IPL 2023: 3 Players Who Will Be Crucial for Gujarat Titans in GT vs MI Qualifier 2

IPL 2023: \We are just two games away from crowning the champion of the 16th edition of the Indian Premier League. It’s been almost two months of some incredible cricket matches, and we are down to Qualifier 2, where the Mumbai Indians will lock horns with the defending champion Gujarat Titans at the Narendr Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Friday.

GT has been playing a great game of cricket and has topped the group stage. But they lost to the Chennai Super Kings in Qualifier 1 and lost one chance to make it to the final. But they have another chance in their hands and will look to grab the remaining place in the final. GT has played MI twice this season and has one win and one loss. But with everything on the line, they will do anything to defend their title. In this article, we will talk about three crucial GT players in GT vs MI Qualifier 2.

IPL 2023: Three Crucial Gujarat Titans in GT vs MI Qualifier 2

3. Hardik Pandya

Hardik Pandya has somehow struggled so far in this competition. The GT skipper is still trying to deliver the best of himself with both bat and ball. He is coming off four consecutive single-digit scores and has scored 20 runs in four innings. It is below his own standards. Hardik will look to deliver a captain’s performance in probably the biggest game.

With a home crowd, he will have a big job on his hands. In this season, he has scored 297 runs at an average and strike rate of 27 and 130.26 and has taken three wickets at 8.64. His team wants him to make a big impact because MI thrashed GT last time and they can’t afford to suffer the same result now. Being a former MI player, he is aware of the tactics and will look to challenge his former team.

2. Rashid Khan

Rashid Khan will be the man who will certainly lead the bowling attack, along with Mohammed Shami. The Afghan superstar has a lot to do if GT looks to challenge Mumbai on Friday. His variations with the ball and four overs will be the big hurdle for the five-time champions. Rashid was at his best in the last game against MI this season.

He took four wickets and followed it up with an unbeaten 79 runs with 10 sixes. Thus, Mumbai already knows what this guy can do on the cricket field. Thus, they will surely have some plans against him. Rashid has taken 25 wickets so far and is the second highest wicket-taker in the competition. For Gujarat to win, Rashid needs to step up and deliver a game-changing performance.

1. Shubman Gill

Among the more than 150 batters in the competition, one name has certainly stood out: star Indian opener Shubman Gill. The 23-year-old is the second-highest scorer in the competition and is just 8 runs behind Faf du Plessis to grab the “Orange Cap.” With the form he is in, he will do it in the next game itself.

Gill has scored 722 runs at an average of 55.54 and a strike rate of 149.17, with two centuries and four half-centuries. He smashed a 34-ball 56 against MI in their first game of the season. Gill has scored over 28 percent of the team’s runs in this competition, which shows the impact of this player on the team. Thus, MI will look to get him out early because he is the backbone of the team.