Their back-to-back defeats in run chases against Lucknow Super Giants and Chennai Super Kings exposed several vulnerabilities in their lineup. Although their dynamic opening pair, Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan, has consistently delivered, scoring a combined total of over 900 runs across 14 games, the team’s batting strength sharply declines beyond the top order
A significant blow for the Titans is the unavailability of Jos Buttler, who was expected to anchor the innings at number three. With national commitments ruling him out of the playoffs, GT’s fragile middle order becomes even more concerning. The likes of Shahrukh Khan and Sherfane Rutherford have struggled to stabilise chases under pressure, as seen in the defeat to LSG. In another instance, seasoned campaigners Rahul Tewatia and Rashid Khan failed to make an impact when the situation demanded
Vice-captain Rashid Khan’s dip in form has been one of the most disappointing aspects of GT’s campaign. Typically one of their most dependable all-rounders, Rashid has managed just 40 runs in 7 innings and has picked up only 9 wickets in 14 matches, well below the standards he has set in previous seasons
GT’s pace attack, once considered among the most potent at the start of the tournament, has also witnessed a significant downturn. Mohammed Siraj, who began strongly, has gone wicketless in his last three matches while conceding runs at an expensive rate
Kagiso Rabada’s absence for the playoffs due to South Africa’s Test commitments further compounds the issue. Gerald Coetzee has hardly featured, managing just two wickets in three appearances. In contrast, Prasidh Krishna has remained the lone bright spot in the pace department, bagging 23 wickets in 14 outings
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