IPL 2023 MATCH PREVIEW: GT vs LSG

Who would have thought that by 2023, the Pandya brothers, once known for wreaking havoc together for the Mumbai Indians, would be leading their respective teams in the Indian Premier League?

And yet, it's happening. KL Rahul, the regular captain of the Lucknow Super Giants, has been ruled out of the remainder of IPL 2023, prompting the franchise to announce Krunal Pandya as the stand-in captain of the team.

It’s the 51st match of the ongoing tournament which will see Hardik Pandya-led side bumping heads with Lucknow Super Giants, but this time at their home ground in Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad.

While the Lucknow Super Giants have defeated every team in the tournament at least once, they have been unable to crack the code when it comes to the Gujarat Titans. This sums up the kind of cricket both teams have played against each other so far.

The defending champions, however, have little to worry about, as they comfortably sit atop the points table with seven wins from 10 matches. Their recent victory against the Rajasthan Royals must have boosted their confidence, and they will be keen to continue their winning streak and maintain their position at the helm.

Lucknow Super Giants, on the other hand, have a lot to worry about. One major concern for them is the absence of KL Rahul and the question of who will fill his shoes. While Karun Nair has been announced as his replacement, it's uncertain whether he'll make it to the playing XI.

Currently, the best option for the team would be to open with Kyle Myers and Quintin de Kock. For the remaining overseas slots, Nicholas Pooran and Marcus Stoinis are the likely candidates, while the Super Giants can look to their local players for the pace attack.

All in all, with the level of competition in this tournament, the upcoming match is a must-win for Lucknow. The unpredictable nature of the league and the congested points table means that every victory counts, and they cannot afford to take any chances.

Probable Playing XIs

Gujarat Titans:

Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Shubman Gill, Hardik Pandya (c), Vijay Shankar, David Miller, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Mohit Sharma, Noor Ahmad, Mohammed Shami, Alzarri Joseph.

Lucknow Super Giants:

Kyle Mayers/Quinton de Kock, Manan Vohra, Ayush Badoni, Marcus Stoinis, Deepak Hooda, Nicholas Pooran (wk), Krunal Pandya (c), Krishnappa Gowtham, Naveen-ul-Haq, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohsin Khan.

Pitch Report

The Ahmedabad pitch has been a competitive one where both batters and bowlers have had their moments of domination. The powerplay overs will be critical, as we've seen pacers, especially with the new ball, cause a lot of damage.

Spinners will also play a key role in the middle overs. While the Gujarat Titans are known for their chasing abilities, the Lucknow Super Giants are known best for their defence, so their decision after winning the toss will depend on what suits them best.

Pitch Stats [IPL 2023]

Average 1st innings score: 179
Average 2nd innings score: 167
Matches won by the team batting 1st: 2
Matches won by the team batting 2nd: 3

Head-to-Head

Lucknow Super Giants and Gujarat Titans have faced each other three times in the last couple of years. In the previous season, the Titans got the better of the Super Giants on both occasions, and this season they have once again emerged victorious, giving them an unblemished 3-0 head-to-head record.

Fantasy Picks

Nicolas Pooran:

The Caribbean hard-hitting batter has been a vital cog in the middle-order of Lucknow Super Giants. Although he struggled to score freely in the last match in Lucknow, he played a patient knock of 20 runs off 31 balls. Overall, he has been in good form, having scored 245 runs in 10 matches at a strike rate of 164. The team will rely heavily on him, owing to his ability to tackle both pace and spin with equal ease.

Shubman Gill:

The defending champions can count on Shubman Gill as their most consistent opening batter, having amassed 375 runs in 10 matches at a strike rate of 135. With his brilliant track record at the Ahmedabad surface, he will be a major threat to the opposition, as he seeks to add more runs to his already rich tally.

Rashid Khan:

When it comes to spin bowling, there are few better than Rashid Khan. With his lethal googlies and deceptive variations, he has been a nightmare for the opposition batters so far in the tournament, picking up 18 wickets in 10 matches at an economy rate of 8.05. He is currently the joint-highest wicket-taker for Gujarat Titans along with Mohammed Shami.

Mohammed Shami:

The batters of opposition teams dread facing Mohammed Shami with the new ball, as it's like touching a hot frying pan. The Bengal pacer has been extremely difficult to play against in the tournament, picking up 18 wickets in 10 matches at an economy rate of 7.03. Heading into this game, he will look to continue his rich vein of form.

Fantasy XI