AHMEDABAD: The last time Gujarat Titans (GT) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) clashed in an Indian Premier League (IPL) match in Ahmedabad, it was the final of the last season's tournament and the match, postponed by a day because of rain, culminated on the third morning at 1.35 am, with CSK winning their fifth title.
IPL ORANGE CAP | IPL PURPLE CAP | IPL POINTS TABLE
Cut to Friday, CSK lie fourth in the IPL 2024 table, with qualification in their own hands while GT, reeling under the injury-forced absence of marquee pacer Mohammed Shami and traded captain Hardik Pandya, occupy the last place in the ten-team league with their qualification dependent on winning the next three matches and other results going their way.
The clash against CSK for GT is followed by tough encounters against first-placed Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and third-placed Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH).
The first task, though, would be to overcome the tough challenge posed by the defending champions.
While CSK are coming off a 28-run triumph over Punjab Kings, the Titans have lost their last three matches, putting their campaign in disarray. The onus will be on GT captain Shubman Gill to reinvigorate his team -both with his batting and leadership.
Gill, who won the Orange Cap last time around, has aggregated 322 runs in 11 matches, striking at a rate of 137.60.
His opening partner Wriddhiman Saha has not been his usual self this time around, collecting just 136 runs in 9 matches.
Titans' batting mainstay this season has been Tamil Nadu batter Sai Sudharsan, whose total of 424 runs in 11 matches stands in contrast to the inconsistencies of the rest of the middle-order.
The middle-order comprising David Miller, Shahrukh Khan, Rahul Tewatia and co. will need to shoulder more responsibility.
Sans Shami, the Titans' bowling department has struggled to take wickets in contrast to the CSK, whose bowlers have taken wickets upfront, kept it tight in the middle overs and at the end.
While pacers Mustafizur Rahman and Matheesha Pathirana have left the squad and Deepak Chahar is out with injury, Mumbai's Tushar Deshpande has filled in the boots and, along with the spinners, has kept the opposition batters in check.
Rachin Ravindra's exit has opened up a spot for Ajinkya Rahane, who has not yet found the form of last season.
While captain Ruturaj Gaikwad (541 runs in 11 matches) and other middle order batters have lived upto the expectations barring the odd failure, the spotlight will again be on veteran Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
It was on this ground that Dhoni lifted the IPL trophy for the fifth time.
The Ahmedabad crowd will be looking to get the icon's glimpse. With the first two qualifiers slated to be played in Ahmedabad, the crowd might get another chance to see Dhoni play but every ardent fan would be looking forward to seeing him bat.
English (US) ·