The fans are ready for an electrifying showdown as Punjab Kings (PBKS) square off against Gujarat Titans (GT) in the IPL 2024 tournament. Scheduled at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur, Mohali on April 21st, this clash promises to be a thrilling encounter. PBKS currently finds themselves in the 9th position on the points table, while GT holds the 8th spot.
With PBKS securing victory in two out of seven matches this season and GT winning three out of seven, both teams are hungry for a win to climb up the rankings. In their recent outings, PBKS faced a narrow defeat by 9 runs against Mumbai Indians, despite Ashutosh Sharma’s impressive 68-run innings.
On the other hand, GT suffered a loss by 6 wickets to Delhi Capitals, with Rashid Khan making a notable contribution of 31 runs. The head-to-head record stands at 2-2 between PBKS and GT, making this contest even more intriguing. Notably, in each of the four encounters between these teams, the chasing side emerged victorious, with three of the matches being closely contested.
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With pacers like Jasprit Bumrah and Gerald Coetzee thriving in the PowerPlay overs, it’s evident that the pitch favors fast bowlers in IPL 2024, with 47 wickets falling to them in just four games. While chasing has been the preferred choice for captains, teams batting second have only a 50% success rate at this venue. As anticipation builds for another nail-biting clash, fans can expect an enthralling battle between PBKS and GT, with both teams vying for crucial points in the tournament standings.
Punjab Kings (PBKS)
Shikhar Dhawan’s absence due to a shoulder injury continues to pose a challenge for the team, with Prabhsimran Singh struggling to find form in the top order. Atharva Taide remains an option, having been given a brief opportunity earlier in the season. Meanwhile, Wriddhiman Saha’s struggles in the PowerPlay overs, averaging only 16.4 and being dismissed five times, could be exploited by Kagiso Rabada, who has had success against him in the past.
Probable XI: Prabhsimran Singh/Atharva Taide, Rilee Rossouw, Sam Curran (C), Liam Livingstone, Shashank Singh, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Ashutosh Sharma, Harpreet Brar, Harshal Patel, Kagiso Rabada, Arshdeep Singh
Gujarat Titans (GT)
Another intriguing battle to watch out for is between Liam Livingstone and Rashid Khan. While Livingstone boasts an impressive strike rate of over 172 against spinners, Rashid has dismissed him four times in T20 cricket, adding an element of suspense to their encounters on the field.
Probable XI: Shubman Gill (c), Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Sai Sudharsan, Abhinav Manohar, David Miller, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Mohit Sharma, Noor Ahmad/Azmatullah Omarzai, Spencer Johnson, Sandeep Warrier
Fantasy XI Suggestion 1:
Wriddhiman Saha, Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan, Shashank Singh, Ashutosh Sharma, Sam Curran (c), Liam Livingstone, Rashid Khan (vc), Kagiso Rabada, Harshal Patel, Mohit Sharma
Fantasy XI Suggestion 2:
Wriddhiman Saha, Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan, Shashank Singh, Sam Curran (c), Liam Livingstone, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Kagiso Rabada (vc), Arshdeep Singh, Mohit Sharma
