The ninth match of the ongoing Indian Premier League 2025 (IPL) will see Gujarat Titans (GT) take on Mumbai Indians (MI) at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Saturday, March 29.
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Gujarat Titans vs Mumbai Indians: Preview
Hardik Pandya faced the wrath of home fans the last time he played an IPL match in Ahmedabad. In the previous season, as Mumbai Indians’ (MI) captain, he took on Gujarat Titans (GT)—the team he had led to a title and consecutive finals before being traded. Despite once being a fan favorite, Hardik was met with boos from the same supporters who had once celebrated him. Coincidentally, his first game of IPL 2025 is once again against GT at the Narendra Modi Stadium.
Now, a year later, the big question remains—has Ahmedabad moved on and forgiven Pandya? The answer will unfold on Saturday night at the Narendra Modi Stadium when MI take on Gujarat Titans. A lot has changed since their last meeting. In the past year, Pandya has redeemed himself on the grandest stage, playing pivotal roles in India’s ICC triumphs—the 2024 T20 World Cup and the Champions Trophy earlier this month.
Despite their opening defeat, Shubman Gill’s GT remains a formidable force, bolstered by new signings like Jos Buttler, Sherfane Rutherford, and Kagiso Rabada, strengthening both their batting and bowling departments. However, a key concern for the former champions is their lack of depth in the previous XI, with their susceptibility to wide yorkers exposed by Vyshak Vijaykumar in the last match.
Ahead of GT’s match against PBKS, much of the focus was on where their new signing, Jos Buttler, would bat. He slotted in at No. 3, as GT opted to retain their established opening duo of Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan. It was only the second time in 107 IPL innings that Buttler batted at No. 3, though he has played that role 24 times in all T20s, maintaining a strike rate (147.64) almost identical to his record as an opener (147.45).
That won’t be the only storyline of shifting loyalties. Rashid Khan, Gujarat Titans’ go-to player since 2022, will now face a team whose owners have him in their SA20, ILT20, and MLC franchises. Similarly, his GT teammate Kagiso Rabada also represents MI’s sister teams, MI Cape Town and MI New York.
Rashid’s economy rate exceeded eight an over in both IPL 2023 and 2024, a stark contrast to his previous six seasons, where he never went beyond 6.73. He began this season on a rough note, conceding five sixes and 48 runs in four overs against Punjab Kings (PBKS), as GT leaked 243 runs on a flat Ahmedabad pitch. GT struggled with middle-order batting in IPL 2024, and the issue persists in IPL 2025 as they remain heavily reliant on their top order. They appeared to be on track during a strong second-wicket stand against PBKS but failed to capitalize on it in the latter half of the chase.
A clear contrast has emerged in how spinners have performed in the first and second innings over the last five IPL matches in Ahmedabad. In the previous game at this venue, GT’s spinners registered figures of 4 for 78 in 8 overs (ER: 9.75) against PBKS, whereas Yuzvendra Chahal and Glenn Maxwell combined for 1 for 60 in five overs (ER: 12), highlighting the challenges for spinners bowling second.
After sitting out MI’s opening match against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) due to an over-rate penalty carried forward from last season, Hardik is now set to make his return. His presence is expected to restore some of the balance and experience MI may have lacked against CSK.
“Fans are passionate, and emotions are part of the game. I’m sure everyone has moved on, and it’s fascinating to see how loyalty plays out even in the IPL. I’ve enjoyed watching it from the outside. But 12 months on, Hardik has achieved so much more, and I believe people will look beyond what happened last year. Hopefully, we can all enjoy a great game of cricket,” Mumbai Indians head coach Mahela Jayawardene said on the eve of the clash in Ahmedabad, where MI has yet to secure a win against GT.
As Jayawardene suggested, Pandya is unlikely to be seen as a deserter anymore—after all, he has cemented himself as a national hero. However, the MI captain’s primary focus will not be on winning over the local fans but on addressing his team’s familiar struggle with slow starts. Having already lost their opening match, MI faces a tough challenge against a GT side that recently came close to pulling off the second-highest chase in IPL history against Punjab Kings.
