In the upcoming clash of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL 2024), Gujarat Titans (GT) and Punjab Kings (PBKS) will face off in match 17 on Thursday, April 4, at the esteemed Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
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GT vs PBKS: Match Preview
The anticipation is palpable as the Titans, with two wins in three matches, prepare to take on the Punjab Kings, who have suffered consecutive losses. GT’s recent victory against the Sunrisers Hyderabad showcased their resilience after a setback against the Chennai Super Kings (CSK). With the advantage of playing on their home ground in Ahmedabad, the Titans are in a favorable position for the upcoming match.
On the contrary, the Punjab Kings started the tournament with a promising win over the Delhi Capitals but have faltered in subsequent matches. Facing the formidable Gujarat Titans, Shikhar Dhawan’s squad faces yet another tough challenge.
Since the departure of Hardik Pandya, Gujarat Titans have managed well under the leadership of their new captain, Shubman Gill, securing two wins out of three, both at home. Their lineup, featuring players like Azmatullah Omarzai and Mohit Sharma, has displayed a strong performance. Against the Sunrisers Hyderabad, they showcased a blend of Afghan talent with Omarzai, Rashid Khan, and Noor Ahmad in the XI. Additionally, they have R Sai Kishore in reserve, providing flexibility in their spin attack, while Spencer Johnson adds pace to their bowling.
On the other hand, Punjab Kings started their season with a victory against the Delhi Capitals but have struggled with losses on the road in Bengaluru and Lucknow. Another defeat would further jeopardize their position in the league standings.
Despite the presence of players like Harshal Patel and Rahul Chahar, PBKS’s bowling attack has shown vulnerabilities, especially against the experienced spinners of GT. With the match-up promising an intriguing battle, both teams will be eager to secure a crucial victory.
GT vs PBKS: Pitch Report & Conditions
At the Narendra Modi Stadium, the pitch is expected to favor slow bowlers, similar to its behavior in the previous match against Sunrisers Hyderabad. Batting is anticipated to become progressively challenging as the game advances, urging batsmen to gather runs quickly during the powerplay period.
During the recent afternoon game between Titans and Sunrisers, the Ahmedabad track exhibited two-paced behavior. The black-soil surface provided ample assistance to the slower bowlers initially, before conditions improved for batting later in the evening. It’s likely that a red-soil pitch will be utilized for this match. With a 7.30pm IST start time, batsmen might find it easier to play through the line on Thursday.
GT vs PBKS: Head-to-head
In their head-to-head encounters, Gujarat Titans have emerged victorious in two out of the three matches played against Punjab Kings. The first match between the two teams took place on April 8, 2022, while their most recent encounter was on April 13, 2023. So far, Punjab Kings have managed to win only one match against Gujarat Titans.
GT vs PBKS: Team News and Impact Player Strategy
Gujarat Titans
With Gujarat Titans maintaining a winning combination, there seems to be no reason for them to make changes unless they decide to give Shahrukh Khan a franchise debut against his former team. The Titans have stuck to a fairly predictable Impact Player Strategy, often rotating B Sai Sudharsan in the lineup based on whether they are batting first or chasing.
Once upon a time, Mohit Sharma stood as MS Dhoni’s trusted seamer at Chennai Super Kings, his reliability earning him a prominent role in the squad. Later, during his tenure with the Punjab franchise, he even managed to halt Dhoni’s progress. However, following this period of success, Sharma encountered a period of obscurity. Now, he finds himself back in the IPL limelight, this time as the lead seamer for Gujarat Titans, stepping into the role due to Mohammed Shami’s unfortunate injury. With Coach Ashish Nehra and Captain Gill placing their trust in him once more, Sharma is poised to bowl the crucial overs and restrict the power-hitters of the Kings.
Probable XII:
- Shubman Gill (capt)
- Wriddhiman Saha (wk)
- B Sai Sudharsan
- Azmatullah Omarzai
- David Miller
- Shahrukh Khan/Vijay Shankar
- Rahul Tewatia
- Rashid Khan
- Noor Ahmad
- Umesh Yadav
- Darshan Nalkande
- Mohit Sharma
Punjab Kings
Punjab Kings have also shown consistency in their Impact Player Strategy, with Arshdeep Singh typically starting if they bowl first, or Prabhsimran Singh starting if they bat first.
Kagiso Rabada had a subdued performance in the SA20, managing only nine wickets in ten matches with an economy rate of nearly nine. Despite being a potent force, Rabada is yet to hit his peak form in this IPL season. In previous IPL seasons, Kings had occasionally favored Nathan Ellis over Rabada. Although Rabada delivered a decent performance at the Chinnaswamy Stadium this season, he has not yet reached his full potential.
Probable XII:
- Shikhar Dhawan (capt)
- Jonny Bairstow (wk)
- Prabhsimran Singh
- Jitesh Sharma (wk)
- Sam Curran
- Liam Livingstone
- Shashank Singh
- Harshal Patel
- Harpreet Brar
- Kagiso Rabada
- Rahul Chahar
- Arshdeep Singh
GT vs PBKS: Match Prediction
Scenario 1:
In the first scenario, if Gujarat Titans win the toss and opt to bowl, they are expected to restrict Punjab Kings to a power play score of 45-50 and limit their first innings total to 165-175. This could pave the way for Gujarat Titans to secure victory.
Scenario 2:
Conversely, in the second scenario where Punjab Kings win the toss and choose to bowl, they might allow Gujarat Titans to score 50-55 runs in the power play and set a first innings total of 170-180. In this case, Punjab Kings are predicted to emerge victorious.
GT vs PBKS: Dream 11 Fantasy Prediction
Team 1:
- Keeper: Wriddhiman Saha, Jonny Bairstow
- Batsmen: Shikhar Dhawan, Shubman Gill (vc), B Sai Sudharsan
- All-rounders: Sam Curran (c), Azmatullah Omarzai, Liam Livingstone
- Bowlers: Mohit Sharma, Kagiso Rabada, Rashid Khan
Team 2:
- Keeper: Wriddhiman Saha, Jonny Bairstow
- Batsmen: Shikhar Dhawan (c), Shubman Gill, B Sai Sudharsan (vc)
- All-rounders: Sam Curran, Azmatullah Omarzai
- Bowlers: Mohit Sharma, Kagiso Rabada, Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad
When and Where to Watch the Match: Streaming & Broadcast Details
What: Gujarat Titans (GT) vs Punjab Kings (PBKS) IPL 2024
When: 7:30 PM IST, Thursday – April 4
Where: Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
Where to watch GT vs PBKS Live Streaming: JioCinema app for FREE
Where to watch GT vs PBKS Live Telecast: Star Sports
