Their campaigns wobbling after a string of defeats, bottom-rung groups Punjab Kings and Gujarat Titans might be determined to arrest the slide and get again to profitable methods of their Indian Premier League match in Mullanpur on April 21.
Former champions Gujarat Titans have slipped to eighth place within the pecking order after an embarrassing loss to Delhi Capitals at dwelling, the place they had been bowled out for 89 to undergo their third defeat in 4 matches.
PBKS are struggling within the ninth place following a nine-run loss to Mumbai Indians away on Thursday night time, the margin of defeat made respectable by an unbelievable rearguard act by the in-form younger duo of Ashutosh Sharma and Shashank Singh after the group was tottering at 14/4 in a chase of 193.
Five losses and two wins in seven outings hardly encourage confidence and regardless of the truth that their upcoming opponents are additionally struggling to get their act proper, PBKS could have their activity reduce out in entrance of their followers, who had little to cheer about to this point this season on the newly-inaugurated dwelling venue.
The absence of their influential skipper Shikhar Dhawan in the previous few matches has hit PBKS exhausting and doubts stay over the southpaw’s availability for Sunday’s fixture.
Dhawan has been present process rehabilitation since choosing up a shoulder harm in the course of the dwelling fixture in opposition to Sunrisers Hyderabad on April 9, leading to England all-rounder Sam Curran to fill in because the skipper.
While Dhawan hasn’t had a good time with the bat in IPL 2024, scoring 152 runs from 5 innings at a strike price of 125.61, his presence on the prime of the order in addition to within the discipline issues for a aspect that appears to have forgotten how to win matches.
Having completed eighth within the final version following eight losses and 6 victories, the story hasn’t modified for PBKS, whose greatest concern has been the failure of their specialist batters.
The likes of Prabhsimran Singh, Liam Livingstone and Rilee Rossouw have failed to dwell up to the expectations, one thing that has affected the group badly.
The solely silver lining for PBKS this season has been resolute shows from their unsung Indian gamers Shashank and Ashutosh, who each bat decrease within the order and have had to make up for the shortcomings on the prime on a couple of event, together with their heroics that gave MI a large scare the opposite night time.
PBKS’ opponents GT, who’ve to this point registered three wins whereas struggling 4 defeats, will want to pull up their socks after the horror present with the bat in opposition to Delhi Capitals.
With high quality gamers akin to skipper Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan, David Miller and Rashid Khan of their ranks, complemented by a helpful help forged comprising individuals like Rahul Tewatia, Mohit Sharma, Wriddhiman Saha and Noor Ahmad, GT would hope the present in opposition to DC was a mere blip.
As far as bowling is anxious, the absence of Mohammad Shami has damage them badly whereas Umesh Yadav has leaked loads of runs although he has additionally taken seven wickets.
Star spinner Rashid has been doing in addition to he may in his main position and can be chipping in with greater than helpful contributions with the bat.
Teams (from):
Gujarat Titans: Shubman Gill (c), David Miller, Wriddhiman Saha, Sai Sudharsan, Shahrukh Khan, Matthew Wade, Kane Williamson, Azmatullah Omarzai, Abhinav Manohar, Rashid Khan, Vijay Shankar, Rahul Tewatia, Spencer Johnson, Kartik Tyagi, Joshua Little, Darshan Nalkande, Noor Ahmad, Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore, Mohit Sharma, Jayant Yadav, Umesh Yadav, Sushant Mishra, Sandeep Warrier, Sharath BR, Manav Suthar.
Punjab Kings: Shikhar Dhawan (c), Matthew Short, Prabhsimran Singh, Jitesh Sharma, Sikandar Raza, Rishi Dhawan, Liam Livingstone, Atharva Taide, Arshdeep Singh, Nathan Ellis, Sam Curran, Kagiso Rabada, Harpreet Brar, Rahul Chahar, Harpreet Bhatia, Vidwath Kaverappa, Shivam Singh, Harshal Patel, Chris Woakes, Ashutosh Sharma, Vishwanath Pratap Singh, Shashank Singh, Tanay Thyagarajan, Prince Choudhary, Rilee Rossouw.
Match begins at 7.30 PM.
