Shahrukh delivers but Gujarat Titans' middle order concerns remain

Lucknow Super Giants' parting shot to Gujarat Titans in this IPL was to push them into the unknown territory of what happens if Shubman Gill or Sai Sudharsan doesn't hold the fort at one end.

- Somshuvra Laha

KOLKATA: Lucknow Super Giants' parting shot to Gujarat Titans in this IPL was to push them into the unknown territory of what happens if Shubman Gill or Sai Sudharsan doesn't hold the fort at one end. A glimpse of that concern made itself visible at Ahmedabad when Gill, Sudharsan and Jos Buttler were back in the dugout with the team on 96, still needing 140 to win in 63 balls. This is where the middle order should have weighed in but barring Shahrukh Khan, who scored 57 off 29 balls, and some support from Sherfane Rutherford (38 off 22), GT showed little resistance.

Too much of anything skews the balance and that is exactly what Titans are facing in a campaign where their top-three has scored nearly 77% of all their runs, with the No.5 never being summoned within the first 10 overs in 12 matches. Even the high-scoring chases haven't made them sweat.

Only thrice before Thursday were Gujarat Titans stretched beyond 180 while chasing, the top three accounting for 161 out of a 232-run chase against Punjab Kings, 140 out of 204 against Delhi Capitals before Sai Sudharsan (108 no) and Shubman Gill (93 no) chased down 205 against DC with an unbroken opening stand.