A game where there would be no pressure for one and there would be enormous pressure for the other makes the game more interesting. Gujarat Titans are fighting tooth and nail and do not possess the excellency they had in the first two editions of the IPL they had played. On the other hand, Kolkata would be playing with free mind but would be wary of the challenge they would be facing as they had qualified as the first team for the playoffs of IPL 2024. Will the Knights solidify their position with another win or would the Titans strike hard and make the competition alive?
Gujarat Titans:
The team which dominated the IPL in the first two editions of the IPL they were introduced are never the same in the current edition. Their star players in captain Shubman Gill, world class spinner Rashid Khan have not delivered the goods they usually do. Rashid Khan can be an exception due to returning from a shoulder injury but Gill has not been the Gill he was in the 2022 and 2023 at GT. Umesh Yadav, who has been doing good job in the recent past in PP, was used after a long time in the team. There has been no steady combination in the bowling department and now the team is reeling at almost the bottom half of the table. It’s a clear do or die match and they would need to show the temperament they showed against CSK in their last match. Sai Sudarshan should up the ante and start the striking game right from the word “GO” so that the team can capitalize more on the scoreboard and put the pressure on the opposition. Though the strike game of Sudarshan is slow, he has been the lone shining start at the top with the bat for the team, Shahkrukh Khan has been another shining star in the middle for the team which is a positive for the team. Gill can take the option of bowling Shahrukh Khan if Rashid / Noor are going for runs as Shahrukh had made an impact in the bowling in last year’s TNPL and was among the top wicket takers of the leage.
Probable XI:
Shubman Gill (C), Sai Sudarshan, David Miller, Shahrukh Khan, Matthew Wade (WK), Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmed, Mohit Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Kartik Tyagi / Darshan Nalkande.
Impact Subs: Abhinav Manohar / Sandeep Warrier
Kolkata Knight Riders:
Cometh the man, cometh the performance. The return of Gautam Gambhir as mentor has boosted not only the fans, but also the team players. The OG Sunil Narine has shown what kind of a player he is and has set the stage on fire and has ensured he is one of the main reasons for the team to get into the playoffs. Young guns in Harshit Rana and Vaibhav Arora have shown their talents and have caught the yes of the fans, sure they would be having a bright future ahead of them in this franchise. Phil Salt has also been a strong force at the top with Narine and the team is making no mistakes in any department. They have to maintain the momentum and continue their winning.
Probable XI:
Phil Salt (WK), Sunil Narine, Shreyas Iyer, Venkatesh Iyer, Nitish Rana, Ramandeep Singh, Andre Russell, Rinku Singh, Varun Chakravarthy, Harshit Rana, Mitchell Starc
Impact Subs: Anukul Roy / Vaibhav Arora
)
Weather and Pitch Report:
The temperature will be around 30 degrees in Ahmedabad. The real feel will be 31 degrees. The humidity will be around 44%. As per AccuWeather, there is a 56% chance of rain.
Ahmedabad offers equal opportunities to both batters and bowlers. The last IPL 2024 game played at this venue was a high-scoring match. GT, after batting first, scored 231/3. Both openers, Gill and Sai Sudharshan, scored a hundred each. Chennai Super Kings (CSK), however, could only manage 196//8 in 20 overs.
(Credit: https://www.livemint.com/)
Stats Corner:
- H2H Record: Chennai and Punjab have faced each other in 29 matches in IPL. Out of these 29 games, Chennai have won 15 whereas Punjab have come out victorious on 14 occasions.
- Gill is just 5 sixes away from completing 100 IPL sixes.
- Sudarshan needs 5 fours to complete 100 fours in IPL.
(Source: Cricket fanatic friends from Bouncer Avenue and external cricket websites)
Player battles to watch out for:
Andre Russel vs Rashid Khan:
A bludgeoning striker from the islands of Windies against a magician from Afghanistan is a battle to watch out for. Andre Russell averages only 16.75 against Rashid Khan and it would be interesting how Rashid handles Russell given his below par performance for GT.
Balls:42
Runs: 67
Dismissals: 4
Average / SR: 16.75/159.52
Shubman Gill vs Sunil Narine:
Magician Sunil Narine would be against his former teammate Gill and would be eager to trouble him again. Gill averages a meagre 6.5 against the magician and has been out twice.
Balls:12
Runs: 13
Dismissals: 2
Average / SR: 6.5/108.3
Shreyas vs Kartik Tyagi:
Although going for runs in the last match, Kartik Tyagi loves bowling against the captain of KKR, Shreyas Iyer and would be eager to show his prowess against with body length bowling.
Balls:22
Runs: 17
Dismissals: 1
Average / SR: 17/77.3
David Miller vs Andre Russell:
Two stalwarts and monsters of the game have a great matchup and it would be interesting to see who would come out on top.
Balls:54
Runs: 82
Dismissals: 4
Average / SR: 20.4/151.85
(Credits: https://cricket.one/)
Match Details:
Time: 7: 30 PM IST
Venue: Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
Live broadcast: Star Sports Network
Live streaming: JioCinema app
Predicted Dream XI:
