Gujarat Titans Coach Discusses Potential Inclusion of Kumar Kushagra Ahead of IPL Clash

Gujarat Titans Prepare for IPL Match Against Rajasthan Royals

Ahmedabad (Gujarat) [India] - On April 3, ahead of their Indian Premier League (IPL) encounter with the Rajasthan Royals, Gujarat Titans' head coach Aashish Kapoor shared insights regarding the possible inclusion of Jharkhand batter Kumar Kushagra in the playing XI. Kapoor indicated that Kushagra would be considered if there were any issues with the top three batsmen.

The Titans are looking to recover from a disappointing defeat against Punjab Kings in their opening match as they face the Rajasthan Royals, who boast a formidable pace attack and an aggressive opening pair in Vaibhav Suryavanshi and Yashasvi Jaiswal at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

During the pre-match press conference, Aashish emphasized that Kushagra should ideally bat in the top order rather than filling in for a struggling middle order that includes players like Shahrukh Khan, Rahul Tewatia, and Glenn Phillips, who have been lacking in form.

“If something happens to the top three, then Kumar Kushagra could definitely be in our plans. However, he has been successful in domestic cricket primarily as an opener or batting at number three. The question remains whether he would be effective batting at number six, where he would need to focus on hitting big,” he stated.

Kushagra was instrumental in Jharkhand's first Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy victory last year, amassing 422 runs in 10 innings with an impressive average of 60.28 and a strike rate of 161.68, including four half-centuries and a top score of 86*. He continued his strong performance in the subsequent season, scoring 368 runs in six innings at an average of 73.60, featuring two centuries and a fifty.

In the Ranji Trophy, he accumulated 572 runs across 12 innings, averaging 59.71, which included two centuries, one of which was a double century, along with a fifty.

On the topic of Rajasthan's new pacer Ashok Sharma, who had an impressive SMAT season with 22 wickets in 10 matches at an average of 15.63, Aashish praised his talent, noting that he is unafraid of being hit and eager to bowl at any moment.

“He is a remarkable talent. Performing well in domestic cricket is one thing, but showing courage in high-stakes matches is crucial, as we saw in the last game. He was not intimidated. Even top bowlers get hit in T20s, but he has the right mindset and speed. He is still young and has a bright future ahead,” Aashish concluded.