IPL 2022: 5 players Gujarat Titans might target in mega auction

The Indian Premier League has been one of the most important parts of a cricketer’s calendar. This is mainly because all the eyes are on the franchises and the star players who take part in this lucrative league. Thanks to the platform it provides, it has been the go-to place for anyone who wishes to make a mark.

This time, the BCCI has decided to include two more teams in the league, with the first one being Lucknow Supergiants and the other one being Gujarat Titans. Their inclusion has created a buzz in the circuit as all eyes will be on the management as they will build a team from the scratch.

As Gujarat Titans are the new franchise, the management, head coach and the captain need to pick the perfect players. Here are the top 5 players who might find a new home in the form of Gujarat Titans:

5. Pat Cummins

Pat Cummins has seen everything that one cricketer can witness in his career. He made an impressive debut against South Africa at the Wanderers in 2011. However, his momentum came to a halt as he was injured.

After a long gap, he made his comeback into the sport. And with every passing day, he became better. The result of his perseverance is his reputation as one of the best bowler in the world. And this is something the Gujarat Titans would need in their arsenal.

In 37 IPL games, Cummins has picked 38 wickets. An economy rate of 8.24 is decent for a fast bowler who bowls at the death and the best bowling figures of 4/34 shows that he can hamper the momentum of the opposition. Talking about his batting, Cummins can be destructive with the bat. He has an impressive strike rate of 140.44 with the bat in the toughest T20 league.

4. Dinesh Karthik 

Even though Dinesh Karthik wants to represent his home side in the IPL, the team that needs him is Gujarat Titans. This is mainly because the Titans are building a team from scratch, and hence, experience is a priceless asset for them. Karthik is a safe keeper and can provide valuable inputs to a young captain like Pandya.

In 213 IPL games, Karthik has scored 4046 runs with an average of 25.77. Adding on, a strike rate of 129.72 is decent for someone who can shift places in the batting order. Karthik, when on song, can destroy any bowling attack, and therefore, his presence in the middle order with Pandya makes Titans stronger.

Even though he is at the twilight of his career, Karthik’s ability to score during the vital games can shift the momentum. Being a calm and composed individual, Karthik can anchor the innings as well. There is no doubt that he is the best Indian wicket-keeping option available for Titans.

3. Deepak Chahar

Deepak Chahar has been MS Dhoni’s go-to man during the powerplay and the death overs. He can bowl tight lines and length to unsettle the batsmen. Apart from that, he is a terrific fielder as well.

In 63 IPL games, Chahar has picked 59 wickets, but the best part about his stats is his economy rate of 7.8. He has the ability to pick wickets during any stage of the game and w on song, he can bowl his full quota of overs in a single spell as well.

Talking about his batting, he has a decent strike rate of 138.6 in the IPL. The fans might remember him assisting Faf du Plessis during the first qualifier of the 2018 season against Sunrisers. Recently, he smashed 54 runs from 34 balls against South Africa as well.

2. David Warner

David Warner will go down as one of the most prolific batsmen in the history of the IPL. He was the backbone of the Sunrisers batting lineup However, things went haywire as the management decided to strip him of captaincy and ultimately, from the team.

But, Warner went on to win the Player of the Tournament award for his excellent contribution with the bat as Australia went on to win the T20 World Cup 2021. He was able to destroy bowling lineups and was an integral part of the Aussie leadership team. His inclusion in the Gujarat Titans side will be beneficial for someone like Shubman Gill, a youngster who takes time to settle down.

In 150 IPL games, Warner has scored 5449 runs with an impressive average of 41.6. Apart from that, he has a strike rate of 139.97 in the league which showcases his well-known ability to tear apart any attack. If picked up by the Titans management, the fans will be hoping that Warner makes it big this time.

1. Ravichandran Ashwin 

R Ashwin is well known for analytical skills. He can read the conditions excellently and can outfox the batsmen. Over the years, he has been the go-to bowler for any captain he has played under.

There is no doubt that Ashwin is underrated. Just because of a poor Champions Trophy final in 2017, he was dropped from the squad. But, his numbers prove that he has been nothing short of spectacular with the ball. In 167 IPL games, Ashwin has picked 145 wickets with an economy rate of 6.91.

Adding on, he can contribute with the bat as well. If there is a collapse in the batting order, Ashwin can hold on to one end if necessary. His awareness about the game can be beneficial for Hardik as well, who is new in the domain of captaincy.