 2023. Gujarat have useful resources in batting and a strong middle order with able finishers. Bowling-wise, they are dangerous, and that was a hallmark last season.
In David Miller, Rashid Khan, and Mohammed Shami, one sees some of the best specialists in the business. Shubman Gill’s presence lifts Gujarat. When you look at the bench, Gujarat also has good options to fall upon.
Ahead of the IPL 2023 season, we decode the probable playing XI of Gujarat.
Full squad of Gujarat
Hardik Pandya (c), Shubman Gill, David Miller, Abhinav Manohar, Sai Sudharsan, Wriddhiman Saha, Matthew Wade, Rashid Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Vijay Shankar, Mohammed Shami, Alzarri Joseph, Yash Dayal, Pradeep Sangwan, Darshan Nalkande, Jayant Yadav, R Sai Kishore, Noor Ahmad, Kane Williamson, Odean Smith, KS Bharat, Shivam Mavi, Urvil Patel, Joshua Little, Mohit Sharma
Probable Gujarat XI
Shubman Gill, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Kane Williamson, Hardik Pandya (c), David Miller, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Shivam Mavi, Sai Kishore. Joshua Little, Mohammed Shami
Breaking down Gujarat’s probable XI
Shubman Gill: Former KKR star Shubman Gill will once again be a top-notch force for Gujarat this season. Gill impressed with his showings last season, scoring 483 runs at 34.50. Gill has been in solid form with the bat across formats, and he will be riding on that confidence to come good for the champions.
Wriddhiman Saha: The veteran Indian wicketkeeper batter came to the party last season for Gujarat, scoring an impressive 317 runs from 11 matches. Gujarat will once again prefer Saha, given the availability of just four foreign slots. Matthew Wade could be the back-up preference. Saha will be practising well and ensuring he gets his job right by giving his side brisk starts.
Kane Williamson: Gujarat bought Kane Williamson to add some steel to the batting. Former SRH skipper Williamson may be slow to get off the track regarding strike rate, but his solidity and anchor role cannot be discussed. An experienced and classy batter, Williamson will need to banish his modest returns of late and show more urgency. He has 2101 IPL runs.
Hardik Pandya: Gujarat skipper Hardik Pandya looks fresh and confident. He bowled well in the recently concluded ODI series versus Australia. Pandya was Gujarat’s hero last season and led from the front. He smashed his best-ever tally in an IPL campaign (487 runs). IPL 2023 will see him bowl more as he looks fit.
David Miller: Senior South African batter David Miller was Gujarat’s hero last season, playing match-winning innings consistently. So he would be keen to showcase a similar approach and tenacity. In Miller, Gujarat, have a fierce specialist who understands situations. He smashed 481 runs last season, and overall, he scored 2455 runs in 105 matches.
Rahul Tewatia: A fine all-rounder and a clean striker of the ball, the Indian big-hitter has another major season ahead of him. Alongside Miller, he will be trusted to finish Gujarat’s innings more than often. He enjoyed a strike rate of over 147 last season and managed 217 runs.
Rashid Khan: Afghan sensation Rashid is one of the best spinners in the 20-over format. At such a young age, he has already claimed 500-plus wickets. Rashid is a champion in the middle overs and has been a successful operator with his wrist spin. In the IPL, he carries 112 scalps. Since his IPL debut, he has managed 15-plus scalps every season.
Shivam Mavi: Gujarat showed a lot of trust in former KKR pacer Shivam Mavi. Work in the making, Mavi gives his heart out. He can take those odd wickets and boasts raw pace as well. Across four IPL seasons, he has played 32 games, taking 30 scalps. Gujarat will hope Mavi stands tall and takes the next step.
Sai Kishore: A quality spinner, Sri Kishore will support someone like Rashid. In 49 matches in the 20-over format, Sri Kishore has claimed 57 scalps at 16.91. His slow left-arm orthodox offerings could boost Gujarat, who need quality. Sai Kishore has done well also in FC and List A cricket.
Joshua Little: Ireland’s Joshua Little is a specialist in the shortest format, claiming 107 wickets from 85 games at 20.79. Having played across several leagues, Little will be pumped to make his IPL debut. Notably, Gujarat have someone like Alzarri Joseph as a solid back-up. One expects rotation here.
Mohammed Shami: Indian pacer Mohammed Shami will lead the line for Gujarat with the ball. Shami, a consistent force in the IPL, with his new-ball heroics and death-over quality, can unsettle the best. A wicket-taker, Shami did well for Gujarat last season. He finished with 20 scalps from 16 games. Since the 2019 season, Shami has claimed a staggering 78 wickets across 4 seasons.