Assistant coach Parthiv Patel defended the Gujarat Titans’ strategy by emphasizing the team’s exceptional consistency from its founding in 2022, despite criticism from opposing teams and analysts that the team is predictable.
In their first season, GT won the IPL in 2022, and they have only ever made the playoffs once.
When other teams’ openers are scoring at a far higher rate, their top order, which consists of Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan, and Jos Buttler, has been quite successful using their conventional strategy.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, a 15-year-old who is in his own league, will play for GT against Rajasthan Royals in Qualifier 2 on Friday at Mullanpur. With 680 runs and a strike rate of 242.85, he is the tournament’s top run scorer.
When there is support from the surface, GT fast bowlers Mohammed Siraj and Kagiso Rabada enter the game much more, according to LSG director of cricket Tom Moody.
Parthiv stated on the eve of the match that since they were in the top two of the league, there was no reason for them to change. They would like not to focus too much on the Qualifier 1 loss to RCB.
“We were sitting pretty at number 2 on the points table. I know other teams can think whatever they want to think. There are six teams who have not qualified also and I know that the references which you have come from, that I know Tom Moody has said about GT. But see, we have finished number 2. And we know what kind of cricket we want to play. And we back ourselves to give results,” Parthiv said.
“Since GT’s inception, four out of five years, we have qualified (for playoffs). Results are there for everyone to see. Everybody has their different way of playing. We have our own style of playing. Even in the first half of the tournament, we were not doing that great. We were just doing okay.”
“But we still stuck to our process. We trust in our ability. We know what we can do. And that is something which we will try to do tomorrow as well,” said Parthiv.
Sooryavanshi and Jofra Archer are the Royals’ X-factor, whilst GT depends on reliability.
“So as long as we are getting results, we don’t have to think about whether we need an X-factor or consistency. It’s about getting pieces together and getting the result,” said the former India wicketkeeper.
Sooryavanshi could win the game if the Titans don’t get rid of him quickly. The Titans are cautious but also ready after witnessing his incredible hitting on Wednesday night. In their most recent league match against Sooryavanshi, the squad used the short ball infrequently, and Siraj got him out.
They will only show their cards on the pitch, according to Parthiv.
“I’m not a broadcaster at the moment, so won’t be able to reveal our plans. I’m very excited about the way he is batting. Hopefully, we will be able to get him out early in the game and we will be able to execute our plans.
“But what it is, you will only know when we are on the ground. The way we he is batting people are liking it. I said the same thing last time as well. We should not be talking about his age.
“I think that’s something we need to put an end to it. He’s been a phenomenal talent just the way he’s been playing. And it’s great to see him and just from the opposition’s point of view, we hope that he doesn’t get too many runs,” Parthiv added.
