🏏IPL 2024: Match 17 - GT vs PBKS at Ahmedabad @ 7:30PM IST🏏

🏏IPL 2024: Match 17 - GT vs PBKS at Ahmedabad on 04/04/2024 @ 7:30PM IST🏏

[Logo credit - Wildestdreams]

Gill's Titans look to make it three in three at home. Kings are coming to Ahmedabad on the back of two successive losses, while Titans' only defeat came away from home

Punjab boy Gill vs Punjab Kings

Life after Hardik Pandya hasn't been too bad after all for Gujarat Titans. Their new captain Shubman Gill has marshalled them to two wins in three games, with both the victories coming at home. They will look to make it three in three at home when Punjab boy Gill will captain Titans against Punjab Kings on Thursday.

Azmatullah Omarzai has swung the new ball in the powerplay while Mohit Sharma has often been un-hittable at the death. The team had a rich Afghanistan flavour against Sunrisers Hyderabad, with Omarzai, Rashid Khan and Noor Ahmad all making it to the XI. They also have R Sai Kishore in their roster if they want to rejig the spin attack and unleash Spencer Johnson's express pace on Kings, who had struggled against IPL's newest pace sensation Mayank Yadav last weekend.

Kings had started their season with a win against Delhi Capitals at their new home in Mullanpur, but suffered back-to-back losses on the road in Bengaluru and Lucknow. Another defeat on the road will leave them even more vulnerable as a number of other teams have already hit the ground running.

Harshal Patel, for whom Kings had shelled out INR 11.75 crore, has been predictable with his slower balls, conceding at 11.41 runs an over. Rahul Chahar has also leaked runs and their spin attack, which also includes Harpreet Brar, doesn't quite have the pedigree or experience of Titans' spin attack.

[Tag credit - Sutapasima]

Ahmedabad pitch report for GT vs PBKS match

The Ahmedabad pitch is expected to be dual-paced like the previous two games at the venue in IPL 2024. The pitch eases up in the second session and the ball comes on the bat. In the two matches played so far in IPL 2024, the team batting first has managed to score not more than 168 runs. However, GT defended 168 runs against Mumbai.

Ahmedabad weather forecast during GT vs PBKS IPL match

There is no chance of rainfall in Ahmedabad on April 4. However, the temperatures will hover around 33 degrees celsius with humidity at 80 per cent in the evening, according to accuweather.com.

Gujarat and Punjab have played against each other on three occasions. Gujarat managed to win two of the three matches while PBKS won only one game.

Total Matches played: 3

Gujarat Titans won: 2

Punjab Kings won: 1

GT vs PBKS match on April 4 will be the first time when the two teams will lock horns at the Narendra Modi Stadium.

Gujarat Titans vs Punjab Kings at Mohali

Matches played: 1

Gujarat Titans won: 1

Punjab Kings won: 0

The other two matches were played in Mumbai at different stadiums. GT and PBKS won one match each.

HEAD TO HEAD  -  LAST 3 MATCHES

GT won by 6 wickets (with 1 ball remaining), 14-Apr-2023

PBKS won by 8 wickets (with 24 balls remaining), 04-May-2022

GT won by 6 wickets (with 0 balls remaining), 09-Apr-2022

GT vs PBKS Probable Best Players of the Match

Probable Best Batter:

Shikhar Dhawan could prove to be the standout batter in the upcoming game, given his excellent form displayed in the last match against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). With his impeccable timing and form, a substantial innings is anticipated from this veteran in the upcoming fixture.

Probable Best Bowler:

Harpreet Brar has been miserly in the tournament thus far with his left-arm orthodox bowling and has provided crucial breakthroughs as well. He is expected to continue his good form with the ball.

