Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya will clash along with their army to qualify for the IPL 2023 finals. Following their slip-up against the Chennai Super Kings in Qualifier 1, the Gujarat Titans are determined to capitalize on the additional opportunity to secure a spot in the IPL 2023 final. With the upcoming match taking place in their home ground, led by Hardik Pandya, the team aims to reach their second consecutive final.
However, defending their title won’t come easy as they face a formidable challenge against the Mumbai Indians on Friday, May 26, in Ahmedabad. The Gujarat Titans have a point to prove as they strive to keep their title defense alive, building on their reputation as one of the most impressive sides since their inception and their victorious run last year.
Hardik Pandya, known for his composed and collected captaincy style, has quickly earned comparisons to MS Dhoni. Nevertheless, he faces a stern test of his leadership skills against the Mumbai Indians, who have been in exceptional form throughout IPL 2023.
The recent track record may not favor the Mumbai Indians, as only teams in the Eliminator stage have managed to make the final twice since the Sunrisers Hyderabad won the title in 2016. However, Rohit Sharma and his team have defied the odds throughout the season, displaying their resilience.
During the IPL 2023 group stages, the Gujarat Titans topped the points table with an impressive tally of 10 victories. Despite their strong performance, the defending champions faced a setback at the hands of MS Dhoni’s Chennai Super Kings in Qualifier 1. Known for their proficiency in chasing targets, the Gujarat Titans struggled against the spinners of the Super Kings in Chennai. Shubman Gill has been in exceptional form, providing stability at the top alongside the impactful Vijay Shankar.
However, the middle order, consisting of Hardik Pandya, David Miller, and Rahul Tewatia, has encountered difficulties in delivering substantial contributions recently. While Shubman’s remarkable back-to-back centuries towards the end of the group stages masked the batting vulnerabilities of the Gujarat Titans, it was exposed by CSK in Qualifier 1.
Under the captaincy of Rohit Sharma, the Mumbai Indians have an impressive record as five-time champions, showcasing their expertise in winning knockout matches. The upcoming contest in Ahmedabad between Hardik Pandya and his former IPL captain promises to be a captivating encounter.
It presents a classic battle between an aggressive yet incomplete batting lineup and a well-rounded team that relies on the experience of its bowlers to restrict the opposition. The Mumbai Indians have relied heavily on boundaries, with 65.9% of their runs coming from boundary shots, which is the highest among all teams.
In comparison, the Gujarat Titans have struggled in this aspect, with only 58.65% of their runs coming from boundaries, placing them among the lower-performing teams alongside the Sunrisers Hyderabad and Delhi Capitals. Mumbai has displayed an intent to hit a boundary every 2.3 balls, while the Titans have taken a slightly more conservative approach, attempting a boundary every 3 balls. On the bowling front, the Titans boast the top two wicket-takers in the league.
They have been successful in taking wickets every 17.3 balls, whereas Mumbai has taken wickets at a slightly slower rate of every 20.5 balls. This bowling prowess allows the Titans to adopt a more cautious approach with the bat. Mumbai’s style of play may have been influenced by the injuries to their bowlers, resulting in a clash of T20 strategies. The ultimate showdown will unfold in Ahmedabad.
Ever since the Gujarat Titans came into existence, Mohammed Shami has been a reliable asset for the team, consistently taking wickets at an impressive rate of one every 15.6 balls. His performance this year has been even more remarkable. However, in the three matches against Mumbai Indians, while playing for the Titans, Shami failed to claim a single wicket.
On the batting-friendly pitches in Mumbai, Shami struggled, conceding 53 and 42 runs in his allotted four overs in two separate encounters, both of which resulted in victories for Mumbai. In contrast, when playing in Ahmedabad where the ball had some movement, Shami showcased better results, recording figures of 0 for 18.
The Titans emerged victorious in that particular match. Consequently, Mumbai Indians will be keen to seize every opportunity to target Shami. They are well aware of his strengths, such as bowling hard lengths, generating an upright seam, and maintaining a high pace. In their previous encounter against Shami, Mumbai batsmen made use of the opportunity to attack him, hitting him for 53 runs while scoring a total of 218.
However, it’s worth noting that attacking Shami when the ball is moving around carries a certain risk, as it could result in wickets as well. In night matches at Ahmedabad during this IPL season, Shami has claimed nine wickets, conceding just 64 runs in 15 powerplay overs. Nevertheless, Mumbai Indians have been willing to take that risk and have accepted the potential consequences in their pursuit of victory.
Recent form of GT & MI
Throughout IPL 2023, the Ahmedabad pitch has provided batters with favorable conditions, offering pace and bounce to work with. It has proven to be a high-scoring venue, with consistent totals surpassing 170-180. Although there may be some initial movement for the pacers with the new ball, the batsmen will undoubtedly relish the pitch’s characteristics. Additionally, the impact of dew is anticipated to be minimal in the upcoming Qualifier 2 on Friday. It will be a high-tempo match with both teams will put up great efforts to win the match to make their way into the final.