The Gujarat Lions will be hosting the Kolkata Knight Riders in their first home match of IPL 10 at Rajkot on April 7. In the previous edition of the tournament, there were two new franchises being drafted in. The Rising Pune Supergiant failed to get their act together and finished at the penultimate position in the points table. However, the other newbie &#8211; the Gujarat Lions &#8211; were very impressive with their show in the tournament.

Despite being a new side, they got their lineup and combinations spot to enter in the playoffs of the season. They missed out on making it to the finals but they will hope that they come up with an improved performance this season. They have a very strong overseas batting contingent and boast of a plethora of overseas openers &#8211; Brendon McCullum, Jason Roy, Dwayne Smith and Aaron Finch.

The injury concerns are there too with Dwayne Bravo and Ravindra Jadeja being out of the line up for at least the first few games. They will have to look for ideal replacements for both the players. They have all-rounders Andrew Tye and James Faulkner in their line up too. So the pool of players to pick from is huge and replacements picking should not be a concern. In the bowling department, they have a strong Indian bowling powerhouse to do majority of the talking.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-68697" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Brendon-McCullum-1.jpg" alt="Brendon McCullum, Gujarat Lions" width="600" height="366" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-68697" class="wp-caption-text">Brendon McCullum. (Photo Source: BCCI)</figcaption>

Hard hitting batsman Brendon McCullum retired from international cricket almost a year ago. However, he still continues to be a tormenting player in the shortest format of the game. He recently played in the Big Bash League for the Brisbane Heat and was one of the top performers for his side.

He is a value addition for sure for the fact that he can be a valuable asset in advising the skipper at key junctures. He was quite impressive in the previous edition for the Gujarat Lions. McCullum amassed 354 runs in the 16 matches that he played for the franchise with a strike rate of 135.11. He has been a perennial performer in the IPL and has played 92 matches for his 2434 runs with a century and two fifties to his name.

This year, he will be one of the seniormost players in the side and will have to shoulder responsibility at the top order. If he manages to give a flying start to the Lions, they will be well on course for a big total. He is equally dangerous in case the team bats second.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-68949" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Jason-Roy.jpg" alt="Jason Roy" width="600" height="405" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-68949" class="wp-caption-text">Jason Roy of Surrey in action batting during the NatWest T20 Blast match. (Photo by Stephen Pond/Getty Images)</figcaption>

One of the biggest surprises of the IPL auctions this year was when English opener Jason Roy had gone unsold. He was expected to be one of the top attractions considering the red hot form he was in. The Gujarat franchise made a very wise move by roping in him in the second round of auctions.

Now, with Roy in the side, they have an ideal partner for McCullum to go all guns blazing in the top order. Roy has every probability to be picked ahead of Aaron Finch and Dwayne Smith. Finch has been out of form in the recent times and that comes as an added plus for Roy.

Roy has played 136 matches thus far in the shortest format of the game and hence the format is definitely not a new one for him. It suits his game of play. He has 3585 runs to his name at an average of 28.45 with a very healthy strike rate of 144.49. He has four T20 centuries in his career to go with 22 fifties.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-70358" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Suresh-Raina-4.jpg" alt="Suresh Raina" width="600" height="411" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-70358" class="wp-caption-text">Suresh Raina. (Photo Source: BCCI)</figcaption>

Suresh Raina will be leading the team this season as well. He was spot on with his captaincy in the previous season for the Gujarat Lions and will be hoping to continue with the same in this season as well. However, the team would expect more than just captaincy from the veteran Indian player.

He has been a top performer in the IPL and in one of the leading batsman in the tournament. For the Gujarat franchise last season, he scored 399 runs at an average of 28.5. He had three half centuries under his belt throughout the season. Interestingly, he was the leading run scorer for his side and was the only player from his side to feature in the top 10 leading run getters of the IPL 2016.

This year, there seems to be some extra bit of pressure on Raina as well. This is largely due to the fact that he has been out of action from the international side for quite some time. Also, he was not handed a central contract by the BCCI this year which has surely left the player disappointed.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-62992" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Gujarat-Lions-batsman-Aaron-Finch.jpg" alt="Gujarat Lions (GL) batsman Aaron Finch" width="600" height="522" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-62992" class="wp-caption-text">Mumbai: Gujarat Lions batsman Aaron Finch in action during an IPL match between Mumbai Indians and Gujarat Lions at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on April 16, 2016. (Photo Source: Sandeep Mahankal/IANS)</figcaption>

Aaron Finch has been a seasoned opening batsman for the Australian cricket. The attacking batsman has the record of highest individual score in T20I cricket. Despite the fact that he has been such a successful international batsman, Finch had largely been disappointing in the IPL up until the last year. His stints at the IPL has been marred by injuries.

It was his stint with the Gujarat franchise last year that saw him perform heavily in the tournament after having a poor season with Mumbai Indians. He mustered 393 runs in the 13 matches that he played in with a brilliant average of 39.30. He was the stand out performer for the Lions and hit as many as 5 fifties in the season.

