IPL 2020: Gautam Gambhir Picks Prithvi Shaw Over Ajinkya Rahane To Open Against SRH

Former India cricketer, Gautam Gambhir believes that Prithvi Shaw is a more impactful player than Ajinkya Rahane when opening the batting. Gambhir would pick Shaw over Rahane in the must-win game against Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Prithvi Shaw has been awfully out of form after scoring a couple of half-centuries early in the tournament. He has struggled to go into double digits in the past several games and was even dropped in few league matches. The 20-year-old has the highest score of 10 in his last seven matches.

Ajinkya Rahane, who has opened and batted at number three, has produced one match-winning half-century against Bangalore. Apart from that, he too hasn’t made any significant score. The right-hander has four single-digit scores in his last six innings.

Rahane is not an impactful player at the number three: Gautam Gambhir

Gautam Gambhir, ahead of DC’s clash with SRH, has opined that Delhi would need an impactful player at the top in a do-or-die encounter. The former opener understands that Shaw hasn’t been in good form, but counters it by saying that Rahane too has been out of touch in the last couple of games. The cricketer-turned-commentator feels that if Rahane is batting at number 3, he is not impactful in T20 cricket.

Talking to ESPNCricinfo, Gautam Gambhir said, “I want an impact player on top, especially in a must-win game. I know Prithvi Shaw has not been in good form, but even Ajinkya Rahane is not in supreme form as of now. Plus, if you make Rahane bat at no. 3, he is not an impactful player in that position.”

The 39-year-old said that he would have Shaw in his eleven to open and give the youngster one more chance because he is more attacking than the 32-year-old Rahane. Gambhir strongly feels that if the Mumbai lad stays on the crease for six overs, he will give DC a strong start.

“You can make Rahane open the innings but if I have to choose a player to open the innings between Rahane and Shaw – and look at the bowling line-up, I will go with Shaw and give him one more chance. If he bats for 6 overs, I am sure I will get the start I need,” Gautam Gambhir added.

After their forgettable 57-run loss to Mumbai in Qualifier 1, Delhi has another chance to go to their maiden IPL final. They will face Hyderabad in Qualifier 2 on Sunday in Abu Dhabi.

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