Match 4 of the IPL 2022 season will see the debut clash of the two new franchises in Gujarat Titans (GT) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) taking on one another at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on March 28, 2022.
Both the teams are new to the Indian Premier League but have many familiar faces. GT is captained by Hardik Pandya, while KL Rahul leads the LSG franchise. Before the IPL 2022 auction, Gujarat had drafted in Rashid Khan and Shubman Gill apart from Hardik Pandya from the pool of released players; while Lucknow drafted in KL Rahul, Ravi Bishnoi, and Marcus Stoinis.
Keeping this in mind, Team COC presents to you the Predicted Playing XIs for the GT v LSG IPL 2022 match.
GUJARAT TITANS
Gujarat Titans’ performance in the IPL 2022 auction left the experts with mixed feelings as many felt they had done exceedingly well, while others opined that despite the presence of some good players, GT lacked a solid backup for their main picks.
Hardik Pandya as captain, Rashid Khan as vice-captain, and Shubman Gill pick themselves in the playing XI for GT. Given that Matthew Wade will be available for them only after April 6, expect one of Rahmanullah Gurbaz or Wriddhiman Saha to open and keep wickets.
GT might play both keepers with either Saha batting at no.3 or they can bet on their rookie Abhinav Manohar who has some good numbers in the Indian domestic circuit. Next comes David Miller and Vijay Shankar, apart from Hardik Pandya at numbers 4, 5, and 6 to make a seriously solid middle order.
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The spin department is expected to be shouldered by Rashid Khan and Rahul Tewatia, both are also pretty handy with the bat as well.
Lockie Ferguson, GT’s INR 10-crore pick in the auction is expected to form the new ball pair with Mohammad Shami. As for the third pacer, GT has the option of left-arm pacers like Pradeep Sangwan and Yash Dayal, or right-handed seamer like Varun Aaron.
LUCKNOW SUPER GIANTS
The KL Rahul-led Lucknow team might be making their debut in IPL 2022, but their owners, the RPSG group previously owned the Rising Pune Supergiant franchise and are not new to the rigors of the IPL.
GT got the likes of Quinton de Kock, Evin Lewis for cheap prices in the auction. Their possible playing XI is expected to have a more balanced look when compared to their opponents in this match.
KL Rahul is expected to open with Quinton de Kock, while Evin Lewis provides the explosives at no.3. Manish Pandey is expected to play the anchor role, which he has been doing in IPL since 2008.
Then the LSG team has three all-rounders in Deepak Hooda, Krunal Pandya, and K Gowtham to provide the spin options and big-hitting prowess in death overs.
Leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi is expected to play a huge role with the ball, given that he was picked by Lucknow ahead of the IPL 2022 auction. As for the pacers, Avesh Khan will be leading the attack with possibly Dushmantha Chameera and Ankit Rajpoot for company.
The franchise will look stronger when Jason Holder, Andrew Tye, and Marcus Stoinis join the team in some time.
GT COC Predicted Playing XI:
Rahmanullah Gurbaz (WK), Shubman Gill, Abhinav Manohar, Vijay Shankar, David Miller, Hardik Pandya (C), Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Lockie Ferguson, Mohammad Shami, Yash Dayal
LSG COC Predicted Playing XI:
KL Rahul (C), Quinton De Kock (WK), Evin Lewis, Manish Pandey, Deepak Hooda, Krunal Pandya, K Gowtham, Ravi Bishnoi, Dushmantha Chameera, Avesh Khan, Ankit Rajpoot
