The Narendra Modi Stadium has been the fortress of the Gujarat Titans since their IPL debut in 2022. But as the new season of the IPL gets underway, some interesting scenes will be on display at the world’s largest cricket stadium when the home team takes the field against the side led by their former captain Hardik Pandya. GT’s fixture against Mumbai Indians will mark the return of Pandya at Motera on Sunday night but this time, as a visitor.
Pandya headed back to MI via all-cash deal and replaced Rohit Sharma as the captain of the franchise which he started his IPL journey with. As the allrounder left the Titans camp, Shubman Gill replaced him as the leader of the pack.
It will be no less than a clash of the titans when Gujarat and Mumbai square-off against each other. Ahead of the high-voltage encounter, let’s have a look at the possible line-ups of both sides.
MI: Pandya as captain, Nabi’s likely debut
It would be a little surprising to see Rohit not leading Mumbai from this season onwards. But that’s how life goes on. Change is the necessity and Pandya happens to be that for MI who won their last title in 2021. How fruitful it would be? We will know soon enough.
The five-time champions also roped in allrounder Mohammad Nabi and no surprises if the seasoned Afghanistan star makes his way directly into the playing XI. With Suryakumar Yadav being unavailable after failing to clear the fitness test, Neha Wadhera will take his place in the line-up.
GT: Debut for Umesh Yadav
A Pandya-less GT will be looking to make an impact as they begin their campaign against MI. It will also be a litmus test for Gill who will be leading an IPL franchise for the first time. Since one of the dependable players is now in the opposition camp, the entire team has to step in to push their case, especially the senior resources in Kane Williamson, David Miller, Wriddhiman Saha, Mohit Sharma and the new recruit in Umesh Yadav.
GT vs MI Predicted XI
MI: Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Tilak Verma, Nehal Wadehra, Tim David, Dewald Brevis, Hardik Pandya, Mohammad Nabi, Kumar Karthikeya, Jasprit Bumrah, Jason Behrendorff
GT: Shubman Gill (c), Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Kane Williamson, Vijay Shankar, David Miller, Shahrukh Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Josh Little, Umesh Yadav, Mohit Sharma
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