Mumbai Indians and Gujarat Titans, both coming from their opening losses, are set to lock horn against each other at Gujarat’s Narendra Modi stadium Stadium on Saturday. The statake of both the teams would be really high as when they took to the field as they aim to avoid a second consecutive loss and stay competitive in the league standings.
Mumbai Indians, despite a fighting debut from Vignesh Puthur, fell short against Chennai Super Kings in their tournament opener. While Gujarat Titans found themselves outplayed, with their bowling exposed by Shreyas Iyer and Shashank Singh. Their batting, though promising in the chase, faltered under pressure at a critical stage.
Adding intrigue to this matchup is the return of Hardik Pandya to the Mumbai Indians playing XI. The former GT captain, who led them to their title triumph in 2022, is back after serving a suspension. His inclusion is expected to bring balance to the side with both bat and ball, potentially replacing Satyanarayana Raju in the XI. Mumbai may also consider rotating their overseas picks, with options open to drop either Ryan Rickelton or Will Jacks to strengthen their bowling attack.
Gujarat Titans, on the other hand, may rethink their middle-order strategy. The exclusion of Glenn Phillips in the first match raised eyebrows, especially with the middle-order failing to capitalize. Phillips could slot in at No. 4, offering explosive batting, a handy bowling option, and exceptional fielding. However, Sherfane Rutherford’s impactful 46(28) might make the selection call a tough one.
A major highlight will be the early contest between Mumbai’s pace spearhead Trent Boult and GT’s top-order trio — Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan, and Jos Buttler. GT’s strength lies at the top, and surviving Boult’s opening spell will be critical for their chances.
Both teams have quality in their line-ups but are still searching for rhythm and the right combinations. A win here could spark momentum, while a second loss might push either team into early pressure in a tightly packed table.
Probable Playing Xis:
Mumbai Indians: Rohit Sharma, Ryan Rickelton (wk), Will Jacks, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya (c), Naman Dhir, Mitchell Santner, Deepak Chahar, Trent Boult, Vignesh Puthur
Gujarat Titans: Shubman Gill (c), Sai Sudharsan, Jos Buttler (wk), Glenn Phillips, Shahrukh Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Sai Kishore, Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna