Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra feels table-toppers Gujarat Titans could struggle in the rest of the season due to the absence of their three key players. Chopra highlighted that GT will be without the services of Jos Buttler, Sherfane Rutherford, and Kagiso Rabada.
Buttler has scored 500 runs in 11 matches of the ongoing season at an average of 71.43 and a strike rate of 163.93. Buttler and Rutherford have been named in England and West Indies’ squads respectively for the upcoming T20I series.
On the other hand, Kagiso Rabada is part of South Africa’s Test squad for the WTC final against Australia.
“Three crucial Gujarat Titans players won’t be available. GT are struggling now because their entire life was in the top three. Now the No. 3 batter has been removed, that’s Jos Buttler. Come the playoffs, you need Jos Buttler. Buttler isn’t there, and who comes at No. 4 – Sherfane Rutherford. He is also not there,” Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.
“Sherfane Rutherford is in the West Indies team and Jos Buttler is in the England team. Kagiso Rabada is in the South African team. So Kagiso Rabada is also gone. Making an all made-in-India team will be very difficult for them. So I see Gujarat struggling a little more. GT will be the worst hit,” he observed.
The renowned commentator said Mumbai Indians will also be impacted as Ryan Rickelton and Will Jacks might not be available for the rest of the season.
“Mumbai’s story is not looking very good either because Ryan Rickelton had come in form now. He is an opener and keeper. They have Robin Minz for sure, but he doesn’t play up the order. Will Jacks is also not there. So opener and No. 3 are both gone,” he said.
Adding further, Chopra reckons MI could also lose the services of South African all-rounder Corbin Bosch.
“Suddenly, you have a problem as to what you can do. Corbin Bosch is also gone. He was emerging as a very good all-rounder and doing an excellent job, and he too will go. From where will you get replacements for three guys? The job will become difficult,” Chopra observed.
IPL 2025 will resume on May 17 but it has been reported that South African players have agreed to stay in India till the end of the tournament.
