IPL 2023: Shubman Gill is the X-factor for Gujarat Titans – Aaron Finch

Former Australian skipper Aaron Finch believes Shubman Gill is going to be the X-Factor for Gujarat Titans in the upcoming season. Finch reckons if Shubman Gill fires at all cylinders, then it will make their middle-order job easier, and if he doesn’t, then their top order could struggle to provide them good starts.

The youngster had played an instrumental role in taking Gujarat Titans to glory in their maiden season of the IPL, amassing 483 runs in 16 matches at an average of 34.50 and a strike rate of 132.32. Gill was the Titans’ second-highest run-getter behind skipper Hardik Pandya.

Aaron Finch told Star Sports, “I think a concern area for Gujarat Titans will be their top-order if Shubman Gill does not fire. Shubman Gill is the X-factor for the team. We know how freely he can score, he is such a damaging player and when he gets in, he goes really big. If he fires, their middle-order will function very well and they will be very hard to beat.

“They have got a lot of firepower and a lot of experience in that middle-order and a huge amount of power, but if they get in too early, they will be in trouble.”

Finch added the player to watch out for from Gujarat Titans will be David Miller. The left-hander had scored 481 runs in 16 matches in IPL 2022 at an average of 68.71 and a strike rate of 142.72. But Miller will miss the team’s opening match against Chennai Super Kings due to national commitment.

“The player to watch out this year for Gujarat Titans will be David Miller.”

Finch added that the team’s biggest strength is its fast bowling unit. GT has pacers like Mohammad Shami, Alzarri Joseph, and Yash Dayal in their roster.

“The biggest strength for Gujarat Titans is the depth in their fast bowling, and their experience. They can juggle around the players to find the perfect combination based on different surfaces.”

The reigning champions Gujarat Titans will begin their IPL 2023 campaign against Chennai Super League at their home ground of Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad on 31st March.