All this came at a very healthy strike rate of 131.43. Needless to say, the Lions would want him to play in the same form yet again. The only concern for them is to find a suitable position to play Finch at. If he opens, they will have to shuffle someone like Jason Roy &#8211; who is not known to bat at any other position.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-64213" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Dinesh-Karthik.jpg" alt="Dinesh Karthik Gujarat Lions" width="600" height="410" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-64213" class="wp-caption-text">Dinesh Karthik. (Photo Source: BCCI)</figcaption>

Dinesh Karthik was largely under the scanner for his lackluster show with the wicket keeping gloves in the previous edition of the IPL. However, this cannot take anything away from the fact that he has been one of the most prolific domestic wicket keepers in the Indian circuit in the recent times.

He needs to come up with improved performances not only with the gloves but also with the bat this season. He is the first choice wicket keeper in the side who is expected to shoulder responsibility in the middle order as well. He scored 335 runs in the 16 matches that he played in the previous season.

He averaged just over 25 with the bat and scored 3 crucial fifties for the team. The point that is worth noting is that Karthik has often failed to convert the impressive starts that he gets into bigger scores. The dearth of high scores is very evident from the stats that despite having played 138 IPL matches in his career, he averages only 23.75 with the bat.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-92357" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Ishan-Kishan.jpg" alt="Ishan Kishan Ranji Trophy 2016-17" width="600" height="399" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-92357" class="wp-caption-text">Ishan Kishan. (Photo Source: Sportstarlive)</figcaption>

Ishan Kishan is seen as one of the most promising young batsmen in the Indian circuit. He came in with a huge reputation in the previous edition of the IPL. Based on his impressive show in the U19 level for the national side, he was contracted by the Gujarat Lions.

He played a handful of 5 matches last season but failed to impress on any of the occasions. All that he could score was a mere cumulative of 42 runs in those five matches with an average as low as 8. Now, this season he has surely come back as a stronger player. He scored heavily in the domestic season this year.

Playing for Jharkhand in the Ranji Trophy this year, he registered his career best score of 273 in one of the matches. He looked in good form in the Vijay Hazare Trophy as well. He hit a well compiled 53 against Saurashtra. His current rich form with the bat will most likely see him being drafted straight in the playing eleven for the match against Kolkata Knight Riders.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-65054" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/James-Faulkner-1.jpg" alt="James Faulkner IPL 9" width="600" height="391" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-65054" class="wp-caption-text">Pune: JP Faulkner of Gujarat Lions celebrates after winning against Rising Pune Supergiants in an IPL match at Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune on April 29, 2016. (Photo Source: Nitin Lawate/IANS)</figcaption>

James Faulkner is one of those players who is known as the products of the IPL. When he broke out at the scene for the Rajasthan Royals, he was an instant hit. He scalped two five wicket hauls in a single edition of the tournament and then carved a name for himself in the role of the finisher for the him.

Some extraordinary performances in the tournament saw him make his debut at the international level and play the same roles for the Australian national team. However, in the recent times, he has failed to live up to his reputation. So this tournament can well be the shaping of the second coming of the all-rounder. He played a handful of matches for the Lions last season.

In the 7 matches that he played, he picked up just 2 wickets with an economy as high as 9.82. With the bat, he could score only 77 runs across the 7 matches that he played. Clearly, the showing was poor but considering the fact that Dwayne Bravo is injured, Faulkner will walk in straight in to the team as the all-rounder. 

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-68474" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Praveen-Kumar.jpg" alt="Praveen Kumar" width="600" height="403" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-68474" class="wp-caption-text">Praveen Kumar. (Photo Source: BCCI)</figcaption>

Praveen Kumar is a domestic veteran in the Indian cricket circuit. The out of favor Indian pacer has the ability to swing the ball both ways early on in the innings. He might not be express quick but can trouble the batsman with his immaculate line and lengths. He had a decent outing for the Lions in the previous year.

Albeit he was not amongst the wickets frequently, he bowled some very tight overs. In the 16 matches that he played, he scalped 9 wicket and had an economy under 8 which is very impressive for someone who bowls up front and then in the death overs. Overall, he has featured in 113 T20 matches in the IPL history.

He has 84 wickets to his name in those matches with an economy of 7.67. He will be sharing the new ball duties with Dhawal Kulkarni. Kumar needs to step up to the occasion as the Lions might face a bowler crunch with the absence of the likes of Ravindra Jadeja and Dwayne Bravo.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-77469" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Shadab-Jakati.jpg" alt="Shadab Jakati" width="600" height="459" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-77469" class="wp-caption-text">Shadab Jakati. (Photo by Pal Pillai-IPL 2010/IPL via Getty Images)</figcaption>

Shadab Jakati, the left arm veteran spinner from Goa, was a massive hit when he turned up for the Chennai Super Kings in the initial editions of the IPL. He was a regular member of the team in the 2010, 2011 and the 2012 edition of the tournament.

