Concern for Gujarat Titans will be their top-order if Shubman Gill does not fire: Aaron Finch

Former Australia skipper Aaron Finch said that it would be a major concern for the defending champions Gujarat Titans (GT) if opener Shubman Gill did not fire. GT will play the opening match of the 2023 Indian Premier League (IPL) against four-time champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Friday, March 31.

While previewing GT's squad on Star Sports, the official broadcaster of the IPL, Finch said that the Hardik Pandya-led side is mostly dependent upon Gill in the top order. The 36-year-old said that Gill is an amazing player who can score easily. He added that if the 23-year-old fires, GT’s middle order will go big and become hard to beat. In the 2022 season, Gill scored 483 runs from 16 matches and became the second-highest run-scorer for GT and fifth overall.

"I think a concern area for Gujarat Titans will be their top order if Shubman Gill does not fire. Shubman Gill is the X-factor for the team. We know how freely he can score, he is such a damaging player and when he gets in, he goes really big. If he fires, their middle order will function very well and they will be very hard to beat," Finch said.

"They have got a lot of firepowers and a lot of experience in that middle order and a huge amount of power, but if they get in too early, they will be in trouble," he further added.

The player to watch out for this year for Gujarat Titans will be David Miller: Finch

Finch, who led Australia to their first ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Trophy, said that David Miller will be the GT player to watch out for in the 2023 IPL. The South African batter scored 481 runs last year at an average of 68.71. Notably, Miller will join the GT squad after the Netherlands series on April 3.

"The player to watch out this year for Gujarat Titans will be David Miller," Finch said.

Finch further talked about GT’s strength, stating that the most important side of the team is the depth of their fast bowling and their experience. He added that they have a variety of players who can easily adapt to different surfaces.