Former Australian all-rounder Tom Moody believes Gujarat Titans captain Shubman Gill should introduce Rashid Khan early into the attack to tackle Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s threat in the second qualifier. Khan was given the eighth over by Gill in the first qualifier against RCB, and many experts thought he missed a trick.

Meanwhile, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has been in red-hot form and he is going to hold the key for RR. The left-hander had scored a magnificent knock of 97 runs off just 29 balls against Sunrisers Hyderabad in the eliminator contest on Wednesday.

The prodigy batter would look to replicate the same show at the same venue against GT.

When Tom Moody was asked about Rashid Khan’s early introduction, he said on ESPN Cricinfo, “100%. I think that’s the ace in the pack that GT have got and I think they need to play it. I think they need to play it early. It’s not a case of chasing the game. I think try to get ahead of the game and surprise him, even if it’s third over, why not? What’s happening so far, if you look at trend, is not really working. Unless there’s movement, if there’s a little bit of swing or seam, I’d get Rashid into the game just to throw a curve ball at him.”

On the other hand, former Indian batter Ambati Rayudu reckons GT bowlers can try to keep Sooryavanshi at bay by bowling in the right areas and targeting the stumps.

“The only good thing about this bowling line-up is, the follow-up deliveries, when you get hit for a six, are very consistent. They’re going to be good deliveries or deliveries that are going to hit the stumps. They’re not going to be very predictable in terms of a short ball or a slow ball.

“So, he will have to hit against a lot of good balls. That is one challenge that Sooryavanshi will face against this bowling line-up and I think in the bargain he might make a mistake, that’s what we have seen in those two 30s.”

RR will face GT in the second qualifier on Friday.