After lifting the Vijay Hazare Trophy, a one-day tournament, Gujarat have carried their form into the shortest format of the game. The defending champions are looking to carry the momentum into the Super League phase of the Syed Muhstaq Ali T20 tournament after winning four games in the league stage. Speaking about the team’s form, skipper Parthiv Patel, who has been leading from the front said, “Obviously we do well in this format. We have won it twice in the last four years. This is a format in which we always do well. We go into this tournament with confidence.
“We are not worried about what other teams are doing. We are just focussing on our strengths and will try and execute our plans,” he added.
The captain along with RP Singh, who is spearheading the bowling attack have played a crucial role in the team’s success this season. While Parthiv is the leading run-getter of the tournament so far, the left-arm pacer has dealt early blows to the opposition to put Gujarat in a commanding position.
“It gives a lot of confidence first of all. We don’t plan that much, we just try and execute whatever we have decided for ourselves. We try and back ourselves. We are not worried about how the team will play, if I get out early or RP goes for runs. The team might struggle but we don’t worry about those sorts of things. We are just there enjoying our game. We try and assess the situation and pass on our observations. Luckily, this time, I am spending more time in the middle and that’s helping the team.”
He added that Gujarat have a good mix of young and experienced players. “We have a good mix of players who want to make their mark in Indian cricket. In batting, I try and pass on my experience and RP does it with his bowling skills. That’s what we can do as senior players and if someone gets benefitted from that, then I think it’s a good feeling for us also,” he added.
Gujarat will be playing all their Super League games at the Sharad Pawar Cricket Academy ground in the Bandra Kurla Complex, which is likely to provide assistance to the seamers. With an attack comprising RP and Jasprit Bumrah, Parthiv felt his team might have an advantage. However, his Group B opponents Delhi, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh too have a good seam attack, making it an interesting affair.
“We are a seamer friendly team. We don’t have Axar (Patel) here or another experienced spinner in the side. We like the ball coming on to the bat, especially on a red soil wicket traditionally the ball does a bit.”
Speaking about his own form, the Gujarat captain said, “I am the top-scorer in this tournament and I am feeling good about my game. If I can win this tournament for my state side there is nothing like it.”
