Ahmedabad: Gujarat Titans and Punjab Kings will kick off their IPL 2025 campaign at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Tuesday. After missing the playoffs for the first time in three years last season, Gujarat Titans aim for a strong comeback. Shubman Gill continues as captain, with Rashid Khan as his deputy. GT retained Rashid for ₹18 crore, recognizing his match-winning abilities in T20 cricket.

To strengthen their squad, GT made key acquisitions at the auction, signing Jos Buttler, Mohammed Siraj, Kagiso Rabada, and Prasidh Krishna. They also secured Washington Sundar, Sherfane Rutherford, Gerald Coetzee, and Glenn Phillips at bargain prices.

With a well-balanced lineup, GT aim for their second IPL title. The team will rely on key players like Gill, Sai Sudharsan, and Rashid, while Siraj looks to make an impact after losing his place in the Indian team. Fans and management are hopeful for a strong season as GT seek redemption.

On the other hand, Punjab Kings continue their quest for a maiden IPL title. India batter Shreyas Iyer, bought for ₹26.75 crore, will lead the team, supported by Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal, and Marcus Stoinis.

At the Jeddah auction, PBKS bolstered their squad with Glenn Maxwell, Nehal Wadhera, Harpreet Brar, and Vijaykumar Vyshak. Under Iyer’s leadership, Punjab aim for stability in their batting order, while their strong bowling unit could prove decisive.

Punjab Kings have undergone a major squad overhaul, retaining only Prabhsimran Singh and Shashank Singh from last season. They begin their campaign against Gujarat Titans on March 25 in Ahmedabad.

Predicted Playing XIs

Gujarat Titans: Jos Buttler, Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan, Glenn Phillips, Shahrukh Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Washington Sundar, Rashid Khan, Kagiso Rabada, Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj.

Punjab Kings: Josh Inglis, Prabhsimran Singh, Shreyas Iyer, Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, Shashank Singh, Nehal Wadhera, Marco Jansen, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal, Yash Thakur.

Head-to-Head Record (GT vs PBKS in IPL)

• Matches: 5

• Gujarat Titans: 3

• Punjab Kings: 2

Performance in the Last Year

• Gujarat Titans: Played 12, Won 5, Lost 7

• Punjab Kings: Played 14, Won 5, Lost 9

Ahmedabad Pitch Report

The match will be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium, known for its batting-friendly surface and high-scoring games. The average first-innings total is around 200, with pacers getting some early movement and spinners becoming effective later. Captains may prefer chasing, as the pitch slows down in the second innings.

So far, 35 IPL matches have been played here, with 15 won by teams batting first and 20 by teams chasing. The highest team total at this venue is 233/3, scored by Gujarat Titans against Mumbai Indians in 2023. Considering the pitch conditions and the impact of dew, the toss-winning team may opt to bowl first.

Full Squads

Punjab Kings Squad:

Josh Inglis (w), Prabhsimran Singh, Shreyas Iyer (c), Glenn Maxwell, Nehal Wadhera, Marcus Stoinis, Shashank Singh, Marco Jansen, Harpreet Brar, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Praveen Dubey, Lockie Ferguson, Xavier Bartlett, Vishnu Vinod, Yash Thakur, Aaron Hardie, Azmatullah Omarzai, Kuldeep Sen, Priyansh Arya, Suryansh Shedge, Harnoor Singh, Musheer Khan, Pyla Avinash.

Gujarat Titans Squad:

Jos Buttler (w), Shubman Gill (c), Sai Sudharsan, Glenn Phillips, Shahrukh Khan, Washington Sundar, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore, Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Ishant Sharma, Jayant Yadav, Mahipal Lomror, Karim Janat, Kulwant Khejroliya, Anuj Rawat, Gerald Coetzee, Sherfane Rutherford, Manav Suthar, Kumar Kushagra, Arshad Khan, Gurnoor Brar, Nishant Sindhu.

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