Former cricketer Simon Doull has voiced skepticism over Gujarat Titans’ ability to fill the gaping hole left by Hardik Pandya’s departure from the team. Despite a substantial investment of INR 30.30 crore in eight new players during the IPL 2024 auction, the Titans seem to have fallen short in finding a suitable replacement for the all-rounder.
“I don’t think they have plugged the hole that Hardik Pandya has left by any stretch of the imagination,” Doull expressed in an interview with Star Sports, echoing concerns over the team’s strategy post-Pandya’s move to the Mumbai Indians.
While the Titans missed out on some significant players such as Mitchell Starc and Harshal Patel, they did make efforts to strengthen their roster. Doull acknowledged the importance of local bowling, emphasizing the acquisitions of Umesh Yadav and Kartik Tyagi to bolster the team’s bowling attack.
“Despite missing out on players like Mitchell Starc and Harshal Patel, they have gone to Kartik Tyagi, so they have got some local bowling, which is what they needed – Umesh Yadav and Kartik Tyagi in particular,” Doull commented, highlighting the significance of this local talent infusion.
Two acquisitions that caught Doull’s attention were Spencer Johnson and Azmatullah Omarzai. Johnson, procured for a hefty INR 10 crore, drew praise from Doull, who commended his cricketing abilities and association with Tom Moody during their time at the Oval Invincibles in The Hundred.
“Spencer Johnson was an interesting one for me. I like him. I think he is a very, very good cricketer,” Doull remarked, emphasizing Moody’s familiarity with Johnson’s prowess.
In the case of Azmatullah Omarzai, who joined the Titans for a mere ₹50 lakh, Doull labeled the move as an “absolute steal” for an overseas all-rounder to seamlessly integrate into the squad.
Reflecting on the Titans’ auction strategy, former Australian all-rounder Tom Moody also chimed in, suggesting that Umesh Yadav and Shahrukh Khan might collectively fill the void left by Pandya’s departure.
“I thought their auction was really interesting… The way I think they have looked at it is Umesh Yadav is the bowling overs that Hardik Pandya provided the team,” Moody commented, shedding light on the Titans’ approach.
As doubts linger about whether the Titans have adequately addressed Pandya’s absence, the onus now rests on the unique combination of players to prove their mettle and rise to the challenge in the upcoming IPL season.
