IPL 2022: Predicting first-choice overseas players of Gujarat Titans

The CVC capitals-owned Gujarat Titans looked pretty good at the IPL 2022 mega auction. They bought a total of 20 players during the event. Mohammed Shami, Jason Roy, Lockie Ferguson were some of the key players purchased by them. The Kiwi pacer Lockie Ferguson was their top bid at INR 10 crore.

The Ahmedabad-based franchise picked Hardik Pandya, Rashid Khan, and Shubman Gill as their draft picks before the auction. They have already announced their skipper for the tournament that is Hardik Pandya. Pandya will lead the brand new IPL franchise and they will want him to win games for them. Pandya is unseen as a captain so it will be interesting to see how he manages everything.

The franchise looked very strategic even before all of these things started. They hired the World Cup-winning coach of India Gary Kirsten as their batting coach. The former India pacer Ashish Nehra will be the bowling coach for GT. The success of an IPL team lies in the combination of the four overseas players who play for them.

Predicting Gujarat (GT) starting four overseas players:

1. Matthew Wade

The Australian wicketkeeper-batter, Matthew Wade, was picked by the Gujarat Titans in the last few moments of the IPL 2022 auction. Jason Roy was predicted to be the opening partner of Shubman Gill but unfortunately he will miss out has announced that he will not play the 2022 season due to bio-bubble fatigue. Gujarat Titans can find a fantastic opener in Matthew Wade as ppening the batting is the favorite batting position for the Australian.

Wade was the hero of the 2021 ICC T20 World Cup where he smashed Shaheen Shah Afridi for back-to-back three maximums and sealed the victory for Australia in the semi-final. He was a vital player for the Australian cricket team in that tournament.

Wade is an experienced player and has played 60 T20I games, having scored 789 runs. He can get a long run by the Gujarat Titans. He also adds a quality wicketkeeping attribute to the table. GT will have many hopes with the Aussie.

2. David Miller

David Miller used to be a million-dollar baby a few years ago but things have changed now as he is not the same batter we used to know. Gujarat Titans bought him for INR 3 crore at the auction and are expected to back the South African in the 2022 season. They will want him to take the charge of their middle-order give quality efforts for them.

Miller has been playing the highest level of cricket for years and he has a huge experience of playing IPL too. He was brilliant for the Punjab Kings a few years back when he used to win games single-handedly for them.

The Proteas batter has played 89 IPL games and has scored 1974 runs at an average of 32.9. He also has a hundred in the league. Miller was initially not picked by any of the franchises and got picked by GT after a while. This can hurt the South African and we know how a wounded lion operates. Miller will be a vital lad for the Gujarat Titans

3. Rashid Khan

Rashid Khan’s mystery is probably the best thing that Gujarat Titans have for the upcoming season. Rashid has been unplayable in IPL for years and is a very deceiving leg-spinner. Rashid is not someone who has too many variations but he backs his basics and keeps bowling his stock balls and googlies.

Rashid is just 23 years old but has played around 300 T20 games. He has around 420 dismissals to name in the 20-over format. In the international T20s, he has played 56 games and has picked 103 wickets. Rashid will undoubtedly be the most important player for the franchise as he plays almost every T20 League around the globe.

The leggie made his IPL debut in 2017 and has 93 wickets in 76 games. Having him will be a blessing for the franchise. Rashid will lead the GT bowling lineup and their bowling will revolve around him.

4. Lockie Ferguson

The lethal fast-bowler from New Zealand, Lockie Ferguson will provide his services for the Gujarat Titans in the 2022 IPL season. Ferguson has tasted a decent amount of success in IPL and has had some amazing appearances for the Kolkata Knight Riders in a few seasons. He will have a big role while playing for GT.

He is one of the fastest bowler in the league alongside Anrich Nortje. His extraordinary skill of bowling fast is his best attribute of him. The pacer was all set to get a huge amount of success in international cricket but injuries became the resistance in his path. But, he has worked on his fitness and can play a crucial role in the Ahmedabad-based franchise.

Ferguson has played 22 IPL games and has 24 dismissals to his name. He has been playing international cricket since 2016 and has been a part of New Zealand’s crucial wins in some international games. He made his IPL debut for Rising Pune Supergiants in the 2017 IPL season.