IPL Cricket: Gujarat Titans v Lucknow Super Giants Preview

Gujarat Titans v Lucknow Super Giants 

TATA Indian Premier League

Monday March 28, 2022

Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai (3pm UK)

It seems I’m going against the popular opinion when I suggest that Gujarat look the stronger of the two new teams.

A number of bookmakers have Lucknow as the favourites for this fixture and rate them more likely to win the tournament. 

Just after February’s draft, Cricinfo praised the Super Giants for “a superb performance in their first ever auction”, while questioning the Titans’ depth.

To me, however, it is the Titans who look to have the better balance, and I would be concerned about the depth of bowling for the Super Giants, who I can’t deny look good with the bat.

Therefore, I’m happy to take the 1/1 on offer with the majority of firms, including Ladbrokes, for an opening round Gujarat victory, especially when you consider Lucknow will be without Quinton de Kock and Jason Holder due to international commitments.

Gujarat are also missing David Miller and Alzarri Joseph for the same reasons, but they seem better placed to cover the early absences.

Leading their batting will be Shubman Gill, Matthew Wade and the explosive Rahmanullah Gurbaz, while their bowling will be spearheaded by Rashid Khan, Mohammad Shami and Lockie Ferguson.

Rashid’s consistent run of wickets leads us to top bowler bet

Rashid Khan is the superstar bowler in the Indian Premier League.

He has moved from Sunrisers Hyderabad to begin the journey with newcomers Gujarat.

The Afghanistan leg-spinner is the favourite to be their top bowler in this fixture, at 12/5 with bet365.

Those are odds I would definitely be keen to take on a bowler with continued success.

In his last 10 games, seven of which have been T20 matches for either Afghanistan or Lahore Qalandars in the Pakistan Super League, he has only failed to strike once.

And he has claimed an impressive 93 wickets in 76 career IPL appearances since 2017.

Not only that, he is incredibly economical. 

So if somebody does match him for number of wickets taken, there is every chance he would win the bet by conceding fewer runs.