5 reasons why Gujarat Lions lost the IPL at the auction table

#4 Failure to get a finisher and middle order batsman

Dinesh Karthik is the only recognised finisher in the Gujarat Lions team

The pitches in the IPL are generally batting friendly and big scores are commonplace. But it seems that the Lions do not intend to exploit these conditions.

By having four overseas openers, Lions have strengthened their top order and with Suresh Raina at number three, they can claim to possess one of the best top orders in this IPL.

But their problem lies in the middle order. They don’t have a genuine power hitter in the middle order who can play the role of a finisher. This problem has forced the Lions to use one of their overseas opening batsmen to play in the middle order. However, the top order batsmen have faced difficulty in adapting to the challenges of batting in the death overs.

Dinesh Karthik and Dwayne Bravo are a part of Gujarat’s middle order, but they are not the most reliable in taking the team across the line. James Faulkner is a good option, but his inclusion in the playing XI requires Lions to sacrifice in other departments.

In the 2017 auctions, the Lions should have invested in at least one genuine power hitting batsman who has the ability to play in the death overs.