IPL 2017: 5 strategies Gujarat Lions need to rethink
Gujarat Lions’ wretched campaign in IPL 2017 continued with yet another loss, this time at the hands of Royal Challengers Bangalore, another team struggling to rise from the bottom half of the table. While a newly formed Gujarat side competed well last season, they lacked ambition at the auctions this year and failed to bring in the right kind of players.
A flashback of the season thus far reveals that Gujarat have failed to utilise their overseas stalwarts to good effect while also struggling to fit in the right players in their comfortable positions.
There are a whole lot of issues with the Gujarat side now that it is tough to pinpoint a certain area alone as the sole cause of their uninspiring show thus far. That said, it is worthwhile to sit down and analyse where the Lions’ think-tank have lost it this time around.
Extra Cover: IPL 2017: Week 2 in review
Here is a comprehensive analysis on a few strategies that may need a rethink.
#5 Fitting in all the overseas openers
The first and foremost thing Gujarat need to address is their plethora of opening options. Jason Roy, Brendon McCullum, Aaron Finch and Dwyane Smith have all been used in the opening role but only McCullum has looked good thus far.
Their strategy to persist with Finch at No. 4 is puzzling given the way the Australian has played at the top of the order for his country in the format. While the Smith-McCullum combination is one of the most successful opening pairs in the IPL, the West Indian's current form means that he shouldn't be in the 11.
They could move Finch or Roy to the top with McCullum and play Dinesh Karthik at No. 4. Smith can be dropped for Faulkner or Bravo (when he is available). Ishan Kishan is another feasible option in the top 4 if they are adamant on batting Karthik at 5.