Most recently, he was drafted in the Gujarat Lions in the previous edition of the tournament. He played 6 matches for the franchise and picked up a couple of wickets. Certainly, he would have liked to be in the wickets column more often than what he actually did.

Despite the poor numbers, he fits in the team as he is the like for like replacement of Ravindra Jadeja. With left arm spinner in the team, the bowling unit looks all the way more settled than a one without it.  He can use the long handle to good use as well. 

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-119933" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Shivil-Kaushik.jpg" alt="Shivil Kaushik" width="600" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-119933" class="wp-caption-text">Shivil Kaushik. (Photo Source: BCCI)</figcaption>

Shivil Kaushik was a revelation of his own kind in the IPL 2016. His &#8216;frog in the blender&#8217; action caught the attention of the fans and the media as soon he donned the Gujarat Lions jersey for the first time. He started off on a very promising note last year when he scalped 3/20 in a game against the Kings XI Punjab.

However, he soon lost the plot and could not be consistent with his bowling in the matches that followed. In the 7 matches that he played, he picked 6 wickets but his economy was on the higher end. He leaked runs at an economy of over 8 and that cost his side dearly at times.

Despite this fact, it was his unusual chinaman action that kept him as the dark horse of the team. Expect him to be drafted in the starting eleven due to the fact that the action still persists, and the batsmen will definitely fail to pick his action first up. 

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-69521" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Dhawal-Kulkarni.jpg" alt="Dhawal Kulkarni IPL 2016" width="600" height="419" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-69521" class="wp-caption-text">Dhawal Kulkarni. (Photo Source: BCCI)</figcaption>

Dhawal Kulkarni has often not been credited for his impressive performances. He was one of the top performers for the Gujarat Lions in the previous edition of the tournament. It will not be wrong to say that he was very instrumental in taking the side to the playoffs.

Despite not having any overseas big name in the bowling department, Kulkarni has ensured that he does not let the Lions feel the shortage of bowling firepower. He will be taking the new ball for the team in the important encounter. Considering the strong batting line up of Kolkata Knight Riders, the Lions will need some tight bowling up front which Dhawal is very much capable of doing.

In the 14 matches he played, he scalped 18 wickets at an average of 20.22 and had the best figures of 4/14. He was the leading wicket taker for the Lions in IPL 2016. Along with Dwayne Bravo, the duo were the wicket takers for the team. However, in this match, they will be without the services of Bravo and hence Dhawal will have a stiff task in hand.

