TACTICAL PREVIEW
Follow UsThere is nothing common between Rishabh Pant and Shubman Gill. The way they bat, their demeanour, or even the brash aggressiveness that stands Pant apart on a cricket field.
However, a common thread that would hold them together is how their respective sides are in desperate need of some turn-around in the IPL 2024, and if they have it in them to bring their teams back in contention.
Currently, Delhi Capitals are in the ninth position on the points table whereas Gujarat Titans are sixth - and nothing less than two full points would cut it. Gill will be glad that he has had so many happy memories in Ahmedabad to fall back upon, but Pant is not likely to be a sitting duck.
GT vs DC Head-to-Head
Overall - Games 3| GT 2 | DC 1
At Ahmedabad - Game 1 | GT 0 | DC 1
Venue and Condition Details
Ahmedabad has been a consistent feature in the Indian Premier League for the last four editions, and teams are well aware of the characteristics of this venue. Captains have opted to bowl first in nine out of 12 matches here since IPL 2023, while teams batting first and batting second have won 6 games each.
The average first-innings score in that venue is 191 since IPL 2023, which indicates its strong affinity with batters. acers have taken more wickets at the venue than spinners.
GT have performed well at their home with eight wins in 13 games whereas DC have won four and lost a couple of games at this venue.
Weather Forecast
There is no chance of rain in Ahmedabad on April 17 (Wednesday), with the humidity factor staying around 41%. Dew will have some impact - as it normally does after such sapping humidity.
Things to watch out for
Can Sudharsan step up his game?
Even though Sai Sudharsan divides opinion in terms of his ability to change gears in the shortest format of the game, he has been a consistent performer for Gujarat Titans in the IPL. In six games this season, Sudharsan has crossed the 30-run mark on all occasions with 31 being his lowest score, but only twice has he been able to score faster than 125 SR.
If you dig deeper, it is clear that Sudharsan has been playing the spinners well against whom he averages 105 while averaging just 25.2 against pace. Right-arm pacers have had a wood on Sudharsan this season, against whom he has been dismissed five times in six innings and strikes at only 121. With Ishant Sharma, Mukesh Kumar, Anrich Nortje, and Jhye Richardson being in the DC camp, it is not going to be easy for the Tamil Nadu batter.
Warner needs to arrest his slump
David Warner started IPL 2024 with 130 runs from the first three matches, but since then, his numbers have dropped down tragically as he has accumulated just 36 runs from the next three innings.
Pace has particularly been Warner’s kryptonite as he has been dismissed six times, scoring 144 runs. While he hasn’t faced enough spin, he has also not given himself the best chance to push through.
While DC can take some solace from the fact that Rishabh Pant has been able to showcase a glimpse of his past, for them to have a solid grip over the game, Warner’s quick return from the slump becomes paramount.
Probable XIs
GT - Shubman Gill, Wriddhiman Saha, Sai Sudharsan, Vijay Shankar, David Miller, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, Umesh Yadav, Spencer Johnson, Mohit Sharma, Shahrukh Khan (IP)
DC - Prithvi Shaw, Abishek Porel, Shai Hope, Rishabh Pant (wk), Tristan Stubbs, Axar Patel, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Kuldeep Yadav, Mukesh Kumar, Ishant Sharma, Khaleel Ahmed, Jhye Richardson (IP)
Telecast and Streaming Details
The match will be live on Star Sports Network and live-streamed on Jio Cinema. The game will start at 7.30 PM, with the toss happening at 7:00 PM.
