IPL match preview: Gujarat Titans v Sunrisers Hyderabad

Gujarat are the reigning IPL champions and have all but secured a berth in this season's play-offs already. Hyderabad have only won the IPL once, in 2016, and don't look anywhere close to doing so again this year.

The Titans will go into this match with just a 50 percent winning record from their last four matches, though. They recently lost to the Mumbai Indians and, earlier in the tournament, were defeated by the last-placed Delhi Capitals.

The Sunrisers have struggled to string together momentum. Their last five matches have yielded wins and loss, with none in succession. Their most recent defeat, to the Lucknow Super Giants, exposed familiar failings.

This fixture will take place in Ahmedabad, which has served up first-innings scores ranging from 170 to 200-plus. It's another high-scoring venue and it's probable the team to win the toss will opt to bowl first and chase later.

The Titans and Sunrisers have a brief head-to-head history. They have beaten each other once. Interestingly, they have not faced each other yet in the 2023 IPL, even at this late stage of the tournament.

Hyderabad have South African trio Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen and Aiden Markram to lean on. The extra pace and bounce generated by Jansen could be especially key in Ahmedabad, while captain Markram's leadership tactics will be on display again.

David Miller had a relatively quiet start to this season's IPL, but recently put in a couple of cameos to show just why he was the top batsman for the Titans en route to their maiden title last year. He could go big here against his Proteas team-mates.

The Titans are looking best placed to win here. An upset probably isn't on the cards, as the table-toppers outdo opposition currently in second-last position and effectively one defeat away from a tournament exit.