'We have more options, particularly in the bowling department, which we didn't have last time.'
Assistant coach Sitanshu Kotak believes the present Gujarat Lions line-up is much more balanced as compared to last year as the Suresh Raina-led team looks for a good showing in the tenth edition of the Indian Premier League starting next week.
"I think we have a much balanced side as compared to our last year's squad," Sitanshu Kotak, who is in charge of Gujarat's practice session till the arrival of head coach Brad Hodge, said on Friday.
"We have more options, particularly in the bowling department, which we didn't have last time and had to depend on couple of bowlers," he said.
"Our bowling was a bit weak last year and we had to depend on a couple of seam bowlers throughout the season because of not having much options. But this time, the inclusion of two experienced bowlers like Munaf Patel and Manpreet Gony and two young bowlers Basil Thampi and Nathu Singh has put us in a position to change the bowling combination as per the conditions," he said.
According to Kotak, the team has plenty of options, particularly in the batting department as it has array of explosive openers like Brandon McCullum, Dwayne Smith, Jason Roy and Aaron Finch, who have done well at the highest level.
"Who will open will be decided by the team management once the head coach Brad Hodge joins the team, but we have a very strong batting line up. Suresh Raina has always been a good and top-ranked batsman in the shortest format of the game," he said.
Dinesh Karthik is in good form in limited overs cricket in domestic cricket, while Ravindra Jadeja can be handy with both bat and ball.
"In the spin bowling department, we have two leg spinners- Tejas Barokha and Shubham Agarwal. So I think overall we have options in every department and can choose the eleven according to the conditions", he said.
Gujarat Lions will open their campaign against Kolkata Knight Riders on April 7, whom they had beaten in both matches they played last year.
