Gujarat Titans Face Bowling Woes Ahead of IPL Playoffs Despite Strong Season Start

Despite a brilliant run in IPL 2025 that saw them become the first team to qualify for the playoffs, Gujarat Titans (GT) are now grappling with a concerning dip in bowling form at a critical juncture. Known for their disciplined bowling attack, GT’s unit has looked unsettled since the tournament’s resumption, losing two of their last three matches after winning eight of eleven before the break. In these recent defeats, their bowlers have conceded 664 runs while picking up just ten wickets, raising serious doubts about their ability to defend their strong position.

Following an 83-run loss to bottom-placed Chennai Super Kings (CSK), head coach Tom Moody praised R Sai Kishore for his consistency as the only bowler to take at least one wicket in each of those three games. However, Moody highlighted the lack of effective bowling partnerships as a key weakness, with Prasidh Krishna (second on the Purple Cap table with 23 wickets) and Mohammed Siraj delivering inconsistent performances. Moody stressed that entering the finals, a team must be confident in its bowling attack and that currently, only Sai Kishore seems to be bowling well, while others struggle to find form.

Legendary spinner Anil Kumble also pinpointed GT’s struggles during the bowling powerplays, noting how early pressure has mounted on the attack, particularly with Rashid Khan, perhaps the team’s biggest name, in one of the poorest T20 patches of his career. Moody suggested that GT might need to innovate, even considering opening the bowling with Sai Kishore to create a tactical edge and strengthen the unit’s dynamics.

Both experts urged the team to avoid panic, emphasizing the importance of calm reflection, focusing on strengths, and quietly addressing weaknesses away from the public eye. Moody highlighted the need to preserve confidence and team culture amid mental and physical fatigue, reminding players to stay positive and ready for the challenges ahead. Kumble echoed this sentiment, encouraging GT to celebrate their achievements in a competitive tournament before focusing on the knockout stages one game at a time and seizing crucial moments to secure victory.

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