Gujarat Titans appeared to be on the brink of elimination from the tournament following three consecutive defeats, mirroring the plight of Mumbai Indians. However, they staged a remarkable all-round performance against the Chennai Super Kings, reigniting hopes of a resurgence. Buoyed by their confidence-boosting victory, GT is all set to host the table-topping Kolkata Knight Riders at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
With seven teams still vying for playoff berths, GT remains in contention, albeit with a negative net run-rate, placing them at a disadvantage. Requiring nothing short of a miracle to secure a top-four finish, GT acknowledges the necessity of delivering standout performances in the remaining two games to maintain their mathematical chances.
Reflecting on their recent win over the Chennai Super Kings, Shubman Gill expressed belief in the team’s ability to conjure miracles, fostering optimism within the squad.
“I have seen miracles happen with this team in the past couple of years, and we all do believe in that,” said Shubman Gill when asked about his team’s playoffs chances.
In their victory against CSK, Gill led by example with the bat and was ably supported by Sai Sudharsan, the standout performer for GT this season. The duo’s contributions at the top of the order will once again be important for the home side. GT bowlers were led by Umesh Yadav, who bowled his fastest spell of this season against CSK. Sharp outswingers at pace; Umesh looked in fine rhythm.
If he can bowl the same way against his former team, then GT will be close to pulling off another upset. Getting early breakthroughs is important in every format. But KKR has proven that they have enough quality in the middle order to battle out tough situations and win games. They twice did that against MI, first in Mumbai, then in Kolkata. Shreyas Iyer, Venkatesh Iyer, Rinku Singh, Nitish Rana; this is a very strong-looking middle order with quality options.
While most KKR batters have been in-form, skipper Shreyas Iyer has struggled to make a significant impact consistently. He’s batting at a modest average of 31.89 with a strike rate of 135.4, struggling to consistently influence matches like some of his fellow KKR batters. While Shreyas has shown glimpses of promise this season, his impact has been sporadic.
Fortunately, his fluctuating form hasn’t significantly hindered the team as others have stepped up to the challenge. However, as the playoffs draw near, KKR will rely on their skipper to deliver when it matters most. Will Monday be the night for his resurgence with bat, or will the Titans’ bowlers succeed in containing him? With uncertainties abound, one thing is certain: GT will spare no effort in their quest for victory.
Meanwhile, KKR has the opportunity to provide valuable game time to players like Shreyas and Rinku, who have seen limited action this season. Expect a closely contested match between the in-form side and a revitalised team.