The ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season has been a rollercoaster ride for the Gujarat Titans (GT). After their dream run in the previous two seasons, winning the 2022 title and finishing as runners-up in 2023, GT now finds themselves in a tricky position, having slim playoff chances.
Their veteran bowler Umesh Yadav remains optimistic, believing in the team’s ability to secure the playoff berth. GT kept their playoff dreams alive with a vital win in the last game over Chennai Super Kings (CSK), staying in the hunt for a spot in the playoffs. With five victories in 12 matches, they’ve 10 points under their belt.
Gujarat’s chances of reaching the playoffs rely heavily on favourable results from other matches, given their minimal net run rate (-1.063). GT has two games left in the ongoing season, against Kolkata Knight Riders and Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Despite the odds against them, Yadav showed his confidence. “There are a lot of possibilities. The plan is to play our game and try and win both the (remaining) games. If we try to win by a good margin. Even Gill says he has seen miracles happening with this team,” Yadav said ahead of the game, as quoted by NDTV.
“We are trying our best. If there are any ups and downs for the top-placed teams, and we get to 14 points, then… Everyone wants to be there,” Yadav added.
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GT pacers come up with a plan to tackle Narine
The Vidarbha Express‘ optimism comes from GT’s remarkable run in their inaugural seasons. Notably, the Titans debuted during the 2022 edition of the cash-rich league, and emerged triumphant, led by Hardik Pandya. In the following edition, they lost by a small margin to be adjudged as runners-up, losing the title defence to Chennai Super Kings.
“In the last two years, we won one final and were the runner-up in the other, so we are trying to grab our chances,” he continued.
The seamer acknowledged the challenge that will come from KKR’s explosive opener Sunil Narine. Narine, who has left many oppositions clueless with his clean and fierce hitting at the top, will be the key to another successful campaign for the Knight Riders. However, Yadav says GT pacers know the way to tackle his prolonged stay at the crease.
“We will try to hit the deck, attack the stumps, and swing the ball, that would give the best chance to dismiss him since he is being sent to make quick runs, and he has been able to do that,” the ace pacer explained.
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Yadav also weighed in on the Impact Player rule, which has added a new dimension to the game. “The job is getting increasingly difficult for fast bowlers since the Impact Player rule has come. The top and the middle-order is not afraid of the consequences if they get out early, since you have batting till Nos 8 or 9,” he concluded.
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