Cricket Indian Premier League Prediction

Punjab Kings vs Gujarat Titans - Match Preview

🏏 13 April 2023 - 18:00 GMT +0

After playing their part in a sensational Sunday – against different opponents – delivering two of the best matches ever in the history of Indian Premier League (IPL), Punjab Kings and Gujarat Titans will face each other in match #18 of IPL 2023 at the PCA IS Bindra Stadium in Mohali.

It was a memorable Sunday for Shikhar Dhawan, who became the fourth batter in the tournament’s history to remain unbeaten on 99. He and Mohit Rathee added 55 runs for the last wicket, which was the joint-fifth-highest partnership for the tenth wicket in men’s T20 cricket. All this ended up as just records in the annals as Punjab fell to an eight-wicket loss against Hyderabad, which ended their two-game winning start to the season.

It’s not all doom and gloom for the Kings as they return to their favourite venue that has landed ten wins across their last 12 matches including a seven-run win over Kolkata via DLS method. They may think long and hard about including Kagiso Rabada, although that may put Nathan Ellis’ place in doubt (six wickets, ER 8.60rpo). He will have happy memories of playing the Titans won the ‘Player of the Match award in their H2H win last season with figures of 4/33. There’s more good news as England all-rounder Liam Livingstone has joined the squad after missing the first three matches due to an injury.

Punjab’s Sunday match was nothing close to what Gujarat went through in a three-wicket loss to Kolkata Knight Riders, which would probably go down in history as the ‘Rinku Singh heist.’ Five sixes off the last five balls robbed them of a win in a game where captain Hardik Pandya sat out due to a minor niggle. They would like to return to their safe zone – chasing - having won ten of their 11 chases in the competition with eight going to the final over.

The biggest positive with the bat has been Sai Sudharsan, who had scored back-to-back fifties leading up to this match. He also has scores of 65 & 35 against the Punjab Kings which should boost his confidence for another big score. His runs could come up as insurance against the Titans’ bowling, which is likely to be led from the front by seamers. Alzarri Joseph and Mohammed Shami have taken six wickets each this season and with the West Indian conceding 7.41rpo, control hasn’t been an issue either.

⚡ Players to watch: Two IPL veterans could hog the limelight here as Shikhar Dhawan comes up against Rashid Khan. Dhawan has been Punjab’s top-scorer in their last two matches while Rashid has been Gujarat’s top-wicket taker in each of their three matches this season. Looking at their H2H record, Hardik may be tempted to give the ball early to Rashid to keep Dhawan at bay, as the H2H stats read: 53/4 off 56 balls @ 5.67rpo in seven previous IPL matches.

📋 Stat attack: The seven first innings IPL scores of over 190 at this venue were all defended, including the first match this season (via DLS).

• Punjab Kings have hit the most 6s of the match in 13 of their last 14 matches at this venue.
• Gujarat Titans have won ten of their 11 chases in the IPL competition. Eight of those have come in the final over.
• Punjab Kings have posted the highest opening partnership of the match in eight of their last ten matches, but one of the exceptions has come against Gujarat.
• Mohammed Shami vs Shikhar Dhawan in IPL: 113/0 off 76 balls @ 8.92rpo.
• Hardik Pandya off Sam Curran's bowling in all T20s - 48/1 off 20 balls in three innings @ 14.40rpo (3x4 4x6).
• Kagiso Rabada has conceded 2x4 and 4x6 off the 32 balls he bowled to Hardik Pandya in the IPL.