Why Hardik Is Important Against Punjab Kings?: GT vs PBKS, IPL 2022

GT vs PBKS, DY Patil Stadium. Rahul Tewatia has emerged as Mr. Dependable Finisher for the Gujarat Titans. The last time when GT played Punjab Kings, Tewatia did something no one expected and helped GT to become victorious in the game by scoring 13 runs in just 3 balls! No PBKS batter has performed consistently in the IPL 2022.

GT has multiple finishers at this point in the tournament. Starting with David Miller, then Rahul Tewatia, and now Rashid Khan too! “The way they are batting, it gives me the confidence that even our No. 8, 9, and 10 can win us the game,” the skipper Hardik Pandya said after their latest win against Royal Challengers Bangalore.

On the other hand, PBKS is seventh on the points table and has no consistent match winners. Batting strength is limited to the opening pair of batters. All the others can be categorized as “hitters”. A proper batter like Bairstow should not be used at the number 3 position when the skipper can adjust his own position down in the order. Agarwal should let Bairstow open with Dhawan, and he can bat at number 3. This will resolve the batting instability issues.

At DY Patil Stadium: Matches Won Lost PBKS 3 1 2 GT 3 2 1 Last Match Performances:

At Brabourne Stadium. GT won by six wickets.

PBKS – 189/9 GT – 190/4 L Livingstone – 64(27) R Khan – 3/22 S Gill – 96(59) K Rabada – 2/35 S Dhawan – 35(30) D Nalkande – 2/37 S Sudharsan – 35(30) R Chahar – 1/41 J Sharma – 23(11) L Ferguson – 1/33 H Pandya – 27(18) R Chahar – 22(14) H Pandya – 1/36 R Tewatia – 13(3) S Khan – 15(8) M Shami – 1/36 H2H Player Stats vs PBKS: M I R 100s 50s 30s Avg. SR S Gill 9 8 321 0 4 0 64.20 138.96 H Pandya 12 12 237 0 0 4 26.33 165.73 W Saha 11 9 167 0 1 1 23.86 115.17 R Tewatia 9 7 119 0 1 0 19.83 141.67 V Shankar 5 4 72 0 0 0 24.00 101.41 S Sudharsan 1 1 35 0 0 1 35.00 116.67 D Miller 1 1 6 0 0 0 – 150.00 M I W ER R Khan 11 11 21 5.80 V Aaron 9 9 6 8.14 R Tewatia 9 9 4 9.00 M Shami 6 6 4 10.00 H Pandya 12 7 4 11.52 L Ferguson 3 3 3 9.04 D Nalkande 1 1 2 12.33 V Shankar 5 1 0 6.00 Venue Stats:

The pain point for GT in this game is going to be Shubman Gill. He averages only 9.00 at this venue in three games and he has scored only 80 runs in the last six games. In contrast, Hardik Pandya averages 204.00 at this venue, scoring three fifties in three innings. So, it is clear that Hardik will have most of the batting responsibilities in this match.

(Overall T20 stats)

M I R 100s 50s 30s Avg. SR H Pandya 3 3 204 0 3 0 204.00 142.66 S Dhawan 7 7 100 0 0 1 14.29 103.09 A Manohar 3 3 80 0 0 2 26.67 150.94 L Livingstone 2 2 79 0 1 0 39.50 183.72 D Miller 3 3 70 0 0 1 35.00 142.86 B Rajapaksa 1 1 43 0 0 1 43.00 195.45 O Smith 2 2 38 0 0 0 38.00 165.22 M Wade 3 3 34 0 0 0 11.33 117.24 M Agarwal 1 1 32 0 0 1 32.00 133.33 S Gill 3 3 27 0 0 0 9.00 96.43 M I W ER Y Dayal 2 2 5 10.25 L Ferguson 3 3 4 8.50 R Chahar 2 2 3 6.25 R Khan 3 3 3 6.17 M Shami 3 3 3 7.58 H Pandya 3 2 2 6.92 K Rabada 1 1 1 7.25 A Joseph 1 1 1 7.75 Probable Playing 11:

PBKS: S Dhawan, M Agarwal (C), B Rajapaksa, L Livingstone, S Khan, J Sharma (WK), R Dhawan, A Singh, K Rabada, R Chahar, S Sharma

It will be interesting to see if Pandya bowls or not. Also, if Yash Dayal is fit then Pradeep Sangwan will miss the game?

GT: S Gill, W Saha (WK), S Sudharsan, D Miller, H Pandya (C), A Joseph, R Tewatia, R Khan, M Shami, L Ferguson, P Sangwan/Y Dayal

Fantasy Picks:

WK – W Saha, J SharmaBatters – S Dhawan, M Agarwal/B Rajapaksa, S GillAR – H Pandya, L Livingstone, R DhawanBowlers – K Rabada, R Khan, M Shami/P Sangwan, R Chahar/A Singh

Punt picks – R Tewatia, J Sharma, R Dhawan, P Sangwan

Common C/VC – S Dhawan, H Pandya, L Livingstone, R Khan

Punt C/VC – R Khan, W Saha, K Rabada, B Rajapaksa

GT Batters vs PBKS Bowlers:

S Gill:vs K Rabada – 2Wvs R Chahar – 2Wvs A Singh – 1W

S Sudharsan:vs R Chahar – 1W

M Wade:vs K Rabada – 2Wvs Livingstone – 1W

H Pandya:vs Rabada – 2Wvs A Singh – 1W

D Miller:vs Rabada – 1W

R Tewatia:vs Rabada – 2W

W Saha:vs Rabada – 1W

V Shankar:vs A Singh – 1Wvs Rabada – 1W

PBKS Batters vs GT Bowlers:

M Agarwal:vs R Khan – 1Wvs H Pandya – 2Wvs Tewatia – 1W

S Dhawan:vs Ferguson – 3Wvs H Pandya – 1Wvs R Khan – 4Wvs V Aaron – 1W

L Livingstone:vs Ferguson – 1Wvs R Khan – 4W

J Bairstow:vs H Pandya – 1Wvs Ferguson – 1W

J Sharma:vs Nalkande – 1W

O Smith:vs Nalkande – 1W

Interesting Records:

• Rashid Khan has ER of just 5.80 while playing against PBKS.
• Rashid Khan has dismissed Dhawan and Livingstone four times each.
• Gill averages 64.20 in eight innings against PBKS.
• Hardik Pandya has scored three fifties and averages 204.00 at DY Patil Stadium.
• Shubman Gill averages only 9.00 in three innings at DY Patil Stadium.