IPL 2021: Sunil Gavaskar Wants KKR To Try A New Opening Pair After Shubman Gill Struggles With The Bat

Shubman Gill has struggled to get going in this IPL with the highest score of 33 and former Indian skipper Sunil Gavaskar has stated a new opening pair suggestion for the KKR. Gill scored just 9 runs off 8 deliveries in the previous game against Punjab Kings in a low chase and he wasn’t able to hit the boundaries consistently which has increased the pressure on him.

Gill’s opening pair Nitish Rana had two good games at the start of the season but had faded after that which has been a major problem for KKR at the top.

The middle-order has been scoring consistently in the last few games for KKR and they will be hoping that Gill finds form soon. He played across the line against Mohammed Shami and was adjudged LBW which added a lot more misery to the KKR camp.

Sunil Gavaskar Suggests Rahul Tripathi To Open

Sunil Gavaskar stated that Nitish Rana has been doing a really good job for the KKR at number three in the last three years, and hence he could be sent back at three, while the in-form Rahul Tripathi who has done the job in the past can be sent to open. Rahul Tripathi scored 41 off 32 balls in the game against Punjab which helped KKR get over the line easily.

“Nitish Rana, in the years that he has been very successful for KKR, he has been batting at No.3. So, if Rahul Tripathi can open the batting, which he used to do earlier on for the other franchises, maybe that’s the way to go for him,” Sunil Gavaskar said Star Sports.

“A Case For Tripathi To Open With Sunil Narine” – Sunil Gavaskar

Sunil Gavaskar did bring the option of Sunil Narine coming up the order and he wants either Gill or Tripathi to bat alongside Narine at the top. He mentioned the struggles of Shubman Gill at the top and felt KKR should change the players at the top.

“I think KKR have to make up their minds whether Sunil Narine opens the batting with Shubman Gill or Rahul Tripathi opens the batting. With Shubman Gill also – struggling and not quite there; maybe there is a case for Tripathi to open with Sunil Narine,” added Sunil Gavaskar.

KKR managed to scrumble through to victory in the game against Punjab to move to the fifth position in the table.