In the bustling city of Ahmedabad, known for its vibrant trade culture, Hardik Pandya stands as a master of his craft, possessing invaluable knowledge that surpasses even his fellow traders in the business.
Hardik, who started his cricket journey with Mumbai Indians, has made a name for himself as a talented leader while playing for the Gujarat Titans. He has led the team to consecutive playoffs in two seasons, which is quite an achievement. However, will that be sufficient to stop the dominating Mumbai Indians? This team has faced its fair share of challenges and setbacks but remains determined to reach the IPL final once again.
How significant are those secret tactics going to be in Friday's Qualifier 2? When it comes to the playoffs, the Mumbai Indians have consistently performed at their highest level, winning 9 out of 10 times. Additionally, they are the only team that has managed to defeat the Gujarat Titans more than once. What's even more impressive is that despite a shaky start and the absence of key players, the Mumbai Indians have made it to this crucial stage of the season, facing off against the top-ranked team in the league.
Who has the real advantage at the moment?
Just a week ago, Shane Bond, the bowling coach for the Mumbai Indians, was really angry and didn't feel like hiding his frustration after the Mumbai Indians lost to the Lucknow Super Giants in the league stage. He complained that the bowlers weren't following their strategies as planned. Even though two key players, Jofra Archer and Jasprit Bumrah, were unavailable due to injury, Bond believed that it shouldn't be used as an excuse for their performance.
Some of their young players have shown up. Akash Madhwal may not completely make up for the fact that Bumrah and Archer are absent, but his significant improvement has relieved some of the worries for the Mumbai Indians. His economy rate during the initial overs (7.25) and at the end of the innings (7.26) has enabled the foreign fast bowlers, Jason Behrendorff and Chris Jordan, to perform more effectively in their specific roles.
In addition to that, Tilak Varma and Nehal Wadhera have strengthened their batting lineup, giving the five-time champions a team that can successfully chase down large scores and also take wickets, similar to the Titans.
Fast bowlers have performed exceptionally well in Ahmedabad throughout this season. If Mumbai Indians' lesser-known opening bowlers, who have shown significant improvement in the latter half of the tournament, manage to dismiss the opposition's top-order batsmen early on, they could present a tough challenge.
Both teams are well-equipped and believe in their abilities to perform under pressure during important games. They strive to maintain a composed demeanor throughout. This upcoming Friday match is highly anticipated and expected to deliver an exciting spectacle.
When: Friday, March 26, 2023, 7:30 PM IST
Where: Gujarat Titans vs Mumbai Indians, Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
What to expect: The weather will probably stay around 40 degrees, which means it'll be quite hot. The cricket pitch is anticipated to be in good condition, offering plenty of opportunities for high-scoring plays. Both teams have a good track record of successfully chasing targets, so they'll likely choose to bat second. Although there won't be much dew on the ground, it shouldn't significantly affect the game.
Head to head: Gujarat Titans 1 - 2 Mumbai Indians.
Gujarat Titans:
Tactics & Matchups: Mohammed Shami will play a crucial role in the initial overs of the game. When facing Mumbai Indians, the opening batsmen - Rohit Sharma and Ishan Kishan - have found it challenging to score runs easily against Shami. They have managed to maintain a strike rate of 118.52 and 105.56 respectively during their performances in the IPL.
Probable XII: Wriddhiman Saha, Shubman Gill, Hardik Pandya, Vijay Shankar, David Miller, Dasun Shanaka, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Yash Dayal, Alzarri Joseph/Noor Ahmed/Josh Little, Mohammed Shami, Mohit Sharma
Mumbai Indians:
Tactics & Matchups: Suryakumar Yadav will play a crucial role in the middle order for his team. It's quite impressive that he is one of the few batsmen in the IPL who hasn't been dismissed by Rashid Khan, who has otherwise performed exceptionally well against Mumbai Indians (MI). Suryakumar and Rashid Khan have faced each other in 47 deliveries, and Surya has managed to score 67 runs against the talented leg-spinner. On the other hand, the middle-order batsmen of the GT team have been struggling against left-arm orthodox spin. Players like Hardik, Shankar, Miller, and Tewatia have scored at a strike rate of less than 120 against this type of bowling.
Probable XII: Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Cameron Green, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Nehal Wadhera, Tim David, Chris Jordan, Piyush Chawla, Akash Madhwal, Kumar Kartikeya, Jason Behrendorff
Did You Know:
- David Miller may have only managed to score one fifty against the Mumbai Indians, but he has been consistently impressive with a strike rate of over 140 and an average of 40 in matches against them. In the current season in Ahmedabad, he has been performing exceptionally well, maintaining an average of 41.6 and a strike rate of 167.74.
- In all their face-offs during the IPL, Mohammed Shami has never managed to get Ishan Kishan out in the 54 balls they've played against each other.
- Shubman Gill has scored an impressive 722 runs so far, making him the second-highest run-scorer among Indian players in a single IPL season. Only Virat Kohli's remarkable 973 runs in IPL 2016 surpasses his achievement. Additionally, Gill is just nine runs away from surpassing Faf du Plessis and securing the Orange Cap for himself. If he manages to do so, he will become the sixth Indian player to finish as the highest run-scorer in a season.
Conclusion -
Experience the thrill of live cricket action with the Fast Live Line app and website. Stay updated with real-time cricket live line updates and never miss a moment of the game. Get instant access to live cricket score, ensuring you're always in the know about the latest happenings on the field. With Fast Live Line, you can immerse yourself in the excitement of the game and stay connected to cricket like never before. Download the app or visit the website now to enjoy the best cricket live line experience and stay up-to-date with live cricket scores.
