IPL 2023: Match 39, GT strongest predicted XI against Kolkata Knight Riders

The defending champions Gujarat Titans (GT) have had a terrific campaign in the Indian Premier League 2023 so far as they’re ranked on the second spot in the points table with five wins from seven games. The Hardik Pandya-led side beat Mumbai Indians in their previous encounter by 55 runs and are marching towards a spot in the play-offs with every passing game. 

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Batting first, Gujarat posted a massive 207/6 against Mumbai Indians as Shubman Gill (56 off 34), David Miller (46 off 22) and Abhinav Manohar (42 off 21) contributed with the bat. GT’s bowling led by Rashid Khan (2/27), Noor Ahmad (3/37) and Mohit Sharma (2/38) ended up restricting MI to 152/9 in the second innings. Having beaten the five-time champions, GT will be eager to complete their hat-trick of wins as they face Kolkata Knight Riders on Saturday, April 29 at Eden Gardens, Kolkata.

Kolkata are coming into the fixture high on confidence having beaten Royal Challengers Bangalore in their last game by 21 runs and will pose a threat to GT playing in their home ground. Hence, Gujarat will once again have to field a strong Playing XI in order to register their third consecutive win.

Here's Gujarat Titans’ predicted XI against Mumbai Indians:

Openers: Shubman Gill and Wriddhiman Saha (wk)

Gill once again gave a solid start to GT as he scored 56 off 34 balls opening the innings for his side vs Mumbai. The right-handed batter is the highest run-scorer for his side as he has amassed 284 runs in seven innings at an average of 40.57 and a strike rate of 142.71. The 23-year-old will be eager to bat on the good batting track at Eden Gardens vs KKR.

Saha didn’t have a good outing against MI as he could only manage to score four runs off seven balls. However, the 38-year-old has been batting with great intent at the top and has been successful in putting pressure on the oppositions with his aggressive strokeplay. Having got out cheaply vs Mumbai, Saha will be raring to go against KKR and will look to notch up a big score.

Middle order: David Miller, Abhinav Manohar, Rahul Tewatia

David Miller played a blistering knock of 46 off 22 balls smashing two fours and four sixes in his innings vs MI and helped GT to propel their total beyond 200. The southpaw is one of the most destructive batters in T20 cricket and has been in good form this season having scored 148 runs in six innings at an average of 49.33 and a strike rate of 146.53.

Abhinav Manohar has been brought into the side for his aggressive strokeplay in place of Sai Sudharsan who had scored two fifties in five innings. The 28-year-old repaid the faith of the team management with his quick-fire knock of 42 off 21 balls against MI which helped his team to cross the 200-run mark. Manohar has batted at a sensational strike rate of 182.97 so far in the tournament and will look to continue his fireworks against KKR.

Rahul Tewatia once again proved his finishing prowess vs MI as he smacked 20 off just five balls to help GT finish their innings on a high. Tewatia has batted at a strike rate of 179.16 in the tournament so far and has also finished matches twice for his team. The 29-year-old will look to provide another great finish to his side vs KKR.

All-Rounders: Hardik Pandya (c), Vijay Shankar

Shankar failed to get going in the last fixture and could only score 19 off 16. However, he has shown signs of form in the tournament as he scored a sensational 63* off 24 against Kolkata Knight Riders in GT’s third fixture. The 32-year-old will be eager to replicate his stupendous knock once again vs Kolkata.

Captain Pandya failed to fire with the bat vs MI as he could only score 13 off 14 balls. However, he did pick up one wicket in his two-over spell giving away 10 runs. The all-rounder scored his first fifty of the season vs LSG and will once again look to contribute with both bat and ball vs KKR.

Bowlers: Rashid Khan, Mohammed Shami, Mohit Sharma, Noor Ahmad

Rashid Khan is leading the charts for most wickets in the season so far as he’s the joint-highest wicket-taker with 14 wickets to his name in seven innings at an average of 16.14. The wrists-spinner picked up 2 for 27 in four overs against MI and will be desperate to bamboozle KKR batters in the next fixture.

Mohammed Shami is the second-highest wicket-taker for Gujarat in the season so far having picked up ten wickets in seven games at an average of 20.30. Shami has been phenomenal with the new ball and has got his team off to good starts by picking wickets in the powerplay. The 32-year-old will be eager to get his side off to a rollicking start by dismissing openers inside the powerplay vs KKR.

Mohit Sharma has had a fairy-tale comeback to IPL after three years as he’s won the Player of the Match award twice in four matches. Sharma picked up 2/38 vs MI and has six wickets to his name in the tournament so far at an average of 13.33 and an economy of 6.15. The 34-year-old will look to bowl his team to victory once again vs KKR.

Noor Ahmad has been exceptional in his three outings in the tournament so far as he’s picked six wickets at an average of 14. The left-arm spinner was the pick of the bowlers vs MI with his spell of 3/37 in four overs. Ahmad has brought an element of mystery with his bowling which the batters have failed to read so far. The 18-year-old will hope for another match-winning spell against KKR.

Gujarat Titans (GT) Probable Playing XI:

Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Shubman Gill, Hardik Pandya (c), Vijay Shankar, David Miller, Abhinav Manohar, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Mohammed Shami, Noor Ahmad, Mohit Sharma

Gujarat Titans (GT) Probable Impact Players:

Joshua Little, Jayant Yadav, Srikar Bharat, Sai Sudharsan, Shivam Mavi