IPL 2023: The IPL 2022 champions Gujarat Titans can secure the services of talented pacer Shivam Mavi, due to the lack of quality Indian pace bowling options in the squad.
The current Gujarat Titans squad comprise fast bowling options like Lockie Ferguson, Mohammed Shami, Alzarri Joseph, Yash Dayal, Pradeep Sangwan, Varun Aaron and Darshan Nalkande.
Shami was terrific in the tournament, while Dayal, Joseph and Ferguson were also impressive. Sangwan and Nalkande played a handful of matches, and Aaron didn’t feature in any of the matches.
The youngsters Nalkande and Dayal can earn retentions, while Sangwan and Aaron are lying on the falling knife. Although Aaron is currently playing for Jharkhand in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Sangwan has not played a competitive match since his last IPL appearance in May.
If the reports doing the rounds are to be believed, the Titans’ management can trade Ferguson to KKR in a swap with Mavi.
IPL 2023: Shivam Mavi to feature for Gujarat Titans?
With Alzarri Joseph in sublime form in T20 cricket, he can be the regular overseas pace bowler for Titans in the forthcoming season. The development has cast doubt on Ferguson’s presence, as the tearaway pacer is prone to injuries, which was evident in the 2022 season as well.
The right-arm pacer Mavi secured only five wickets in six games at an expensive economy of 10.32 in IPL 2022 for KKR.
Although Mavi had an indifferent last season, he has been terrific for Uttar Pradesh in domestic cricket and possesses valuable experience playing in the IPL for the last few years.
Furthermore, Mavi holds the ability to swing the new ball, and can surely improve his death bowling, under the guidance of head coach Ashish Nehra in Gujarat Titans.
On the other hand, with the addition of Ferguson, KKR will have a terrific overseas pace bowling unit comprising Pat Cummins, Tim Southee and Andre Russell. All the franchises have the time until November 15 to finalize their retentions.
