The three-wicket defeat in opposition to Kolkata Knight Riders three nights in the past in Ahmedabad was a gut-wrenching outcome for Gujarat Titans, which had seemingly all however grabbed the ascendancy with a flurry of wickets. But by the point Rinku Singh was completed with Yash Dayal, Titans had lengthy relinquished their superiority.
It’s on the heels of this setback that GT will intention to get its IPL 2023 marketing campaign again on observe when it takes on Punjab Kings on the IS Bindra Stadium in Mohali on Thursday. Gujarat skipper Hardik Pandya, who was unwell and missed the final match, needs to be obtainable for this encounter.
Both groups have had comparable begins to the season, with GT successful two video games and dropping one, and PBKS following the identical sequence.
Liam Livingstone, Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Kagiso Rabada can be found for the Kings. It stays to be seen if they may pass over an in-form Nathan Ellis for Rabada. Livingstone or Rajapaksa can take Matt Short’s place within the XI.
Rabada is usually a beneficial matchup in opposition to David Miller, who has performed a key position for Titans within the center order. In 31 balls he has bowled to Miller in T20s, Rabada has conceded solely 32 runs whereas dismissing him twice.
Meanwhile, Kings have benefitted from the type of captain Shikhar Dhawan, who has 225 runs in three matches. He has regarded to bat by means of, whereas others round him have tried to be aggressive from the get-go.
PBKS is but to bowl first this season, so it’ll be attention-grabbing to see how its batting holds up below scoreboard strain. Meanwhile, Kings’ death-bowling abilities have come into sharp focus. These are nonetheless early days within the season, however their death-over financial system of 16.25 is the worst among the many 10 sides. Ellis, Sam Curran, and Arshdeep Singh have repeatedly missed their lengths between overs 17 and 20, one thing they will’t afford in opposition to a Titans batting unit that goes at near 13 runs per over on the dying.
Rashid Khan normally prefers bowling exterior the PowerPlay however the Titans might use him in opposition to Dhawan. Rashid has dismissed the left-hander 4 occasions in 56 balls whereas conceding solely 53 runs in all T20s.
PBKS might depend on Livingstone to neutralise the Rashid risk. He has smacked 119 runs off 69 balls in opposition to Rashid in T20 cricket, at an astonishing strike charge of 173.
Dayal should nonetheless be feeling the aftershocks of the KKR drubbing, the place he conceded 31 in a scarcely plausible final over. If rested, Pradeep Sangwan might play his first IPL match this yr.
Source: sportstar.thehindu.com