Pandya, who sat out the first match, will be at the heart of the action with both bat and ball, but much of the spotlight will also be on MI’s talisman, Rohit Sharma, who registered a duck in Chennai. Facing the pace duo of Mohammed Siraj and Kagiso Rabada, his opening stand with Ryan Rickelton could set the tone for the match. Meanwhile, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, and Pandya himself will have to counter the skill and precision of spin maestros Rashid Khan and Sai Kishore, making a strong start crucial for MI’s chances. Given the conditions, a par score is expected to be around 210-215.
Both GT and MI boast formidable batting line-ups capable of posting massive totals, with GT maintaining an almost equal mix of right- and left-handed batters. If Ahmedabad offers another batting-friendly surface, a high-scoring thriller could be on the cards.
Mumbai Indians are unlikely to have overlooked GT’s weakness in the middle order. But beyond planning and strategy, execution will be key—just as Punjab Kings demonstrated by nailing their wide yorkers to perfection.
Rohit Sharma registered his 18th IPL duck in MI’s opener against CSK, the joint-second-most for any batter in the tournament’s history, trailing only Glenn Maxwell (19). Meanwhile, Mohammed Siraj is yet to dismiss Rohit in T20s. Across 10 innings, Rohit has scored 74 runs off 55 balls against him, striking at a healthy rate with seven fours and four sixes.
The conditions are unlikely to change much against MI, whose batters will be eager to capitalize after starting their campaign on a sluggish, spin-friendly surface in Chennai.
Gujarat Titans vs Mumbai Indians: Head-to-head
GT hold a 3-2 lead over MI in their five encounters, maintaining a perfect 3-0 record at this venue, including their victory in Qualifier 2 of 2023. Notably, all five matches between these teams have been won by the side batting first.
- Matches Played: 5
- Won by Gujarat Titans: 3
- Won by Mumbai Indians: 2
- Tied: 0
- No Result: 0
- First-ever Fixture: May 6, 2022
- Most-recent Fixture: March 24, 2024
Gujarat Titans vs Mumbai Indians: Pitch Report and Weather Conditions
Ahmedabad will experience a scorching day with temperatures peaking at 38°C, but conditions will cool down to the mid-to-high 20s by match time. While no rain is expected, heavy dew is likely to settle in, improving batting conditions in the second innings. The pitch is expected to start flat, favoring stroke play.
Shubman Gill opted to chase against PBKS, considering the impact of dew, and GT nearly pulled off a record chase despite conceding 243 runs. In IPL 2024, six of the eight matches at this venue were won by teams batting second. Given these trends, the toss will be crucial.
Hardik Pandya, who faced jeers from the crowd in his last outing here, returns under the spotlight, but all eyes will also be on Rohit Sharma as a key player to watch.
Gujarat Titans vs Mumbai Indians: Team News and Predicted XI
Gujarat Titans – Team News
Gujarat Titans face a dilemma on how to integrate Washington Sundar into their playing XI. He started on the bench against PBKS but wasn’t needed, given the balance of the side. Rashid Khan remains an automatic pick due to his experience and skill, while R Sai Kishore impressed with figures of 3 for 30, making him difficult to drop.
In the batting order, GT already has multiple left-handers in Sai Sudharsan, Rahul Tewatia, and Sherfane Rutherford, who was used as an Impact Sub against PBKS. This depth means Sundar might have to wait longer for his opportunity.
Despite their bowlers struggling in the last game, GT fell just two big hits short of chasing down 244, so they may not make drastic changes. Rutherford had a decent outing, but his struggles against Vijaykumar proved costly. However, GT might persist with him before considering Glenn Phillips, keeping the overseas combination of Jos Buttler, Rashid Khan, and Kagiso Rabada unchanged.
If Sundar does get a chance, it could be at the expense of Arshad Khan. Meanwhile, Mohammed Siraj and Rabada will look to trouble Rohit Sharma early, but the key contest could be Suryakumar Yadav’s battle against Rashid Khan.
Gujarat Titans – Predicted XI
- Shubman Gill (capt)
- Sai Sudharsan
- Jos Buttler (wk)
- Sherfane Rutherford
- Shahrukh Khan
- Rahul Tewatia
- Rashid Khan
- Arshad Khan
- R Sai Kishore
- Kagiso Rabada
- Mohammed Siraj
- Prasidh Krishna
Mumbai Indians – Team News
Mumbai Indians are expected to make just one change, with Hardik Pandya likely to replace Robin Minz. Vignesh Puthur, who made an impressive T20 debut against CSK with figures of 3 for 32 as an Impact Sub, should retain his role.