The Gujarat Lions will be hosting the Kolkata Knight Riders in their first home match of IPL 10 at Rajkot on April 7. In the previous edition of the tournament, there were two new franchises being drafted in. The Rising Pune Supergiant failed to get their act together and finished at the penultimate position in the points table. However, the other newbie – the Gujarat Lions – were very impressive with their show in the tournament.
Despite being a new side, they got their lineup and combinations spot to enter in the playoffs of the season. They missed out on making it to the finals but they will hope that they come up with an improved performance this season. They have a very strong overseas batting contingent and boast of a plethora of overseas openers – Brendon McCullum, Jason Roy, Dwayne Smith and Aaron Finch.
The injury concerns are there too with Dwayne Bravo and Ravindra Jadeja being out of the line up for at least the first few games. They will have to look for ideal replacements for both the players. They have all-rounders Andrew Tye and James Faulkner in their line up too. So the pool of players to pick from is huge and replacements picking should not be a concern. In the bowling department, they have a strong Indian bowling powerhouse to do majority of the talking.
Brendon McCullum
<figure id="attachment_68697" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-68697" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-68697" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Brendon-McCullum-1.jpg" alt="Brendon McCullum, Gujarat Lions" width="600" height="366" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-68697" class="wp-caption-text">Brendon McCullum. (Photo Source: BCCI)</figcaption></figure>
Hard hitting batsman Brendon McCullum retired from international cricket almost a year ago. However, he still continues to be a tormenting player in the shortest format of the game. He recently played in the Big Bash League for the Brisbane Heat and was one of the top performers for his side.
He is a value addition for sure for the fact that he can be a valuable asset in advising the skipper at key junctures. He was quite impressive in the previous edition for the Gujarat Lions. McCullum amassed 354 runs in the 16 matches that he played for the franchise with a strike rate of 135.11. He has been a perennial performer in the IPL and has played 92 matches for his 2434 runs with a century and two fifties to his name.
This year, he will be one of the seniormost players in the side and will have to shoulder responsibility at the top order. If he manages to give a flying start to the Lions, they will be well on course for a big total. He is equally dangerous in case the team bats second.
Jason Roy
<figure id="attachment_68949" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-68949" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-68949" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Jason-Roy.jpg" alt="Jason Roy" width="600" height="405" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-68949" class="wp-caption-text">Jason Roy of Surrey in action batting during the NatWest T20 Blast match. (Photo by Stephen Pond/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
One of the biggest surprises of the IPL auctions this year was when English opener Jason Roy had gone unsold. He was expected to be one of the top attractions considering the red hot form he was in. The Gujarat franchise made a very wise move by roping in him in the second round of auctions.
Now, with Roy in the side, they have an ideal partner for McCullum to go all guns blazing in the top order. Roy has every probability to be picked ahead of Aaron Finch and Dwayne Smith. Finch has been out of form in the recent times and that comes as an added plus for Roy.
Roy has played 136 matches thus far in the shortest format of the game and hence the format is definitely not a new one for him. It suits his game of play. He has 3585 runs to his name at an average of 28.45 with a very healthy strike rate of 144.49. He has four T20 centuries in his career to go with 22 fifties.
Suresh Raina
<figure id="attachment_70358" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-70358" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-70358" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Suresh-Raina-4.jpg" alt="Suresh Raina" width="600" height="411" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-70358" class="wp-caption-text">Suresh Raina. (Photo Source: BCCI)</figcaption></figure>
Suresh Raina will be leading the team this season as well. He was spot on with his captaincy in the previous season for the Gujarat Lions and will be hoping to continue with the same in this season as well. However, the team would expect more than just captaincy from the veteran Indian player.
He has been a top performer in the IPL and in one of the leading batsman in the tournament. For the Gujarat franchise last season, he scored 399 runs at an average of 28.5. He had three half centuries under his belt throughout the season. Interestingly, he was the leading run scorer for his side and was the only player from his side to feature in the top 10 leading run getters of the IPL 2016.
This year, there seems to be some extra bit of pressure on Raina as well. This is largely due to the fact that he has been out of action from the international side for quite some time. Also, he was not handed a central contract by the BCCI this year which has surely left the player disappointed.
Aaron Finch
<figure id="attachment_62992" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-62992" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-62992" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Gujarat-Lions-batsman-Aaron-Finch.jpg" alt="Gujarat Lions (GL) batsman Aaron Finch" width="600" height="522" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-62992" class="wp-caption-text">Mumbai: Gujarat Lions batsman Aaron Finch in action during an IPL match between Mumbai Indians and Gujarat Lions at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on April 16, 2016. (Photo Source: Sandeep Mahankal/IANS)</figcaption></figure>
Aaron Finch has been a seasoned opening batsman for the Australian cricket. The attacking batsman has the record of highest individual score in T20I cricket. Despite the fact that he has been such a successful international batsman, Finch had largely been disappointing in the IPL up until the last year. His stints at the IPL has been marred by injuries.
It was his stint with the Gujarat franchise last year that saw him perform heavily in the tournament after having a poor season with Mumbai Indians. He mustered 393 runs in the 13 matches that he played in with a brilliant average of 39.30. He was the stand out performer for the Lions and hit as many as 5 fifties in the season.
All this came at a very healthy strike rate of 131.43. Needless to say, the Lions would want him to play in the same form yet again. The only concern for them is to find a suitable position to play Finch at. If he opens, they will have to shuffle someone like Jason Roy – who is not known to bat at any other position.
Dinesh Karthik
<figure id="attachment_64213" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-64213" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-64213" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Dinesh-Karthik.jpg" alt="Dinesh Karthik Gujarat Lions" width="600" height="410" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-64213" class="wp-caption-text">Dinesh Karthik. (Photo Source: BCCI)</figcaption></figure>
Dinesh Karthik was largely under the scanner for his lackluster show with the wicket keeping gloves in the previous edition of the IPL. However, this cannot take anything away from the fact that he has been one of the most prolific domestic wicket keepers in the Indian circuit in the recent times.
He needs to come up with improved performances not only with the gloves but also with the bat this season. He is the first choice wicket keeper in the side who is expected to shoulder responsibility in the middle order as well. He scored 335 runs in the 16 matches that he played in the previous season.
He averaged just over 25 with the bat and scored 3 crucial fifties for the team. The point that is worth noting is that Karthik has often failed to convert the impressive starts that he gets into bigger scores. The dearth of high scores is very evident from the stats that despite having played 138 IPL matches in his career, he averages only 23.75 with the bat.
