KKR on Top, Aiming for a Top-Two Finish
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are currently leading the IPL 2024 points table but haven’t secured a top-two finish yet, which they’ll be targeting in this match against Gujarat Titans (GT). Their success this season is built on a strong top-four batting lineup, with all four batsmen scoring over 300 runs at a strike rate exceeding 10. They also boast a potent bowling attack with four bowlers taking 15+ wickets at an economy rate below 21.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz: A Potential Replacement for Phil Salt?
With Phil Salt leaving for the T20 World Cup soon, KKR might use this match to introduce Rahmanullah Gurbaz as the new wicket-keeper batsman at the top. Gurbaz has a great record against GT’s star spinner Rashid Khan, making him a valuable asset.
GT’s Struggles and Rashid Khan as their Hope
Gujarat Titans, on the other hand, are struggling at the bottom of the table. Their inconsistency in team selection (most used players in the tournament) hasn’t helped their cause. However, their last win against CSK might provide some momentum. Rashid Khan remains their biggest hope against KKR’s strong batting lineup, considering his past success against some of their key batsmen.
Expected Playing XIs
- Gujarat Titans (GT):
- Shubman Gill (c)
- B Sai Sudharsan
- M Shahrukh Khan
- David Miller
- Matthew Wade (wk)
- Rahul Tewatia
- Rashid Khan
- Noor Ahmad
- Umesh Yadav
- Mohit Sharma
- Kartik Tyagi
- Sandeep Warrier/R Sai Kishore (Impact Player)
- Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR):
- Phil Salt/Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk) (depending on Salt’s availability)
- Sunil Narine
- Nitish Rana/Vaibhav Arora
- Shreyas Iyer (c)
- Venkatesh Iyer
- Andre Russell
- Rinku Singh
- Ramandeep Singh
- Mitchell Starc
- Varun Chakravarthy
- Harshit Rana
- Vaibhav Arora/Rahmanullah Gurbaz (Impact Player)
Key Players in Spotlight
- B Sai Sudharsan (GT): GT’s highest run-scorer with a good record at the Ahmedabad stadium.
- Varun Chakravarthy (KKR): Currently in good form and has a chance to win the Purple Cap.
Pitch and Conditions
- Chasing seems to be a better option in Ahmedabad due to dew factor.
- Average first-innings score: 175