New IPL franchise Gujarat Titans will be looking to get off the tournament in style by winning the silverware in its maiden season. The Titans made some exciting purchases in the auction and are ready with a squad whose bowling looks very good on paper. They will be led by Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya. Let’s look at the full squad and best possible XI for the Titans for IPL 2022.
Full squad – Shubman Gill, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Abhinav Manohar, Vijay Shankar, Hardik Pandya, Rahul Tewatia, Dominic Drakes, Rashid Khan, Mohammed Shami, Lockie Ferguson, Yash Dayal, Jayant Yadav, R Sai Kishore, Noor Ahmad, Alzarri Joseph, Pradeep Sangwan, David Miller, Matthew Wade (wk), Gurkeerat Singh, B Sai Sudharshan.
Possible XI
Openers: Shubman Gill and Mathew Wade
Jason Roy pulling out of IPL 2022 citing bio-bubble fatigue as the reason has come as a huge blow for the Titans. In Roy’s absence, Matthew Wade is likely to open the innings along with Shubman Gill.
India international Gill has previously churned out some impressive knocks for the Kolkata Knight Riders. His strike rate, however, has come under the scanner time and again. But with the hard-hitting Wade as his opening partner, Gill can take his time before unleashing the big shots. Wade is a fearless striker of the ball having a strike rate of nearly 137 in his T20 career. He will also don the wicketkeeping gloves for the Titans.
Middle-Order: Vijay Shankar, Hardik Pandya, David Miller
The middle order of the Titans will comprise two Indians Vijay Shankar and Hardik Pandya, along with South Africa’s David Miller. Shankar, who was unimpressive in the IPL last year, could probably bat at number 3, while captain Pandya may come out at number 4. David Miller has previously produced some quick-fire knocks at number 5 and that is where he is likely to bat.
All eyes, though, will be on Pandya, who is coming into the tournament after a long injury layoff. He was last seen in the T20 World Cup in November 2021, and it remains to be seen if he can hit form in the first few games. If Pandya fails to get going, most of the pressure will be on Miller. It is perhaps too soon to say that the team can bank upon Shankar for responsible innings.
All-rounders: Rahul Tewatia and Jayant Yadav
Along with Hardik Pandya and Vijay Shankar, the other two all-rounders who are likely to make it to Gujarat’s playing XI are Rahul Tewatia and Jayant Yadav. Both are spin-bowling options and both can go for the big shots as well. Tewatia has played 48 IPL matches and is pretty much well groomed by now to be called a dependable player.
Bowlers: Rashid Khan, Mohammed Shami, and Lockie Ferguson
Gujarat have a solid bowling lineup in Rashid Khan, Mohammad Shami and Lockie Ferguson. Rashid, particularly, will be the team’s trump card. He is currently the best T20 spinner in the world who can bamboozle the best of batsmen. Rashid, in fact, can serve as an allrounder too. He is an able lower middle order hard hitting batsman. Ferguson and Shami, meanwhile, are match-winning international pacers with plenty of experience.
Image credit: BCCI/IPL
