Jos Buttler’s absence in the knockout stages may expose Gujarat Titans middle order but the assistant coach Matthew Wade feels it also presents an opportunity for others. Jos Buttler’s absence in the knockout stages may expose Gujarat Titans’ middle order but the assistant coach Matthew Wade feels it also presents an opportunity for others to make a “big impact”.
GT’s opening three of Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill, and Buttler have been the mainstay of their run, all three crossing 500 runs this season. But GT will be without Buttler’s services during the playoffs, with the Englishman returning for national duty after their last league game against Chennai Super Kings on May 25.
It’d be great if the numbers one, two and three continues to get the most runs. We’re losing Jos in a couple of games’ time so there’s going to be another chance for someone to come in at three and establish themselves in that role. But I’m pretty sure that those lads, when they are given their chance, they’ll contribute heavily in the games like they’ve done when they’ve been required in the past six or eight weeks.”
Wade, the former Australia T20 World Cup-winning wicket-keeper batter who has played 12 IPL games for GT, explained while it is not easy to mimic match scenarios during practice, the team is attempting to provide the middle-order batters with proper preparation.
The good thing is the middle order — Sherfane (Rutherford) and Shahrukh (Khan), guys like that, (Rahul) Tewatia — they’ve had a good effect in games when they’ve had the chance, they just haven’t received a lot of game time the past few weeks.
GT, who are currently at the top of the table, will next play Lucknow Super Giants, a team who are already out of playoff contention.”I believe sometimes when teams’ seasons are finished they sort of become a bit more dangerous, they tend to relax a little bit and they’ve got a chance to close their tournaments very strongly as well,” he said of LSG.