With no major injury concerns apart from the uncertainty surrounding Jasprit Bumrah’s availability, MI is unlikely to alter their XI significantly. The presence of Mitchell Santner and Deepak Chahar at Nos. 8 and 9 ensures depth on what is expected to be another batting-friendly surface.
Puthur and Santner will aim to challenge key GT batters like Jos Buttler and Sherfane Rutherford, while Trent Boult—renowned for early breakthroughs—will be a key factor against the GT opening pair of Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan. A surprise selection isn’t entirely ruled out, but MI seems set to stick with a largely unchanged lineup.
Mumbai Indians – Predicted XI
- Rohit Sharma
- Ryan Rickelton (wk)
- Will Jacks
- Suryakumar Yadav
- Tilak Varma
- Hardik Pandya (capt)
- Naman Dhir
- Mitchell Santner
- Deepak Chahar
- Trent Boult
- Satyanarayana Raju
- Vignesh Puthur
Gujarat Titans vs Mumbai Indians: Players To Watch Out For
Shubman Gill (Gujarat Titans)
While chasing 244 against PBKS, Shubman Gill smashed a rapid 33 off 14 balls—an uncharacteristically quick start for him in T20s. Before the season began, he had expressed his intent to take charge of the powerplay, and while the high target dictated his aggression, it will be interesting to see if he maintains the same approach when GT bats first.
His powerplay performance could also influence his international prospects. Though he was named India’s vice-captain for the T20Is against Sri Lanka last year—their first full-strength T20I series post-World Cup—he hasn’t featured in the format since. This is partly due to India prioritizing Tests and ODIs in the lead-up to the Champions Trophy. However, reclaiming a spot in the T20I squad won’t be easy, as he faces tough competition from Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma, and Yashasvi Jaiswal for a top-order slot.
Suryakumar Yadav (Mumbai Indians)
Suryakumar Yadav has struggled for runs recently, managing just 119 across his last ten T20 innings for MI, India, and Mumbai. Nearly half of those came in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy final, where he scored 48 against Madhya Pradesh.
Leading MI against CSK, he started positively with 19 off 14 balls but lost momentum against spin, eventually finishing with 29 off 26. However, with Ahmedabad expected to offer a flatter surface, this could be the ideal setting for him to rediscover his form.
Gujarat Titans vs Mumbai Indians: Prediction
Scenario 1
- Toss: Gujarat Titans win the toss and bowl
- Powerplay Score: 65-75
- Mumbai Indians Total: 200-210
- Match Result: Gujarat Titans win the match
Scenario 2
- Toss: Mumbai Indians win the toss and bowl
- Powerplay Score: 55-65
- Gujarat Titans Total: 210-220
- Match Result: Mumbai Indians win the match
When and Where To Watch Gujarat Titans vs Mumbai Indians LIVE? Broadcast and Streaming Details
The Indian Premier League 2025 clash between Gujarat Titans and Mumbai Indians is set to begin at 7:30 PM IST on Saturday, March 29, at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The match will be broadcast live on the Star Sports network and will also be available for live streaming on JioHotstar for FREE.
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FAQs
What is Gujarat Titans’ head-to-head record against Mumbai Indians?
GT lead MI 3-2 in their five meetings, with a perfect 3-0 record at their home venue, including a win in Qualifier 2 of IPL 2023.
How does Ahmedabad’s weather impact matches?
Hot days lead to significant dew in the evening, making chasing teams more successful. In IPL 2024, six of eight games in Ahmedabad were won by the team batting second.
Will Washington Sundar play for GT against MI?
Sundar started on the bench against PBKS and may have to wait for his opportunity, as GT are likely to stick with their current overseas combination.
Can Suryakumar Yadav regain form in Ahmedabad?
After scoring just 119 runs in his last 10 T20 innings, Ahmedabad’s flat pitch could provide the perfect platform for Suryakumar to bounce back.
What changes can MI make for their game against GT?
Robin Minz may make way for Hardik Pandya, while Vignesh Puthur could once again be used as an Impact Player after his impressive T20 debut.
