'Play him at No 4' - Irfan Pathan predicts GT’s playing XI vs DC

Irfan Pathan urged the Gujarat Titans' management to give young wicketkeeper-batter Kumar Kushagra a long rope and not drop him from the side once Shubman Gill recovers from muscle spasm. The Gujarat Titans are set to face the Delhi Capitals at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Wednesday, April 8.

Shubman missed Gujarat's last game against the Rajasthan Royals, and Kushagra got to play his first game this season. He opened the batting with Sai Sudharsan and scored 18 off 14 balls.

In a video uploaded to his YouTube channel, Pathan said that Shubman should open with Sudharsan, with Jos Buttler taking the No. 3 slot. For the No. 4 slot, he opted to go in with Kushagra. 

“Play Kumar Kushagra at No. 4. Kumar Kushagra has batted lower down for Jharkhand, has also batted at number three, and can play at number four as well. He looked very compact, and his backlift is quite high, which allows him to hit big shots. He has had a good domestic season. His Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy campaign was excellent. Will you back him? He played the last match, so he has already got a sighter. Play him at No. 4," Pathan said.

At 5 and 6, Pathan kept all-rounders Glenn Phillips and Jason Holder, who is yet to make his debut for the franchise. Washington Sundar bagged the No. 7 slot in Pathan's predicted XI. Meanwhile, vice-captain Rashid Khan was named in the No. 8 slot.

In the bowling department, Pathan sacrificed Kagiso Rabada and brought in Sai Kishore, who had picked up 19 wickets in 15 matches in IPL 2025. Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna were named as the frontline Indian pacers. In the Impact Player's role, Pathan named uncapped seamer Ashok Sharma.

The Titans have played two matches so far and have lost both. On the other hand, the Capitals are coming in with two wins from as many games.