Gujarat Titans have lost their last two games against clubs in the lower part of the table, following a five-game winning streak. If the Punjab Kings annihilated the Titans, the Mumbai Indians teased them until the very end before stealing a stunning victory.
Rashid was questioned if a setback like this may cause doubt in the camp. “Certainly,” the vice-captain began. “After being in the similar situation when we needed runs, we finished 4-5 matches.” Because of the nature of T20 cricket, you can get 20 off six on some days and only get 10 off six on others.
The two run-outs were game-changing moments: Rashid
“I think we did a good job throughout the game.” We made a good turnaround from where they started. The game-changing moments were the two run-outs. It’s feasible if you only need 8-9 in the last over. The beauty of T20 cricket is that all you need is one excellent strike. Sometimes getting nine out of six balls is difficult, while getting nine out of two balls is simple. We take what we’ve learned and go on.”
Rashid has 11 wickets in as many matches, putting him third on the team behind Mohammed Shami and Lockie Ferguson in terms of wicket-taking. It’s not surprising, given that most teams would rather leave Rashid alone than assault him. The legspinner has kept his economy rate under control and stated that he isn’t concerned about a lack of wickets as long as other bowlers acquire them.
“It’s always exciting to take wickets while bowling in T20s.” It’s a little different for me. I’m always thinking about the economy and how I need to bowl well. If I bowl economically, the batters are put under more pressure. He noted, “We expect the wickets to come from the other end.” “I have fewer wickets this year than in previous IPL seasons, but not by much.” It’s a 2-3 wicket differential. It’ll come down to 3-4 wickets. I haven’t bowled as well as I could have in a couple of games, but that’s T20 cricket. There is so much for you to learn, and all I can do is try my hardest.”
Because of their impressive run, the Titans are still in first place in the points standings. Should the team be concerned about the two losses? It should, and it shouldn’t, to some extent. The Titans have eight wins and have gained some breathing room, but a spate of losses could jeopardize their chances of finishing in the top two, with the Lucknow Super Giants and Rajasthan Royals still chasing them.
So far, the Titans have relied on a variety of players to help them get out of sticky circumstances in some extremely difficult chases. And when they’ve finished on par, the bowlers have shown up to help the team win. Titans have some minor problems, but the game against Mumbai provided a good pattern for them moving forward. It highlighted their strengths while also indicating that they are improving in areas where they need to improve.
Titans were able to claw back as Rohit Sharma provided Mumbai a quick start, which saw them score 74 in the first seven overs. Mumbai strolled thanks to quick wickets, and despite a strong finish from Tim David, they are likely to finish on par. The opening stand of 106 between Shubman Gill and Wriddhiman Saha was the biggest positive for Titans. The Titans had struggled to get out to a good start in the past, but on this night, the openers all grabbed half-centuries, and their tenacity turned a difficult chase into something that was nearly commonplace.
One criticism that may be leveled at Titans in their match against Mumbai is that they lacked desperation. The run outs of Hardik Pandya and Rahul Tewatia, according to Rashid Khan, were the game’s turning point. The skipper was out in the 18th over, while Tewatia was out on the third ball of the game’s final over. Daniel Sams was able to defend eight in the final over as a consequence. After refusing to dive, both players were just a hair short.
For the Titans, it’s all about learning and keeping the momentum going to the end. Two straight losses won’t hurt them if they can smooth out some of the rough edges that have emerged. “You have to learn from those situations,” Rashid added. “That is what we will now focus on as a team.” “Now we have to try not to repeat all of the mistakes we’ve made so far in the tournament.” For us, this is a good learning curve. If we find ourselves in this scenario again, we must concentrate on finishing the games.”
If LSG defeats Kolkata Knight Riders on Saturday (May 7), Titans could drop to second place. And, despite being dethroned, the worry lines are unlikely to show.