Gujarat Titans Could Be First to Seal Top-Two Spot, Says Sanjay Manjrekar
25 May 2025 12:16 PM IST
Manjrekar was particularly impressed with Delhi Capitals’ Sameer Rizvi, who played a crucial role in the team’s successful chase against Punjab Kings
Gujarat Titans team-members celebrating a wicket (Photo: X)
Former India cricketer and commentator Sanjay Manjrekar believes the Gujarat Titans are well on track to become the first team to secure a top-two finish in the ongoing TATA IPL 2025. Speaking on Kuhl Fans Match Centre Live on JioHotstar, Manjrekar also praised the rise of young Indian talent this season, saying the tournament has been defined more by emerging stars than established names.
Gujarat Titans Leading the Charge
“I think Gujarat Titans might be the first team to secure a top-two spot,” said Manjrekar. “They’ve only dropped one game, which might actually help them recharge and come back stronger.”
Sameer Rizvi's Breakout Performance
Manjrekar was particularly impressed with Delhi Capitals’ Sameer Rizvi, who played a crucial role in the team’s successful chase against Punjab Kings.
“He’s coming of age, like many young Indian players this season. What stood out in this innings was how he dominated spin and scored against quality bowlers like Marco Jansen and Arshdeep Singh,” Manjrekar noted. “There was no dew advantage — this was a proper chase, and if not for Rizvi, I don’t think Delhi would’ve pulled it off.”
Karun Nair: The Anchor in a Chase
Highlighting Karun Nair’s composed knock, Manjrekar described it as a model for chasing under pressure.
“Karun Nair’s innings was very similar to how he started the season with that 89. He played smart, got his eye in, then took on key bowlers like Harpreet Brar. When one of your main bowlers is neutralised, it throws the rest of the attack off balance. Nair’s approach became the perfect template for anchoring a chase.”
Punjab Kings’ Bowling Under Scrutiny
Manjrekar questioned Punjab Kings' bowling strategy, especially after they failed to defend a 200-run total against Delhi.
“I’m not sure why Marco Jansen didn’t bowl with the new ball or at the death. Stoinis had to bowl the 20th over, Arshdeep went for runs in the 16th and 19th, and Omarzai was expensive early on. This wasn’t their strongest bowling performance,” he said. “Also, Chahal’s absence was surprising. It didn’t look like they bowled badly — they just lacked the firepower to finish the job.”
Changing Face of the IPL: Gen Bold Takes Over
According to Manjrekar, the most significant trend this season has been the rise of the next generation of Indian cricketers.
“The big names haven’t dominated. Instead, we’re seeing impact performances from young players like Sameer Rizvi, Shashank Singh, Nehal Wadhera, Naman Dhir, Priyansh Arya, and Prabhsimran Singh. There’s even a 14-year-old, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, in the mix. This has truly been the season of Gen Bold,” he remarked.
Tactical Shift in T20 Mindset
Commenting on KL Rahul’s shorter innings, Manjrekar highlighted a broader change in T20 strategy.
“KL Rahul only faced 21 balls, which is unusual for him. But they reached 200 without a single big score — that’s modern T20 cricket. Teams like Gujarat Titans understand this mindset, but their real test remains handling pressure in the playoffs,” he concluded.
Fans can catch the Gujarat Titans vs Chennai Super Kings match at 3:30 PM, followed by Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Kolkata Knight Riders at 7:30 PM — live on JioHotstar and Star Sports Network.
Gujarat Titans Leading the Charge
“I think Gujarat Titans might be the first team to secure a top-two spot,” said Manjrekar. “They’ve only dropped one game, which might actually help them recharge and come back stronger.”
Sameer Rizvi's Breakout Performance
Manjrekar was particularly impressed with Delhi Capitals’ Sameer Rizvi, who played a crucial role in the team’s successful chase against Punjab Kings.
“He’s coming of age, like many young Indian players this season. What stood out in this innings was how he dominated spin and scored against quality bowlers like Marco Jansen and Arshdeep Singh,” Manjrekar noted. “There was no dew advantage — this was a proper chase, and if not for Rizvi, I don’t think Delhi would’ve pulled it off.”
Karun Nair: The Anchor in a Chase
Highlighting Karun Nair’s composed knock, Manjrekar described it as a model for chasing under pressure.
“Karun Nair’s innings was very similar to how he started the season with that 89. He played smart, got his eye in, then took on key bowlers like Harpreet Brar. When one of your main bowlers is neutralised, it throws the rest of the attack off balance. Nair’s approach became the perfect template for anchoring a chase.”
Punjab Kings’ Bowling Under Scrutiny
Manjrekar questioned Punjab Kings' bowling strategy, especially after they failed to defend a 200-run total against Delhi.
“I’m not sure why Marco Jansen didn’t bowl with the new ball or at the death. Stoinis had to bowl the 20th over, Arshdeep went for runs in the 16th and 19th, and Omarzai was expensive early on. This wasn’t their strongest bowling performance,” he said. “Also, Chahal’s absence was surprising. It didn’t look like they bowled badly — they just lacked the firepower to finish the job.”
Changing Face of the IPL: Gen Bold Takes Over
According to Manjrekar, the most significant trend this season has been the rise of the next generation of Indian cricketers.
“The big names haven’t dominated. Instead, we’re seeing impact performances from young players like Sameer Rizvi, Shashank Singh, Nehal Wadhera, Naman Dhir, Priyansh Arya, and Prabhsimran Singh. There’s even a 14-year-old, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, in the mix. This has truly been the season of Gen Bold,” he remarked.
Tactical Shift in T20 Mindset
Commenting on KL Rahul’s shorter innings, Manjrekar highlighted a broader change in T20 strategy.
“KL Rahul only faced 21 balls, which is unusual for him. But they reached 200 without a single big score — that’s modern T20 cricket. Teams like Gujarat Titans understand this mindset, but their real test remains handling pressure in the playoffs,” he concluded.
Fans can catch the Gujarat Titans vs Chennai Super Kings match at 3:30 PM, followed by Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Kolkata Knight Riders at 7:30 PM — live on JioHotstar and Star Sports Network.
( Source : Press Release )
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