IPL 2022: Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Mathew Wade, Or Wriddhiman Saha - Who Will Play?

Gujarat Titans (GT) will make their IPL debut today against another new team - Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). Ahead of their first of the season, Gujarat has some thinking to do for the top order. 

Jason Roy pulled out of the IPL 2022 due to bubble fatigue and Gujarat got Rahmanullah Gurbaz in the squad to replace him. 

Now, GT has three options in the opening slot - Gurbaz, Wriddhiman Saha, and Mathew Wade. We'll leave Shubman Gill out of consideration for the opening role for the moment. 

Gurbaz is a very fast starter and smacks spins. In the powerplay, the Afghanistani has a strike rate of 157 at an average of 25 - meaning he takes high risks during the restrictions. In the next five fours, Gurbaz scores at 138 and averages 35 - meaning he takes calculative risks. From 12-16, he once again ups the scoring rate to 153 while averaging 20 - meaning his risk approach often gets him out. 

Gurbaz is a terrific hitter of spin, especially wrist spin - 28 at 161 - and off-break - 21 at 156. Against medium pace, he strikes at 165 averaging 27, and against high pace Gurbaz scores at 135 at an average of 42. 

Wriddhiman Saha only plays T20 in IPL which reflects in his strike rate of128.7. He's at best an anchor - starts decently at 139 in the powerplay but then slows down in the next phase at a strike rate of 107 - however, during 7-11, Saha averages 51 which means he doesn't take risks. 

Mathew Wade is another out-and-out pace hitter. Wade is an all-phase batter who can smack high pace at any stage of the match. In the powerplay, Wade scores 144 and only gets better by the phases. 

However, Wade isn't the best bet vs spin. Against wrist spin - Wade scores at 133 and averages 42; against SLA - he scores at 107 and averages 17; against off-break - the Australia wicketkeeper has an average of 118 but a strike rate of 124. 

Considering the top three options in the batting lineup and one confirmed place of Shubman Gill, Gurbaz and Wade look like the best options for GT. Gill being an anchor batter, Gurbaz and Wade will complement him better. 

Also Read: IPL 2022 - Scorecard

Both Wade and Gurbaz have the additional skill of wicketkeeping which will help their case against Wriddhiman Saha.