Aakash Chopra Identifies Batter Whose Diminishing Form is Hurting GT
David Miller has struggled lately (IPLT20.com)
In the build-up to the IPL 2023 Qualifier 2 clash between the Gujarat Titans (GT) and the Mumbai Indians (MI) on Friday, May 26, former cricketer Aakash Chopra has highlighted concerns surrounding David Miller's performance, indicating a decline in his recent contributions.
Despite accumulating a respectable total of 259 runs at an average of 32.38 in 13 innings during the ongoing tournament, Miller's form has tapered off, failing to surpass double digits in his last three outings. As GT gears up for the crucial knockout encounter, the South African will undoubtedly be eager to redeem himself and make a more significant impact.
Analysing the GT batting lineup on his YouTube channel, Chopra expressed surprise at the team's recent experimentation with their order, resulting in an unpredictable sequence. He acknowledged Vijay Shankar's commendable performance as a number three batter against RCB, where he scored an impressive 50 runs.
"This team has surprised me slightly in the last few games. The batting order is generally not topsy-turvy but they have done that. Vijay Shankar batted at No. 3 against Bangalore and scored 50 runs, he batted really well," said Chopra.
However, the renowned commentator also raised concerns about the performance of Hardik Pandya at the same position in the subsequent match against CSK. He pointed out that Pandya has struggled to find his rhythm throughout the tournament. Furthermore, the former opener noted Miller's fading star as another factor negatively affecting GT's prospects.
"When the next match came in Chennai, Hardik Pandya was at No. 3. The guy is not in red-hot form because he hasn't even scored 300 runs in this entire tournament. David Miller's star has been on the wane recently, that's another development that is hurting Gujarat's team," added the erstwhile cricketer.
Meanwhile, with Mumbai Indians in formidable form, it is imperative for the defending champions to rectify their batting combination. The likes of Miller, Shanaka, and Shankar, in particular, needs to step up and contribute significantly by posting substantial and brisk scores. The outcome of this crucial encounter will be heavily influenced by how effectively GT addresses their batting concerns.
 "Jatin")
