Overview
These were the last two unbeaten sides in the competition, but they come into this match on the back of contrasting defeats. Punjab Kings suffered a batting meltdown against Sunrisers Hyderabad, and only Shikhar Dhawan’s memorable 99 not out allowed them to make a contest of it. There was no way, however, that Gujarat Titans could attribute their loss to a bad day. Having controlled their encounter against Kolkata Knight Riders, even without Hardik Pandya, their captain who was unwell, they suffered the mortification of seeing Rinku Singh smash five straight sixes off Yash Dayal to script the unlikeliest of victories.
Pandya should be back in charge for their visit to Mohali, though it remains to be seen if they’ll risk Dayal after the battering he took in the last game. Otherwise, Gujarat seem a fairly settled XI, and it’ll be fascinating to see how the in-form Rashid Khan copes with Liam Livingstone, one of the few batsmen across the world who has managed to get on top of him.
Livingstone is finally fit after recovering from a knee injury, and that could mean more time on the bench for Kagiso Rabada, Punjab’s premier pace bowler. Nathan Elllis and Arshdeep Singh – five wickets already in the Power play – have led the line well so far, and Dhawan and Trevor Bayliss, the coach, may choose not to tinker.
Punjab were one of the few sides to convincingly beat Gujarat in 2022, though they will also remember how the Titans ‘stole’ their first game with two last-gasp sixes. With a place in the top four certain for the winner of this game, this match should be no less dramatic.
Venue and Time
Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium, Mohali, 7.30 PM IST.
Toss and expected conditions
Traditionally, this has been a field-first venue, with the chasing side winning nearly 60 per cent of the matches. But with the temperature peaking at 33C during the game and very little humidity, the dew factor is unlikely to impact this match.
Head-to-Head
Both teams shared a win apiece in the 2022 season. Gujarat’s was arguably the more dramatic, with Rahul Tewatia smashing two sixes off the final two balls to take his side home.
Possible XIs and Impact Player Watch
Having succumbed to a knee injury while playing a Test in Pakistan last December, Liam Livingstone should be fit to play. He should slot straight back into the XI. Nathan Ellis has made a fine impression so far, and Kagiso Rabada may have to sit out again. Gujarat usually play Josh Little when they bowl first, while Sai Sudharsan, one of the finds of the season, is pencilled in when they bat first. Yash Dayal is likely to be temporarily removed from the firing line, with Sai Kishore’s spin offering a different option.
Punjab Kings: Prabhsimran Singh, Shikhar Dhawan (C), Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Sam Curran, Shahrukh Khan, Harpreet Brar, Nathan Ellis, Rahul Chahar, Arshdeep Singh.
Gujarat Titans: Shubman Gill, Wriddhiman Saha (WK), Sai Sudharsan, Hardik Pandya (C), Vijay Shankar, David Miller, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Alzarri Joseph, Mohammed Shami, R Sai Kishore.