Ishan Kishan
<figure id="attachment_92357" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-92357" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-92357" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Ishan-Kishan.jpg" alt="Ishan Kishan Ranji Trophy 2016-17" width="600" height="399" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-92357" class="wp-caption-text">Ishan Kishan. (Photo Source: Sportstarlive)</figcaption></figure>
Ishan Kishan is seen as one of the most promising young batsmen in the Indian circuit. He came in with a huge reputation in the previous edition of the IPL. Based on his impressive show in the U19 level for the national side, he was contracted by the Gujarat Lions.
He played a handful of 5 matches last season but failed to impress on any of the occasions. All that he could score was a mere cumulative of 42 runs in those five matches with an average as low as 8. Now, this season he has surely come back as a stronger player. He scored heavily in the domestic season this year.
Playing for Jharkhand in the Ranji Trophy this year, he registered his career best score of 273 in one of the matches. He looked in good form in the Vijay Hazare Trophy as well. He hit a well compiled 53 against Saurashtra. His current rich form with the bat will most likely see him being drafted straight in the playing eleven for the match against Kolkata Knight Riders.
James Faulkner
<figure id="attachment_65054" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-65054" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-65054" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/James-Faulkner-1.jpg" alt="James Faulkner IPL 9" width="600" height="391" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-65054" class="wp-caption-text">Pune: JP Faulkner of Gujarat Lions celebrates after winning against Rising Pune Supergiants in an IPL match at Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune on April 29, 2016. (Photo Source: Nitin Lawate/IANS)</figcaption></figure>
James Faulkner is one of those players who is known as the products of the IPL. When he broke out at the scene for the Rajasthan Royals, he was an instant hit. He scalped two five wicket hauls in a single edition of the tournament and then carved a name for himself in the role of the finisher for the him.
Some extraordinary performances in the tournament saw him make his debut at the international level and play the same roles for the Australian national team. However, in the recent times, he has failed to live up to his reputation. So this tournament can well be the shaping of the second coming of the all-rounder. He played a handful of matches for the Lions last season.
In the 7 matches that he played, he picked up just 2 wickets with an economy as high as 9.82. With the bat, he could score only 77 runs across the 7 matches that he played. Clearly, the showing was poor but considering the fact that Dwayne Bravo is injured, Faulkner will walk in straight in to the team as the all-rounder. 
Praveen Kumar
<figure id="attachment_68474" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-68474" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-68474" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Praveen-Kumar.jpg" alt="Praveen Kumar" width="600" height="403" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-68474" class="wp-caption-text">Praveen Kumar. (Photo Source: BCCI)</figcaption></figure>
Praveen Kumar is a domestic veteran in the Indian cricket circuit. The out of favor Indian pacer has the ability to swing the ball both ways early on in the innings. He might not be express quick but can trouble the batsman with his immaculate line and lengths. He had a decent outing for the Lions in the previous year.
Albeit he was not amongst the wickets frequently, he bowled some very tight overs. In the 16 matches that he played, he scalped 9 wicket and had an economy under 8 which is very impressive for someone who bowls up front and then in the death overs. Overall, he has featured in 113 T20 matches in the IPL history.
He has 84 wickets to his name in those matches with an economy of 7.67. He will be sharing the new ball duties with Dhawal Kulkarni. Kumar needs to step up to the occasion as the Lions might face a bowler crunch with the absence of the likes of Ravindra Jadeja and Dwayne Bravo.
Shadab Jakati
<figure id="attachment_77469" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-77469" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-77469" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Shadab-Jakati.jpg" alt="Shadab Jakati" width="600" height="459" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-77469" class="wp-caption-text">Shadab Jakati. (Photo by Pal Pillai-IPL 2010/IPL via Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
Shadab Jakati, the left arm veteran spinner from Goa, was a massive hit when he turned up for the Chennai Super Kings in the initial editions of the IPL. He was a regular member of the team in the 2010, 2011 and the 2012 edition of the tournament.
Most recently, he was drafted in the Gujarat Lions in the previous edition of the tournament. He played 6 matches for the franchise and picked up a couple of wickets. Certainly, he would have liked to be in the wickets column more often than what he actually did.
Despite the poor numbers, he fits in the team as he is the like for like replacement of Ravindra Jadeja. With left arm spinner in the team, the bowling unit looks all the way more settled than a one without it.&nbsp; He can use the long handle to good use as well.&nbsp;
Shivil Kaushik
<figure id="attachment_119933" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-119933" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-119933" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Shivil-Kaushik.jpg" alt="Shivil Kaushik" width="600" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-119933" class="wp-caption-text">Shivil Kaushik. (Photo Source: BCCI)</figcaption></figure>
Shivil Kaushik was a revelation of his own kind in the IPL 2016. His ‘frog in the blender’ action caught the attention of the fans and the media as soon he donned the Gujarat Lions jersey for the first time. He started off on a very promising note last year when he scalped 3/20 in a game against the Kings XI Punjab.
However, he soon lost the plot and could not be consistent with his bowling in the matches that followed. In the 7 matches that he played, he picked 6 wickets but his economy was on the higher end. He leaked runs at an economy of over 8 and that cost his side dearly at times.
Despite this fact, it was his unusual chinaman action that kept him as the dark horse of the team. Expect him to be drafted in the starting eleven due to the fact that the action still persists, and the batsmen will definitely fail to pick his action first up. 
Dhawal Kulkarni
<figure id="attachment_69521" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-69521" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-69521" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Dhawal-Kulkarni.jpg" alt="Dhawal Kulkarni IPL 2016" width="600" height="419" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-69521" class="wp-caption-text">Dhawal Kulkarni. (Photo Source: BCCI)</figcaption></figure>
Dhawal Kulkarni has often not been credited for his impressive performances. He was one of the top performers for the Gujarat Lions in the previous edition of the tournament. It will not be wrong to say that he was very instrumental in taking the side to the playoffs.
Despite not having any overseas big name in the bowling department, Kulkarni has ensured that he does not let the Lions feel the shortage of bowling firepower. He will be taking the new ball for the team in the important encounter. Considering the strong batting line up of Kolkata Knight Riders, the Lions will need some tight bowling up front which Dhawal is very much capable of doing.
In the 14 matches he played, he scalped 18 wickets at an average of 20.22 and had the best figures of 4/14. He was the leading wicket taker for the Lions in IPL 2016. Along with Dwayne Bravo, the duo were the wicket takers for the team. However, in this match, they will be without the services of Bravo and hence Dhawal will have a stiff task in hand.
&nbsp;

