Gujarat Titans and Punjab Kings battle it out today in IPL
Match number 48 of the Indian T20 League will see Punjab Kings locking horns with Gujarat Titans at Dr DY Patil Sports Academy, Mumbai. The two teams are on very opposite ends
Kagiso Rabada : Punjab King's needs him for early wicketsWhile one team is making a big statement in their inaugural edition, the other side struggles to present a consistent performance.
Although it looked like a solid team when drafted in auctions, full of incredible power hitters, Punjab Kings has struggled with inconsistency in the batting unit itself. The team hasn't been able to deliver up to full potential on-field yet. Arshdeep Singh has shone as a death over specialist, but other bowlers struggled in controlling the flow of runs. Sandeep Sharma and Rishi Dhawan have been late yet practical additions to the team. It will be challenging for an inconsistent team to take on this season's most consistent and strong team. They sit at the eighth spot with four wins in 9 matches played and will look to bounce back.
On the other hand, Gujarat Titans seem to be a confident side flourishing under the captaincy of Hardik Pandya. The team has got many positives from Shubman Gill and Wriddhiman Saha as the opener to Hardik Pandya anchoring in the middle. At the same time, finishing touches are given by Rahul Tewatia Rashid Khan and David Miller. No matter how their bowling unit performs, the batting line-up steals the match in the end. The team is coming after a five-match winning streak and will look to continue.
Key players to watch out for
Batters: Shikhar Dhawan, Hardik Pandya
Shikhar Dhawan is the leading run-scorer for Punjab Kings this season, scoring 307 runs in 9 matches at an average of 38.37, including two half-centuries. Similarly, Hardik Pandya is the major anchoring role player and the leading run-scorer for his team. He has fetched 308 runs at an average of 51.33 in eight matches and taken five wickets.
Bowlers: Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Shami
The two are the most consistent wicket-takers for their team. Rabada is the leading wicket-taker for Punjab Kings, whereas Mohammed Shami plays a crucial role in getting a breakthrough for his team.
Apart from these two, Arshdeep Singh vs Rahul Tewatia in the death overs will be a contest to witness.