🏏Gujarat Titans vs Delhi Capitals, Match-32, N M Stadium, Ahmedabad🏏

🏏Gujarat Titans vs Delhi Capitals, Match-32, N M Stadium, Ahmedabad🏏

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The Ahmedabad-based  GT Team led by Shubman Gill ran through ups and downs in their journey this season. Having played six games so far, they won three games and lost the remaining ones.

Gujarat Titans and Delhi Capitals have one thing in common heading into this clash. Both these sides lost successive games before winning their most recent encounter to arrest a potential slide. 

Titans do have a slight advantage in terms of picking up one extra win than their opponents at this stage but that is exactly what the Capitals would try and nullify by the end of the night on Wednesday.

For the Capitals, Rishabh Pant has been amongst the runs, making quite a successful return to cricket. However, runs from the top order is what they will be seeking. 

David Warner in particular, one of best batters in the history of the competition, hasn't been consistent. Jake Fraser-McGurk had a memorable debut and there will be expectations now on the youngster to deliver in the absence of Mitchell Marsh.

Titans, easily the best team in the ongoing cycle, have struggled to dominate the tournament like they did in the previous two editions. 

Understandably, the departure of Hardik Pandya and the absence of Mohammad Shami has hurt them. That incredible run chase against table-toppers Rajasthan Royals would have boosted their confidence immensely. 

However, there has been a bit of uncertainty surrounding their batting lineup in the absence of David Miller. Opportunities have been handed to multiple players without any of them grabbing it. 

Sai Sudharsan's strike rate could come under the scanner too if it turns out to be a high-scoring game.

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Batters to watch: 

Currently, they are placed sixth on the league stage points table with six points at an NRR of -0.637. On the contrary, the Delhi-based franchise led by Rishabh Pant are ninth on the table with two wins and 4 defeats. Let's now take a glimpse at the four batsmen who can compile the most runs in Match 32 of the competition. 

1. Shubman Gill: Shubman Gill is the leading run-scorer for the Ahmedabad-based franchise this season with 255 runs in six games at an average of 51 and a strike rate of 151.79. He has a pretty good record against DC bowlers such as Ishant Sharma, Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav. He will be looking forward to taking the game deep into the innings. 

2. Prithvi Shaw: DC opener Prithvi Shaw has been responsible for providing quick starts to the game. The right-handed batter scored 151 runs in four games at an average of 37.75 and a strike rate of 157.29, including a fifty to his name. He is one of the batters who will be raring to pose serious threats to the opposition team. 

3. David Miller: In what comes as a massive boost to Gujarat Titans, David Miller makes a return to the side after recovering from the injury. The South African international is expected to score a chunk of runs in his comeback game. He is certainly one of the players to watch out for in the upcoming game against Delhi Capitals. 

4. Rishabh Pant: DC skipper Rishabh Pant who understands the current state of the team will be looking forward to leading the batting attack by example. The left-handed batter scored 194 runs in six games at an average of 32.33 and a strike rate of 157.72. He has smashed two fifties so far this season and will be hoping to make his presence count against GT.

 Pitch Report and Conditions

The surface at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad is quite balanced, and with both the pacers and spinners getting help, an evenly-matched clash could quite be a possibility at the venue. The ball comes well onto the bat in the second innings and opting to bowl first after winning the toss could be a viable decision for the skipper. 

What to expect: Interestingly, in the three games played so far at this venue, only one turned out to be a high-scoring one. Temperatures are expected to be on the higher side.

Head to head: GT 2 - DC 1. The last time these two teams met, DC came out on top in a low-scoring thriller at the same venue. They wouldn't mind a repeat.

GT vs DC Probable Playing XIs

Gujarat Titans

Shubman Gill (C), Sai Sudarshan, Matthew Wade (WK),  Azmatullah Omarzai, Abhinav Manohar, Shahrukh Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Umesh Yadav, Spencer Johnson, Noor Ahmed

Impact Substitute: Mohit Sharma

Delhi Capitals

Prithvi Shaw, David Warner, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Shai Hope, Rishabh Pant (c & wk), Tristan Stubbs, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mukesh Kumar, Ishant Sharma, Khaleel Ahmed 

Impact substitute - Abishek Porel

Probable Best Batter

Star Gujarat Titans skipper and opener Shubman Gill could be the best batter in the upcoming game against Delhi Capitals. Gill has been in brilliant form as of late and was the driving force that led Titans to a win against Rajasthan Royals, and he would be keen on putting in a similar showing in the upcoming game as well.

Probable Best Bowler

Veteran Gujarat Titans pacer Mohit Sharma could be the best bowler in the upcoming game against Delhi Capitals. With 18 wickets in his last 10 matches, Mohit Sharma has been in brilliant form, and his spell could go a long way in propelling his side to a win.

Today’s Match Prediction: Gujarat Titans to win the match

Scenario 1

Gujarat Titans win the toss and opt to bowl

Powerplay score: 45-55

First innings score: 165-175

Gujarat Titans win the match

Scenario 2

Delhi Capitals win the toss and opt to bowl

Powerplay score: 60-70

First innings score: 190-200

Gujarat Titans win the match

Team Watch

Gujarat Titans

Injury/Availability: Titans could receive a massive boost if David Miller does make his return. But that would either force them to bring back Wriddhiman Saha or drop Noor Ahmed from the XI.

Tactics & Matchups: Shubman Gill has a very good record against the likes of Ishant Sharma, Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav and Titans would hope their skipper can bat deep into the innings.

Delhi Capitals

Injury/Availability: Mitchell Marsh will continue to be unavailable for the Capitals as there is still no clarity on his return to India.

Tactics & Matchups: This could certainly be a game for the Capitals openers to finally fire in unison. Both Prithvi Shaw and David Warner have an upper hand against the majority of the Titans bowlers. Warner has been dismissed by Umesh five times in the IPL but he has still struck at over 145 against the pacer.

Did you know?

- Pace has accounted for 26 wickets in Ahmedabad so far this season whereas only 10 wickets have fallen to spin.

- Umesh Yadav averages just 13.6 against left-handers this season. 

DC secured a crucial victory in their previous match against LSG. The return of Kuldeep Yadav and IPL debut of Jake Fraser-McGurk proved instrumental, with the duo playing pivotal roles in DC's triumph. Meanwhile, GT emerged victorious in their recent encounter against the IPL 2024 table toppers, Rajasthan Royals (RR), making them the sole team to defeat RR in the tournament.

With Gujarat Titans playing in familiar conditions at home, they hold a notable advantage in the GT vs DC match. Considering their track record of strong performances at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, GT are favored to emerge victorious once again. 

Despite Jake Fraser-McGurk’s impressive debut and Rishabh Pant’s good form, DC may turn out to be the weaker team on the day as their bowling lacks venom, apart from Kuldeep Yadav.

With Gujarat Titans playing in familiar conditions at home, they hold a notable advantage in the GT vs DC match. Considering their track record of strong performances at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, GT are favored to emerge victorious once again. Despite Jake Fraser-McGurk’s impressive debut and Rishabh Pant’s good form, DC may turn out to be the weaker team on the day as their bowling lacks venom, apart from Kuldeep Yadav.

The Titans are likely to have David Miller and Wriddhiman Saha back, which will help them find the team balance that was instrumental to their success in 2022 and 2023.

The Capitals had started with David Warner and Mitchell Marsh at the top. With Marsh ruled out of the season and Warner at least out of this game, they will have to find an opening partner for Prithvi Shaw.