The Gujarat Lions will be hosting the Kolkata Knight Riders in their first home match of IPL 10 at Rajkot on April 7. In the previous edition of the tournament, there were two new franchises being drafted in. The Rising Pune Supergiant failed to get their act together and finished at the penultimate position in the points table. However, the other newbie &#8211; the Gujarat Lions &#8211; were very impressive with their show in the tournament.
Despite being a new side, they got their lineup and combinations spot to enter in the playoffs of the season. They missed out on making it to the finals but they will hope that they come up with an improved performance this season. They have a very strong overseas batting contingent and boast of a plethora of overseas openers &#8211; Brendon McCullum, Jason Roy, Dwayne Smith and Aaron Finch.
The injury concerns are there too with Dwayne Bravo and Ravindra Jadeja being out of the line up for at least the first few games. They will have to look for ideal replacements for both the players. They have all-rounders Andrew Tye and James Faulkner in their line up too. So the pool of players to pick from is huge and replacements picking should not be a concern. In the bowling department, they have a strong Indian bowling powerhouse to do majority of the talking.
Brendon McCullum
<figure id="attachment_68697" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-68697" style="width: 600px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-68697" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Brendon-McCullum-1.jpg" alt="Brendon McCullum, Gujarat Lions" width="600" height="366" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-68697" class="wp-caption-text">Brendon McCullum. (Photo Source: BCCI)</figcaption></figure>
Hard hitting batsman Brendon McCullum retired from international cricket almost a year ago. However, he still continues to be a tormenting player in the shortest format of the game. He recently played in the Big Bash League for the Brisbane Heat and was one of the top performers for his side.
He is a value addition for sure for the fact that he can be a valuable asset in advising the skipper at key junctures. He was quite impressive in the previous edition for the Gujarat Lions. McCullum amassed 354 runs in the 16 matches that he played for the franchise with a strike rate of 135.11. He has been a perennial performer in the IPL and has played 92 matches for his 2434 runs with a century and two fifties to his name.
This year, he will be one of the seniormost players in the side and will have to shoulder responsibility at the top order. If he manages to give a flying start to the Lions, they will be well on course for a big total. He is equally dangerous in case the team bats second.
Jason Roy
<figure id="attachment_68949" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-68949" style="width: 600px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-68949" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Jason-Roy.jpg" alt="Jason Roy" width="600" height="405" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-68949" class="wp-caption-text">Jason Roy of Surrey in action batting during the NatWest T20 Blast match. (Photo by Stephen Pond/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
One of the biggest surprises of the IPL auctions this year was when English opener Jason Roy had gone unsold. He was expected to be one of the top attractions considering the red hot form he was in. The Gujarat franchise made a very wise move by roping in him in the second round of auctions.
Now, with Roy in the side, they have an ideal partner for McCullum to go all guns blazing in the top order. Roy has every probability to be picked ahead of Aaron Finch and Dwayne Smith. Finch has been out of form in the recent times and that comes as an added plus for Roy.
Roy has played 136 matches thus far in the shortest format of the game and hence the format is definitely not a new one for him. It suits his game of play. He has 3585 runs to his name at an average of 28.45 with a very healthy strike rate of 144.49. He has four T20 centuries in his career to go with 22 fifties.
Suresh Raina
<figure id="attachment_70358" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-70358" style="width: 600px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-70358" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Suresh-Raina-4.jpg" alt="Suresh Raina" width="600" height="411" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-70358" class="wp-caption-text">Suresh Raina. (Photo Source: BCCI)</figcaption></figure>
Suresh Raina will be leading the team this season as well. He was spot on with his captaincy in the previous season for the Gujarat Lions and will be hoping to continue with the same in this season as well. However, the team would expect more than just captaincy from the veteran Indian player.
He has been a top performer in the IPL and in one of the leading batsman in the tournament. For the Gujarat franchise last season, he scored 399 runs at an average of 28.5. He had three half centuries under his belt throughout the season. Interestingly, he was the leading run scorer for his side and was the only player from his side to feature in the top 10 leading run getters of the IPL 2016.
This year, there seems to be some extra bit of pressure on Raina as well. This is largely due to the fact that he has been out of action from the international side for quite some time. Also, he was not handed a central contract by the BCCI this year which has surely left the player disappointed.
Aaron Finch
