AHMEDABAD: Last week’s last-gasp victory over Rajasthan Royals injected some much-needed momentum in Gujarat Titans’ campaign. Their clash against the Delhi Capitals assumes significance as the two teams look to move out of the lower half of the table.
The Capitals, in turn, strolled to a comprehensive six-wicket triumph over LSG in their previous encounter to get their campaign back on track.
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Various sub-plots add to the intrigue of Wednesday’s clash. While Titans captain and opener
Shubman Gill
has made himself a regular feature of the Indian team across all formats, Capitals opener
Prithvi Shaw
continues to miss the bus. The Mumbaikar continues to blow hot and cold with his form while his fitness issues make him a liability on the field.
Shaw’s opening partner
David Warner
suffered a blow to his finger and is doubtful for the match. With
Mitchell Marsh
too returning to Australia to tend to his torn right hamstring, Capitals might be tempted to give Abhishek Porel a chance at the top of the order.
The onus, though, will be on Shaw to get the Capitals off to a quick start while Titans’ Gill and Sai Sudharsan, who have formed a solid opening pair, too will look to make the Powerplay count. In the DC middle order, Australian Jake Fraser-McGurk and Tristan Stubbs will look to provide the impetus while Pant will be eager to ease himself into form.
The bowling lineup of both teams too has a familiar feel. Veteran pacers Ishant Sharma of Capitals and Umesh Yadav of Titans have both dropped out of national reckoning. Left-arm pacer Khaleel Ahmed leads the DC attack.
DC’s two left-arm wrist spinners — Kuldeep Yadav and Noor Ahmad — add another layer to the contest, though GT’s middle order of Manohar, Shankar and Tewatia are up to the task.
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