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After a not-so-happy start to IPL-19 in a rain-hit match against Punjab Kings, Gujarat Titans are now facing another storm in the form of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Rajasthan Royals’s teenage prodigy, who tormented the Ahmedabad-based team last season in Jaipur.
The Bihar prodigy had played an unbeaten hurricane knock of 101 in 38 balls last year. This season, he has started with a half-century — 52 off 17 balls — at a strike rate of 305.88.
Sooryavanshi heads a strong RR batting line-up that has four aggressive southpaws among the top six and can easily neutralise the leg-spin magic of Rashid Khan, a key bowler for the hosts.
Shubman Gill
RR assistant coach Vikram Rathour reckoned Sooryavanshi is a special player. “Vaibhav is a very, very special player. He is working hard on his cricket, so looking forward to how he carries on this season. It’s going to be an important season for him as well, we understand that. But as I said, I think his mind is in the right space,” said Rathour at the match-eve press conference on Friday.
While the Sooryavanshi storm could spoil GT’s plans, the home team also has some weather worry to deal with. “We were quite unfortunate that it kept raining right through the 20 overs,” GT assistant coach Ashish Kapoor said about their rain-affected match against Punjab in New Chandigarh on Tuesday.
The Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium square was covered on Friday when clouds gathered over the Motera venue on the Western side of the city. Rain had already soaked the eastern side before threatening to pour on the other side.
It looks like the Gujarat Titans will have to overcome dual storms today —Sooryavanshi and rain.
29
No. of sixes smashed by Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in the IPL; more than fours scored (22)
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