IPL 2022, GT vs PBKS: Punjab Kings need a victory against Gujarat Titans as playoff battle heats up | Cricket News – Times of India

Gujarat Titans’ ability to wriggle out of improbable situations, march to convincing last-over victories or defend below-par totals has been a highlight of this IPL season.
Consider this: Two of their five chases this season culminated on the last ball while the rest were decided in the last over.
While doing well in parts and recording a triumph augurs well for the squad’s belief, what has not been on display is an all-round performance. That is something the Titans would like to change on Tuesday against the Punjab Kings at Pune’s DY Patil Stadium.
On the other hand, having triumphed in three out of their first five clashes, Punjab Kings have now won just one of their last four games and can least afford to put a foot wrong as the race for the playoffs heats up.

The onus will be on captain Mayank Agarwal and opener Shikhar Dhawan to give the team a brisk start and lay a solid platform for Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Liam Livingstone and Jonny Bairstow. On their day, Livingstone and Bairstow can pummel any attack. The Kings would be hoping for a strong performance from the duo.
While their bowling has lived up to expectations, the fifth-bowling option remains a conundrum for the finalists of the 2014 edition. Livingstone and Himachal all-rounder Rishi Dhawan together gave away 36 in four overs in the 20-run loss to LSG while against CSK, the English leg spinner and Rahul Chahar conceded 42 in four.

It remains to be seen whether hard-hitting all-rounder Odean Smith, whom Tewatia smashed for two sixes off the last two balls for a last-gasp win in the reverse fixture, gets a game. Punjab’s pace department, however, is a well-rounded one.