<figure id="attachment_62992" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-62992" style="width: 600px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-62992" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Gujarat-Lions-batsman-Aaron-Finch.jpg" alt="Gujarat Lions (GL) batsman Aaron Finch" width="600" height="522" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-62992" class="wp-caption-text">Mumbai: Gujarat Lions batsman Aaron Finch in action during an IPL match between Mumbai Indians and Gujarat Lions at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on April 16, 2016. (Photo Source: Sandeep Mahankal/IANS)</figcaption></figure>
Aaron Finch has been a seasoned opening batsman for the Australian cricket. The attacking batsman has the record of highest individual score in T20I cricket. Despite the fact that he has been such a successful international batsman, Finch had largely been disappointing in the IPL up until the last year. His stints at the IPL has been marred by injuries.
It was his stint with the Gujarat franchise last year that saw him perform heavily in the tournament after having a poor season with Mumbai Indians. He mustered 393 runs in the 13 matches that he played in with a brilliant average of 39.30. He was the stand out performer for the Lions and hit as many as 5 fifties in the season.
All this came at a very healthy strike rate of 131.43. Needless to say, the Lions would want him to play in the same form yet again. The only concern for them is to find a suitable position to play Finch at. If he opens, they will have to shuffle someone like Jason Roy &#8211; who is not known to bat at any other position.
Dinesh Karthik
<figure id="attachment_64213" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-64213" style="width: 600px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-64213" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Dinesh-Karthik.jpg" alt="Dinesh Karthik Gujarat Lions" width="600" height="410" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-64213" class="wp-caption-text">Dinesh Karthik. (Photo Source: BCCI)</figcaption></figure>
Dinesh Karthik was largely under the scanner for his lackluster show with the wicket keeping gloves in the previous edition of the IPL. However, this cannot take anything away from the fact that he has been one of the most prolific domestic wicket keepers in the Indian circuit in the recent times.
He needs to come up with improved performances not only with the gloves but also with the bat this season. He is the first choice wicket keeper in the side who is expected to shoulder responsibility in the middle order as well. He scored 335 runs in the 16 matches that he played in the previous season.
He averaged just over 25 with the bat and scored 3 crucial fifties for the team. The point that is worth noting is that Karthik has often failed to convert the impressive starts that he gets into bigger scores. The dearth of high scores is very evident from the stats that despite having played 138 IPL matches in his career, he averages only 23.75 with the bat.
Ishan Kishan
<figure id="attachment_92357" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-92357" style="width: 600px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-92357" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Ishan-Kishan.jpg" alt="Ishan Kishan Ranji Trophy 2016-17" width="600" height="399" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-92357" class="wp-caption-text">Ishan Kishan. (Photo Source: Sportstarlive)</figcaption></figure>
Ishan Kishan is seen as one of the most promising young batsmen in the Indian circuit. He came in with a huge reputation in the previous edition of the IPL. Based on his impressive show in the U19 level for the national side, he was contracted by the Gujarat Lions.
He played a handful of 5 matches last season but failed to impress on any of the occasions. All that he could score was a mere cumulative of 42 runs in those five matches with an average as low as 8. Now, this season he has surely come back as a stronger player. He scored heavily in the domestic season this year.
Playing for Jharkhand in the Ranji Trophy this year, he registered his career best score of 273 in one of the matches. He looked in good form in the Vijay Hazare Trophy as well. He hit a well compiled 53 against Saurashtra. His current rich form with the bat will most likely see him being drafted straight in the playing eleven for the match against Kolkata Knight Riders.
James Faulkner
<figure id="attachment_65054" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-65054" style="width: 600px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-65054" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/James-Faulkner-1.jpg" alt="James Faulkner IPL 9" width="600" height="391" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-65054" class="wp-caption-text">Pune: JP Faulkner of Gujarat Lions celebrates after winning against Rising Pune Supergiants in an IPL match at Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune on April 29, 2016. (Photo Source: Nitin Lawate/IANS)</figcaption></figure>
James Faulkner is one of those players who is known as the products of the IPL. When he broke out at the scene for the Rajasthan Royals, he was an instant hit. He scalped two five wicket hauls in a single edition of the tournament and then carved a name for himself in the role of the finisher for the him.
Some extraordinary performances in the tournament saw him make his debut at the international level and play the same roles for the Australian national team. However, in the recent times, he has failed to live up to his reputation. So this tournament can well be the shaping of the second coming of the all-rounder. He played a handful of matches for the Lions last season.
In the 7 matches that he played, he picked up just 2 wickets with an economy as high as 9.82. With the bat, he could score only 77 runs across the 7 matches that he played. Clearly, the showing was poor but considering the fact that Dwayne Bravo is injured, Faulkner will walk in straight in to the team as the all-rounder. 
