IPL 2023: Match 35, Gujarat Titans (GT) Predicted Playing XI vs Mumbai Indians

Gujarat Titans. (Photo Source: BCCI/IPL)

After registering a miraculous win against Lucknow Super Giants in their last fixture, the defending champions Gujarat Titans will lock horns with Mumbai Indians in IPL 2023 on Tuesday, April 25, at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad. The Hardik Pandya-led side was restricted to a paltry 135/6 against LSG in the first innings before Mohit Sharma’s brilliance in the last over led them to a seven-run win.

Gujarat are ranked fourth on the points table with four wins from six matches and will now aim to finish in the top two positions in the second half of the tournament. They will next host Mumbai Indians, who lost their last fixture against Punjab Kings by 13 runs. But in order to beat the five-time champions, GT will once again have to field a strong playing XI during the game on Tuesday.

Here’s Gujarat Titans’ predicted XI against Mumbai Indians:

Openers: Shubman Gill and Wriddhiman Saha (wk)

Shubman Gill. (Photo Source: BCCI/IPL)

Shubman Gill registered his first duck of IPL 2023 against LSG, which was also his second against the side in three innings. However, the 23-year-old is still the highest run-scorer for his side, with 228 runs to his name in six innings at an average of 38 and a strike rate of 138.18. Having got out on a duck on his previous outing, Gill will be raring to go against MI and get his team off to a flying start.

Wriddhiman Saha came close to scoring his first half-century of the season against LSG but eventually fell three runs short of the landmark. The wicket-keeper batter scored 47 off 37 balls and stitched an important stand with captain Pandya after losing Gill early. Saha has shown intent right from the word go throughout the tournament, batting a strike rate of 138.38. He will be eager to get his team off to an explosive start against MI as well.

Middle order: David Miller, Abhinav Manohar, Rahul Tewatia

David Miller (Photo Source: Twitter)

David Miller didn’t have a good outing in the previous fixture against LSG, as he could only score six runs off 12 balls. However, the southpaw has been phenomenal with the bat for his side since the past season, as he’s taken them home from the most precarious situations time and again. Miller has scored 102 runs in five innings at an average of 51. After his poor outing against LSG, Miller will be eager to take down MI’s bowlers in GT’s home ground.

Abhinav Manohar departed cheaply against LSG, scoring only three off five balls, but the 28-year-old has shown great potential in the tournament so far, batting at a strike rate of 169.23. He played good cameos of 27 runs off 13 balls against RR in the fifth game and earlier scored 14 off 8 against KKR in the third fixture. Manohar will be looking to contribute more with the bat if given an opportunity against MI.

Rahul Tewatia has already done the finishing job twice in the tournament, first against CSK in the opening game and second against Punjab Kings in the fourth fixture. The southpaw is one of the reasons behind GT’s terrific chasing record and will look to provide another great finish against MI.

All-Rounders: Hardik Pandya (c), Vijay Shankar

Hardik Pandya. (Photo Source: BCCI/IPL)

Hardik Pandya scored his first fifty of the season against LSG as he scored a brilliant 66 off 50 balls and took his side to a total of 135/6 in the first innings. The GT captain has finally returned to form, which is a good sign for the team going ahead in the tournament.

Vijay Shankar was brought into the team in place of Sai Sudharsan; however, the all-rounder failed to fire with the bat scoring just ten off 12 balls. He scored a sensational 63* off 24 against Kolkata Knight Riders in GT’s third fixture. The 32-year-old has batted at a strike rate of 161.25 in the tournament so far and will look to play another explosive innings against MI.

Bowlers: Rashid Khan, Mohammed Shami, Mohit Sharma, Alzarri Joseph

Mohit Sharma. (Photo Source: BCCI/IPL)

Rashid Khan is the joint second-highest wicket-taker of the tournament with 12 wickets to his name from six matches. The wrist-spinner was awarded ‘Player of the Match’ for picking up 2/26 in four overs and scoring an unbeaten ten off three balls in the first game against CSK.

The 24-year-old also bagged a hat-trick against KKR in the third fixture in a losing cause. Rashid will be eager to put up another match-winning performance for his side against MI.

Mohammed Shami is the second-highest wicket-taker for GT, with ten wickets from six matches. The right-arm seamer has been phenomenal, with the new ball rattling the opposition with his immaculate control on swing. Shami bowled an economical spell of 0/18 in three overs against LSG and will be eager to pick wickets with the new ball against MI.

Mohit Sharma has had a dream return to IPL after three years, as he has been awarded Player of the Match twice in three games. He defended 12 runs in the last over against LSG and snatched victory from the jaws of defeat for his team. The 34-year-old finished his spell with 2/17 in three overs to set up a 7-run win for his side. Being full of confidence due to his remarkable performances, Sharma will look to bowl his side to another victory against MI.

Alzarri Joseph was dropped from the XI against LSG, considering the slow nature of the pitch. The right-arm fast bowler didn’t have a memorable outing against Rajasthan Royals, as he gave away 47 runs in his three-over spell. However, the 26-year-old has formed a formidable new ball pair, with Mohammed Shami picking up seven wickets from five matches so far.

Considering Shami and Joseph’s good record at the Narendra Modi Stadium so far, captain Pandya is likely to bring him back into the squad despite Noor Ahmad’s brilliant performance in the last game(2/18 in four overs).

Gujarat Titans (GT) Probable Playing XI:

Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Shubman Gill, Hardik Pandya (c), Vijay Shankar, Abhinav Manohar, David Miller, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Mohammed Shami, Alzarri Joseph, Mohit Sharma

Gujarat Titans (GT) Probable Impact Players:

Joshua Little, Jayant Yadav, Srikar Bharat, Sai Sudharsan, Shivam Mavi