Batters To Watch(recent stats)

Shubman Gill,  GT

10 M • 590 Runs • 73.75 Avg • 172.01 SR

Sai Sudharsan,  GT

6 M • 313 Runs • 52.17 Avg • 142.27 SR

Liam Livingstone,  PBKS

10 M • 350 Runs • 50 Avg • 169.9 SR

Shikhar Dhawan,  PBKS

10 M • 277 Runs • 27.7 Avg • 135.12 SR

Bowlers To Watch(recent stats)

Mohit Sharma,  GT

10 M • 25 Wkts • 8.68 Econ • 8.96 SR

Rashid Khan,  GT

10 M • 12 Wkts • 8.59 Econ • 19.5 SR

Sam Curran,  PBKS

10 M • 9 Wkts • 10.87 Econ • 20.66 SR

Harpreet Brar,  PBKS

7 M • 8 Wkts • 7.11 Econ • 14.25 SR

In the spotlight: Mohit Sharma and Kagiso Rabada

Once upon a time, Mohit Sharma was MS Dhoni's go-to seamer at Chennai Super Kings and later he even stopped Dhoni during his stint for the Punjab franchise. He then drifted away into the wilderness but is back in the IPL spotlight once again as Titans' lead seamer, in the injury-enforced absence of Mohammed Shami. Coach Ashish Nehra and captain Gill will back him to bowl the difficult overs once again and handcuff Kings' power-hitters.

Kagiso Rabada had a lean run in the SA20, managing only nine wickets in ten matches at an economy rate of nearly nine. At various points in the last IPL season, Kings had preferred Nathan Ellis ahead of Rabada, and though the South African quick bowled well at the Chinnaswamy Stadium this season, he is yet to properly fire like he can.

[Tag credit - Sutapasima]

Stats that matter

• Rashid has a strong head-to-head against Liam Livingstone in the IPL: three wickets in four innings for 26 runs in 19 balls.
• Kings might stick with Rabada because he has dismissed Wriddhiman Saha three times in four IPL innings and Gill two times in eight innings while keeping the Titans skipper to 43 off 42 balls.
• Gill has an excellent record against Kings in the IPL: 397 runs in ten innings at an average of 56.71 and strike rate of 138.81.
• Shikhar Dhawan is one fifty away from drawing level with Virat Kohli as the second-most prolific half-centurion in the history of the IPL.

Scenario 1

Gujarat Titans win the toss and bowl

Power Play score – 45-50

First Innings Score - 165-175

Gujarat Titans win the match

Scenario 2

Punjab Kings win the toss and bowl

Power Play score - 50-55

First Innings Score - 170-180

Punjab Kings win the match

Go punjabbbbb

Team watch

Gujarat Titans

Injuries/availability: The hosts have no injury worries as such although, as Mohit Sharma said, most players could be carrying niggles.

Probable XI: Shubman Gill (C), Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Sai Sudharsan, Azmatullah Omarzai, David Miller, Vijay Shankar, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmed, Umesh Yadav, Darshan Nalkande [Impact sub: Sai for Mohit Sharma if they bat first, or vice-versa]

Punjab Kings

Injuries/availability: Liam Livingstone could miss the game due to hamstring injury. The rest of the squad is free of fitness concerns

Probable XI: Shikhar Dhawan (C), Jonny Bairstow, Prabhsimran Singh, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Liam Livingstone, Sam Curran, Shashank Singh, Harshal Patel, Harpeet Brar, Kagiso Rabada, Rahul Chahar [Impact sub: Arshdeep Singh for Prabhsimran if they bat first, or vice-versa]

Did you know?

- Gill has an exceptional record against PBKS hitting five 50s in ten innings.

- Umesh Yadav has won six POTM awards against Punjab Kings - the most by a player against an opponent in the IPL.

- From being a new ball specialist during his peak years with CSK be 2013 and 2015, Mohit Sharma has become a death overs expert for Titans since his comeback last year. In 2013-15 period he bowled 51.4% of his overs in the Powerplay while for Titans 46.6% of his overs have come in the death overs.