Titans turn to no-nets-up training method for middle-order batters

Shahrukh Khan has had very little game time.
| Photo Credit: FILE PHOTO: VIJAY SONEJI

Doing nothing can indeed be a frustrating job. All of Gujarat Titans’ middle-order batters would attest to this paradox. The Titans’ top three —Shubman Gill, B. Sai Sudharsan, and Jos Buttler — have accounted for 1,718 of the 2,335 runs (74 per cent) the team has scored in IPL 2025.

M. Shahrukh Khan and Rahul Tewatia have had very little to do while Sherfane Rutherford has come up with a few vital cameos.

Matthew Wade, player-turned-assistant coach of GT, understands that the middle-order is alarmingly low on game time. So, the management has come up with a ‘no-nets-up’ training method to get the boys acquainted with match situations.

While addressing the media on the eve of the match against Lucknow Super Giants, he said, “The middle-order — Sherfane, Shahrukh and Tewatia— had a good impact on games when they got the opportunity. They just haven’t had a lot of game time over the past few weeks. So, we’re trying to give that to them as much as we can. It’s obviously very hard to simulate a match. But giving them opportunities to bat on the ‘B’ ground with no nets up to at least feel like there’s a little bit more match (like) intensity at training is something we’ll try and do over the next week or so.”