Gujarat Lions look to roar back

Suresh Raina-led Gujarat Lions, one of the two debutant teams in IPL this season, started their maiden campaign with impressive performance in first three games, winning against Kings XI Punjab, Rising Pune Supergiants and Mumbai Indians. 

However, the Lions suffered a humiliating 10-wicket loss at home against Sunrisers Hyderabad in their last match.

On Sunday, they would like to bring their campaign back on track by capitalising on RCB’s weak bowling and the absence of destructive opener Gayle, who has gone back to the West Indies to be with his partner Natasha Berridge and newborn son. The Lions batting would revolve around openers Aaron Finch and Brendon McCullum, followed by the likes of Raina, Dwayne Bravo and Dinesh Karthik. 

McCullum is yet to show his full potential, even as Finch had struck three back-to-back half centuries in first three games, failing only against Sunrisers Hyderabad when he could not open his account.

The Lions opening pair had clicked just once in four matches so far, which was against Rising Pune Supergiants, where they notched up 85 runs for the first wicket in less than nine overs.