Praveen Kumar
<figure id="attachment_68474" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-68474" style="width: 600px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-68474" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Praveen-Kumar.jpg" alt="Praveen Kumar" width="600" height="403" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-68474" class="wp-caption-text">Praveen Kumar. (Photo Source: BCCI)</figcaption></figure>
Praveen Kumar is a domestic veteran in the Indian cricket circuit. The out of favor Indian pacer has the ability to swing the ball both ways early on in the innings. He might not be express quick but can trouble the batsman with his immaculate line and lengths. He had a decent outing for the Lions in the previous year.
Albeit he was not amongst the wickets frequently, he bowled some very tight overs. In the 16 matches that he played, he scalped 9 wicket and had an economy under 8 which is very impressive for someone who bowls up front and then in the death overs. Overall, he has featured in 113 T20 matches in the IPL history.
He has 84 wickets to his name in those matches with an economy of 7.67. He will be sharing the new ball duties with Dhawal Kulkarni. Kumar needs to step up to the occasion as the Lions might face a bowler crunch with the absence of the likes of Ravindra Jadeja and Dwayne Bravo.
Shadab Jakati
<figure id="attachment_77469" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-77469" style="width: 600px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-77469" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Shadab-Jakati.jpg" alt="Shadab Jakati" width="600" height="459" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-77469" class="wp-caption-text">Shadab Jakati. (Photo by Pal Pillai-IPL 2010/IPL via Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
Shadab Jakati, the left arm veteran spinner from Goa, was a massive hit when he turned up for the Chennai Super Kings in the initial editions of the IPL. He was a regular member of the team in the 2010, 2011 and the 2012 edition of the tournament.
Most recently, he was drafted in the Gujarat Lions in the previous edition of the tournament. He played 6 matches for the franchise and picked up a couple of wickets. Certainly, he would have liked to be in the wickets column more often than what he actually did.
Despite the poor numbers, he fits in the team as he is the like for like replacement of Ravindra Jadeja. With left arm spinner in the team, the bowling unit looks all the way more settled than a one without it.  He can use the long handle to good use as well. 
Shivil Kaushik
<figure id="attachment_119933" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-119933" style="width: 600px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-119933" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Shivil-Kaushik.jpg" alt="Shivil Kaushik" width="600" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-119933" class="wp-caption-text">Shivil Kaushik. (Photo Source: BCCI)</figcaption></figure>
Shivil Kaushik was a revelation of his own kind in the IPL 2016. His &#8216;frog in the blender&#8217; action caught the attention of the fans and the media as soon he donned the Gujarat Lions jersey for the first time. He started off on a very promising note last year when he scalped 3/20 in a game against the Kings XI Punjab.
However, he soon lost the plot and could not be consistent with his bowling in the matches that followed. In the 7 matches that he played, he picked 6 wickets but his economy was on the higher end. He leaked runs at an economy of over 8 and that cost his side dearly at times.
Despite this fact, it was his unusual chinaman action that kept him as the dark horse of the team. Expect him to be drafted in the starting eleven due to the fact that the action still persists, and the batsmen will definitely fail to pick his action first up. 
Dhawal Kulkarni
<figure id="attachment_69521" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-69521" style="width: 600px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-69521" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Dhawal-Kulkarni.jpg" alt="Dhawal Kulkarni IPL 2016" width="600" height="419" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-69521" class="wp-caption-text">Dhawal Kulkarni. (Photo Source: BCCI)</figcaption></figure>
Dhawal Kulkarni has often not been credited for his impressive performances. He was one of the top performers for the Gujarat Lions in the previous edition of the tournament. It will not be wrong to say that he was very instrumental in taking the side to the playoffs.
Despite not having any overseas big name in the bowling department, Kulkarni has ensured that he does not let the Lions feel the shortage of bowling firepower. He will be taking the new ball for the team in the important encounter. Considering the strong batting line up of Kolkata Knight Riders, the Lions will need some tight bowling up front which Dhawal is very much capable of doing.
In the 14 matches he played, he scalped 18 wickets at an average of 20.22 and had the best figures of 4/14. He was the leading wicket taker for the Lions in IPL 2016. Along with Dwayne Bravo, the duo were the wicket takers for the team. However, in this match, they will be without the services of Bravo and hence Dhawal will have a stiff task in hand.
&nbsp;

Gujarat Lions will play Kolkata Knight Riders in their first home game at Rajkot.

IPL 10 Match 3 GL v KKR: Gujarat Lions Predicted XI

The Gujarat Lions will be hosting the Kolkata Knight Riders in their first home match of IPL 10 at Rajkot on April 7. In the previous edition of the