As they start a new Indian Premier League season, both Punjab Kings and Gujarat Titans will be hoping for a fresh start.
While for the Titans, Tuesday’s season-opening clash at the Narendra Modi Stadium will be about ensuring that its star-studded bowling line-up, comprising Kagiso Rabada, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Siraj and Rashid Khan, lives up to the expectations, the Punjab outfit will focus on playing ‘brave cricket’, under captain Shreyas Iyer.
Having enjoyed success as a captain in the past, albeit for different teams, it will be a challenge for Shreyas to make the most of the opportunity and bring the best out of the players. On paper, Punjab looks quite formidable with Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis bolstering the middle-order, while Arshdeep Singh, Lockie Ferguson and Yuzvendra Chahal add power to the bowling department.
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But the side need to capitalise on the key moments and ensure that it doesn’t let things slip away, especially at the death.
The Titans retained their core and their batting department will revolve around the top-four – captain Shubman Gill, Jos Buttler, Sai Sudharsan and Glenn Phillips – while Washington Sundar and Rashid could come in handy at the fag end.
However, as Gill suggested, the team needs to ‘maximise the powerplay’. Last season, Titans were the slowest in that phase, struggling at 7.41 runs per over.
Buttler’s presence will be a huge boost, though it will be interesting to see whether he opens the innings with Gill or bats at No.3.