GT vs KKR Preview – Formidable Gujarat confront Kolkata’s spin challenge
Defending champions Gujarat Titans are off to a great start in the 16th edition of the tournament and will take on two-time IPL champions Kolkata Knight Riders in the 13th match of the ongoing tournament. Hardik Pandya’s side dispatched Delhi Capitals in their previous match to make it two in two.
David Miller’s addition to the Gujarat squad has added extra firepower to their batting order, as the veteran Proteas dasher failed a match-winning innings on his return to the side in the last match. Meanwhile, their opponents, Kolkata Knight Riders, are coming into the clash on the back of a sumptuous victory against Royal Challengers Bangalore.
However, Nitish Rana will be concerned by the lack of runs from his top-order batters as it was the belligerence of Shardul Thakur, which saved the blushes of KKR’s batters with a rollicking half-century. It will be an interesting match between the two heavyweights as they played out a thrilling encounter in last year’s edition.
Pitch and conditions
The last match at this venue saw a high-scoring affair between the hosts and CSK. While the pitch has something to offer for the bowlers, the batters are expected to pile on the runs given the flatness of the surface. The team winning the toss would prefer to chase at this venue, especially GT’s formidable record while batting second.
Venue details: Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
Last T20 match at the venue: CSK- 178/7 (20 overs) | GT- 182/5 (19.2 overs)
Probable playing XI for Gujarat Titans vs Kolkata Knight Riders clash:
Gujarat Titans:
Hardik Pandya’s side are looking like the side to beat as they have produced the goods in the two matches so far. David Miller has added another layer of security to the batting order, while the bowlers have been impeccable in the two matches so far.
Kolkata Knight Riders:
Nitish Rana registered his first win as the KKR skipper, and it was largely due to Shardul Thakur’s belligerent batting innings. His decision to employ spin early in the clash against RCB also proved to be a masterstroke. However, he will be worried about the inconsistency of the top order.
