May 23, 2025
Despite suffering their joint-second-worst defeat by runs in their history as an IPL team, Thursday night offered an encouraging glimpse into the future for Gujarat Titans (GT). The 33-run loss to Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) may have dented GT's hopes of a top-two finish in the IPL 2025 league phase, but it also provided a crucial opportunity for their middle-order batters to shine ahead of the playoffs.
Top-Heavy Line-Up
Coming into the match, GT had been the most top-heavy line-up of the tournament, with their top three batters scoring nearly 77% of all their runs. This success at the top had limited GT's middle-order batters to bit-part roles, with their No. 4 batting only twice inside the first ten overs in 12 matches, and their No. 5 not even once. As a result, GT had the worst average of any middle order (Nos. 4 to 7) this season, but also the best strike rate for those positions.
Vital Opportunity for Middle Order
With the playoffs looming, GT's middle order was in serious need of time at the crease. The early dismissals of Shubman Gill, B Sai Sudharsan, and Jos Buttler provided just that, with M Shahrukh Khan and Sherfane Rutherford stepping up to the challenge. Chasing 236, GT were three down in 9.3 overs, leaving their middle order with an equation that was steep but not impossible.
Shahrukh and Rutherford Shine
Shahrukh, who had been limited to bit-part roles in previous matches, seized the opportunity to showcase his talent. He displayed a mix of technique and power, hitting a series of boundaries and sixes to keep GT in the chase. Rutherford also brought the big hits, and suddenly, GT were in with a chance. At the 16-over mark, when they needed 54 off 24, ESPNcricinfo gave them a 42% win probability.
Encouraging Signs for Playoffs
Although GT ultimately fell short, the match provided significant positives going into the business end of IPL 2025. The middle order played a key role in taking GT to their seventh 200-plus total of the season, and Sai Sudharsan was quick to praise their efforts.
"After the first three wickets, our middle order batted really well and brought the game on course," Sai Sudharsan said at his post-match press conference. "From there, having four overs, 54 runs on the board, I think any other day we would have got those runs for the team."
"I feel [the] middle order has done pretty well [through the season]," he added. "Even in the first six, seven, eight games, Sherfane stepped up and got so many runs in the middle order and changed games for us. Even [in Mumbai] he changed the course of the game for us."
"Even Shahrukh bhai got an opportunity today to showcase his talent. So I feel the middle order is on course as well. I don't think there is some gap or something in the middle order. I feel, touch wood, things went well for all the three batters at the top so they didn't get more opportunity to play in the first half of the tournament."
Conclusion
Thursday's defeat may have been a worrying one for GT, but it also provided a silver lining in the form of their middle-order performance. With the playoffs just around the corner, GT will be hoping that their middle order can continue to build on this encouraging display and play a key role in their quest for IPL glory.
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