IPL 2023: Match 13 GT vs KKR Preview, Playing XI, Live Streaming Details & Updates

Gujarat Titans. (Photo Source: BCCI/IPL)

Hardik Pandya-led Gujarat Titans (GT) are riding high with two consecutive wins, precisely how they would have wished to have started off their Indian Premier League 2023 (IPL) campaign. However, they face a tricky outing against a resurgent Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in their forthcoming match but will have home support. 

The two sides will square off at the iconic Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad in the first doubleheader on Sunday, April 9. Speaking about their head-to-head records in the top-tier league, the two franchises have locked horns just once thus far with the defending champions emerging victorious in the outing.

New-look Kolkata scripted a sensational win against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in their previous match. The Nitish Rana-led team lost nearly half their batting unit for under 100 runs and eventually managed to post a humongous 205-run target. 

KKR got the big runs all thanks to Shardul Thakur’s scintillating batting display. His 68 off 29 coupled with Rinku Singh’s 46 runs and Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s 57 runs propelled the side to attain the massive first innings score. Meanwhile, the spin did the trick for the Nitish Rana-led side as Varun Chakaravarthy, Sunil Narine, and Impact Player Suyash Sharma picked nine wickets between them to wrap up the contest by 81 runs.

On the other hand, the defending champions have produced some terrific cricket with impressive performances coming from a few players in the XI. KKR under the new management led by Chandrakant Pandit will be gunning to improve further and aim for their second win of the season. Likewise, Hardik Pandya’s Titans have all the ingredients to obtain a third win and it remains to be seen if KKR can hand the defending champions, their first loss. 

Pitch and Conditions

The wicket at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad has something in it for the batters. The previous match in the league saw a score of over 170 runs and a similar total can be expected in the forthcoming clash between GT and KKR. Batters will look to make the most from the surface and get the big runs. Any score in the region of 170-190 will be very competitive.

Probable Playing XI for GT vs KKR

Gujarat Titans

Hardik Pandya and Co. are likely to play the same XI considering they have found success with the side thus far. Their top order has mostly looked settled so far with Shubman Gill already in sublime form with his bat for the Titans. They will look to continue their momentum with winning ways ahead when they clash with the Knight Riders.

Probable Playing XI: Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan, Hardik Pandya (c), David Miller, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Mohammed Shami, Joshua Little, Yash Dayal, Alzarri Joseph

Kolkata Knight Riders

KKR too could play the same XI, however, Impact Player Suyash Sharma too could get a chance to feature in the upcoming clash. The only concern has been their top-order batters who struggled with the bat in the last match. Therefore to release pressure off their middle-order batters, the top order has to come good for the KKR franchise, especially against the defending champions.

Probable Playing XI: Mandeep Singh, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Venkatesh Iyer, Nitish Rana (c), Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Shardul Thakur, Sunil Narine, Tim Southee, Umesh Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy

GT vs KKR Head-to-head

Played – 1 Gujarat Titans – 1