When GT play the LSG on Thursday, May 22, at the Ahmedabad, Aakash Chopra believes that the team may wish to give Sherfane Rutherford more playing time by moving him up to No. 3 instead of Jos Buttler.
The majority of Gujarat’s runs in the current Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 have come from their top three batsmen, Jos Buttler, Sai Sudharsan, and Shubman Gill. With 617 runs in 12 innings, Sudharsan is the current Orange Cap holder. Shubman, who has amassed 601 runs from as many appearances, is just behind him. However, Buttler has amassed 500 runs in 11 innings. However, because he will be away on national service, the England batsman-wicketkeeper will not be eligible for the playoffs.
In the playoffs, Rutherford, who has been batting at number four all season, might bat one down without Buttler. Although Chopra acknowledged the significance of the Titans’ final two games, he believed that allowing Rutherford to bat at No. 3 against LSG would benefit the previous champions more in the long run.
“They compete for the top two spots. They still have two games to play. They can solidify their position as the top team if they win both games. They will score twenty-two points. Bengaluru and Punjab can only reach 21 since they are on odd points, even if they win their remaining games. On his YouTube channel, Chopra stated, “This team will examine it from that perspective.”
Since they have scored the most runs for this club, the top three will once again receive a little more attention. In the last game, the No. 3 didn’t have a chance. Jos Butter might be here.
Another idea would be to give Sherfane Rutherford more playing time because he will be more important in the playoffs,” he continued.
With 18 points from 12 games, Gujarat is comfortably atop the table and has already earned a spot in the playoffs.
Gujarat has a significant advantage. Aakash Chopra asked if Gerald Coetzee should start for Gujarat versus LSG rather than Kagiso Rabada. The Shubman-led team is the clear favourite to win on Thursday, according to the former cricket player who is now a commentator.
“Kagiso Rabada will not be present either. Would you like to play this game as Gerald Coetzee? They will undoubtedly think about these things. It goes without saying that Gujarat is well favoured. At home, they are playing. In the same video, he declared, “They are the far, far superior team.”
Shubman’s leadership abilities were commended by Chopra, who also predicted that the hosts will not alter their strategy against LSG.
“So far, Shubman Gill’s leadership has been outstanding. Mohammed Siraj, Sai Kishore, and Prasidh Krishna have all contributed to the bowling effort. They don’t seem to be altering their performance or strategies in any way. They won’t let their guard down,” Chopra noted.
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