IPL 10, Match 50, GL v DD – Gujarat Lions Predicted XI

This will be the first inconsequential game of IPL 2017 as both sides are already out of running for the playoffs. But this game will still get considerable adulation, make no mistake. Gujarat Lions will be playing at the Green Park in Kanpur, which will be their adopted ‘home’ for GL’s last two home games.

Since the game is in Kanpur, Suresh Raina will be at the cynosure because he plays domestic cricket for the state of Uttar Pradesh. The crowds will pour into the ground to support one of the most popular local heroes of the state. Raina will be keen to finish the IPL for Gujarat Lions on a high and keep his side away from the bottom of the table. This will be first of the last two games for the franchise as well as their contract expires at the end of this year’s IPL which gives the players another reason to do well in order to thank the support staff, team owners and the crowds, who have supported them day-in and day-out.

Delhi Daredevils’ season started promisingly but stifled post the first three games where they won two matches. Continuum defeats in the latter stages of the league have left the team management to ruminate what went wrong for them. Due to lackluster performances by Delhi in the last 5 seasons, the franchise’s reputation has been burnished. They were once considered a very strong side and even topped the league stages twice though; they have never played a final in their 10 year existence. Zaheer needs to lift the side and finish on a high as there is nothing much he could do apart from winning the last three games.

Let us have a look at the Predicted XI for Gujarat Lions for their game at Kanpur:

Openers (Ishan Kishan and Dwayne Smith)

Smith was the Man of the Match in his side’s 6-wicket win against Kings XI Punjab. His 39-ball 74 was instrumental in achieving the rather stiff target of 190 set by Punjab. This was the first substantial innings this year by the West Indian, who was moved up and down the batting order initially. Opening the innings is the best position for Smith’s style and he should be persisted with by GL for the remainder of the season.

Kishan too played a part in the Lions’ victory against Kings XI with an ice-cool knock of 29 which came off 24 balls. He made sure that Gujarat doesn’t lose early wickets upfront and played second fiddle to Smith in a 92-run opening stand before the 18-year old was holed out in the deep. Kishan has impressed many with his batting this year. He is definitely one for the future but needs to be more consistent at this level.

Middle Order (Suresh Raina, Dinesh Karthik, Aaron Finch and Chirag Suri)

Raina must be feeling disappointed on missing out on being a part of the Champions Trophy squad. The left-hander showed good form during the course of the 10^th edition of the IPL scoring 434 runs in 12 innings at 48.22. His strike rate of 146 meant that he was hitting the ball well. All is not lost as Raina is placed in the standbys for the Champions Trophy and could fly to England in case of anyone getting injured.

Dinesh Karthik, like Raina, is also one of the standbys for the Champions Trophy. He has been in tremendous limited-overs form in the last couple of months. His rich vein of form continued in IPL 2017, where he has made crucial contributions late down the order. Gujarat missed a trick by not sending him to bat at 4 all season. Karthik’s 35* against Punjab highlighted his finishing abilities as he remained unbeaten when the last run of the chase was knocked off.

Finch has batted at an unusual spot this year. An otherwise opening batsman, the Australian was made to bat in the middle order to add power in the middle overs. Finch was inconsistent this year as he has an average of 22.80 after 11 games with just one fifty to his name. Lions needed more from their overseas star to put up a better show, but it was not to be this year. Finch will now be playing for pride and will be desperate to get some runs in the last two games.

Chirag Suri has warmed the bench throughout the 12 games so far. With Faulkner underperforming unprecedentedly this year, Suri is set to make his IPL debut. All of just 22, this has been a big exposure for the Emirates batsman. He has rubbed shoulders with some legends of the game which will keep him in good stead for his young international career.

All-rounders (Ravindra Jadeja and Irfan Pathan)

Jadeja promised a lot coming into this tournament being the No. 1 Test bowler but flattered to deceive as he has just 5 wickets to his name from 10 games at an alarming economy rate of 9.59. His below par performances have surprised many, including Jadeja himself. He has two games to turn it around before he flies to England for India’s title defense of the Champions Trophy. He has still done an okay job with the bat as he averages 31.25 from 8 innings. A strike rate of 135 does not truly reflect his big striking abilities.

Pathan was done away with just one game this year. The Baroda all-rounder must be feeling a little disappointed to not get another chance post his first game this year. He was responsible for taking the game into the Super-over by some crafty bowling in the last over after conceding a six on the first delivery. Pathan should feature in the next two games for he has enough quality and skill to be a force to reckon with.

Bowlers (Basil Thampi, Dhawal Kulkarni, and Ankit Soni)

Thampi has been the pick of the bowlers, who have played their first season this year. The Kerala lad has raw pace and a very good yorker which makes him a prospect for the future. 10 sticks from 11 games at an economy of over 9 runs an over certainly does not reflect his good showings this season. The youngster will keep learning and will be a better bowler once the tournament concludes.

The fact that Kulkarni played just 5 games this year for the Gujarat Lions, despite playing 12 ODIs for India, is disappointing to hear. The Mumbaikar is too good a player to be sidelined for that long. He proved a point in his first game in over two weeks 2 nights ago when he returned with impressive figures of 1/24. He should have been persisted with by the GL think-tank earlier in the season.

Ankit Soni has been decent in whatever opportunities he has got this year. An economy rate of 7.06 after 5 games is very impressive for a leg-spinner. He has a big heart and doesn’t mind giving the ball some air. Raina has done a fantastic job by backing Soni whenever he was hit for runs this year.