Every IPL team this season has undergone changes—new players, new captains, and new coaches—following the mega auction. However, the Gujarat Titans have experienced an even bigger shift: new ownership. The original promoter group, CVC, has transferred control to a new corporate entity. Yet, ask ShubmanGill, and he might say, "The more things change, the more they stay the same."
Until last year, Gujarat Titans stood apart from other IPL teams due to their owners’ hands-off approach. The former management remained largely behind the scenes, allowing the team’s leadership to make cricketing decisions independently—a stark contrast to most other franchises. When Gill states, "We have the highest win percentage over the past three years," much of that success can be attributed to the non-interfering stance of the previous GT management.
"I haven't had a chance to speak with them, but I think that's a good thing. If there was something new, I’d have had a reason to talk to them. Other than the great players we've added, I don't think much has changed," said the GT skipper about the new management and squad on the eve of their season opener against Punjab Kings.
With the addition of players like Jos Buttler, Glenn Phillips, KagisoRabada, and Mohammed Siraj, the Titans look formidable. The retained core of Rashid Khan, Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan, Shahrukh Khan, and Rahul Tewatia further strengthens the squad. As mentioned in the pre-match press conference, the Titans now face a ‘problem of plenty,’ boasting specialists across batting, bowling, and fielding.
With a steady coach continuing his uninterrupted three-year tenure and a retained captain, Gujarat Titans remain one of the most stable teams in the league. Their primary selection dilemma revolves around whether to open with Buttler alongside Gill or stick with Sai Sudharsan. While Siraj’s presence provides a luxury with the new ball, the key question for the GT think tank is how effective he will be at the death.
Meanwhile, Punjab Kings, now under the leadership of Shreyas Iyer and head coach Ricky Ponting, aim to be their strongest version yet. "Our vision is to win the IPL. I told the squad on the first day in Dharamshala that we are here to create the greatest Punjab Kings team ever," stated the former Australian captain.
That’s a bold ambition for a team that appears slightly thin in batting depth. Beyond Shreyas Iyer, Punjab lacks established names in the lineup. They will rely on uncapped Shashank Singh to deliver and hope Jos Inglis replicates his Pakistan Champions Trophy form. While Marcus Stoinis and Glenn Maxwell have match-winning potential, consistency has often eluded them. Furthermore, if Prabhsimran Singh and PriyanshArya are indeed the chosen openers, they form one of the least experienced duos in the league.
For Punjab Kings to be considered the best iteration of their franchise, their players must push beyond expectations. On paper, however, Gujarat Titans appear the stronger side heading into Tuesday’s game.
When: Tuesday, March 25, 2025, 7:30 PM IST
Where: Gujarat Titans vs Punjab Kings, NarendraModi Stadium, Ahmedabad
What to expect: It should be a high-scoring game with no impact of toss but teams may like to field first irrespective of the new rule allowing a second ball in the second innings to counter any element of dew. Largely it will be a contest between the specialists in Gujarat and the all-rounders in Punjab Kings.
Head to Head: Titans have a 3-2 lead over Punjab, but the visitors won the only previous meeting between the two teams in Ahmedabad last year.
Team Watch:
Gujarat Titans:
Injury/Unavailability: There is no information of any injury or unavailability.
Tactics & Matchups: Jos Buttler's experience and Shubman Gill's form will be crucial to the side's chances in the league in general and in Tuesday's game in particular. Punjab have solid firepower in Arshdeep Singh, Lockie Ferguson and Marco Jansen and how the Gujarat openers will handle the quicker bowlers shall determine the team's chances. Glenn Philips and Shah Rukh Khan will be left to counter the guiles of YuzvendraChahal, the most successful spinner in the IPL.
Probable XII: Shubman Gill (C), Jos Buttler, SaiSudarshan, Shahrukh Khan, Glenn Philips, Washington Sundar, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, KagisoRabada, Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj
Punjab Kings:
Injury/Unavailability: All players are available for selection.
Tactics & Matchups: With three top-quality all-rounders - Marcus Stoinis Glenn Maxwell and Marco Jansen - followed by two quality pacers and a spinner - Arshdeep Singh, Lockie Ferguson and YuzvendraChahal - Punjab have enough all-round and all-condition bowling resources. They need their batsmen to step up.
Probable XII: Shreyas Iyer, Prabhsimran Singh, PriyanshArya, Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell ,Shashank Singh, NehalWadhera/SuryanshShegde, Marco Jansen, HarpreetBrar, Lockie Ferguson, Arshdeep Singh and YuzvendraChahal,
PBKS managed to make it to the Play Off/Knockouts only twice across 17 editions and the last of which came way back in 2014.
No other team has more wins and a better win-loss ratio (1.65) than GT across the last three editions. In 45, they have 28 wins and 17 defeats
GT have won 17 of the 24 games while chasing in the IPL, their win% of 70.83 while batting second being the second highest for a team in the tournament's history after Gujarat Lions (12 wins in 16 matches).
Though he had played a season each for Delhi & Mumbai previously, it was with Punjab that Maxwell made a mark in IPL in 2014 - incidentally the last time they reached the Play Offs. Maxwell himself could never recreate that form for Punjab again, most famously struggling to hit a single six in the entirety of 2020 edition, the last time he represented the franchise.
Of GT's seven IPL defeats in Ahmedabad, five have happened to be last-over finishes - two with a match-winning hit off the final ball - vs KKR (RinkuvsDayal) and the IPL 2023 final
"Every player brings a different skill set and a different combination to the team. But at the end of the day a bowler or a fast bowler, who's bowling in the PowerPlay, the purpose is the same to get wickets. We are not trying to replace Shamibhai (Mohammed Shami). We are not trying to compare any players. We just want Mohammed Siraj to be himself." - Shubman Gill on Mohammed Sirajfilling the shoes of Mohammed Shami
"We know he's got as good cricket knowledge and standing in the game as anyone. But I think that the care he shows, not just for his whole team, but his whole organisation,I think that's the one thing that stands out from Ricky." - PBKS Assistant coach Brad Haddin on coach Ricky Ponting
Punjab Kings Squad: Josh Inglis(w), Prabhsimran Singh, Shreyas Iyer(c), Glenn Maxwell, NehalWadhera, Marcus Stoinis, Shashank Singh, Marco Jansen, HarpreetBrar, Arshdeep Singh, YuzvendraChahal, VijaykumarVyshak, Praveen Dubey, Lockie Ferguson, Xavier Bartlett, Vishnu Vinod, Yash Thakur, Aaron Hardie, AzmatullahOmarzai, KuldeepSen, PriyanshArya, SuryanshShedge, Harnoor Singh, Musheer Khan, PylaAvinash
Gujarat Titans Squad: Jos Buttler(w), Shubman Gill(c), Sai Sudharsan, Glenn Phillips, Shahrukh Khan, Washington Sundar, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, RavisrinivasanSai Kishore, KagisoRabada, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Ishant Sharma, JayantYadav, MahipalLomror, KarimJanat, KulwantKhejroliya, AnujRawat, Gerald Coetzee, Sherfane Rutherford, ManavSuthar, Kumar Kushagra, Arshad Khan, GurnoorBrar, NishantSindhu
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