Gary Kirsten, batting coach and mentor for the Gujarat Titans (GT), acknowledged his team’s difficulties defending totals in the ongoing IPL 2023. The defending champions have had an up-and-down start to the season, having won three of their first five games.
Notably, both defeats occurred while defending totals against rival teams. This, according to coach Gary Kirsten, is the result of an unstable bowling lineup that has struggled to defend scores. He went on to say that the management is working to recruit the best players for the position.
“During the previous IPL, we defended four games and pursued down six. We have not yet defended a total this season, but it is still early in the tournament. Last year, our bowling lineup was set.
During a virtual press conference, Gary Kirsten stated, “This year, due to injuries and reliance on key overs players who are not necessarily ready to play.”
“Every team must be able to adapt to different situations,” he said. “For us, this is an opportunity to examine this area and potentially reset to ensure we have the right guys for the job.”
Gary Kirsten lavished praise on veteran pacer Mohit Sharma, who made his IPL return against Punjab Kings, for being a true source of inspiration for him. Mohit was named the Match’s Most Valuable Player after returning impressive bowling figures of 2/18 in four overs. In his next match against Rajasthan Royals, the 34-year-old gave up only seven runs in two overs.
“Mohit has truly been an inspiration for me. He participated in the previous IPL primarily as a net bowler. I find it extraordinary that someone of his age would do that. He is an exceptional professional who devotes a great deal of time to his craft. “He has performed exceptionally well in the last two games,” said Gary.
India
