Today at IPL 2023, GT vs CSKHardik Pandya to host mentor MS Dhoni in Ahmedabad curtain-raiser

By Priya NagiThe curtain-raiser of the IPL 2023 is set to kick start a new rivalry between mentee Hardik Pandya and mentor MS Dhoni when the defending champions Gujarat Titans take on Chennai Super Kings at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad on Friday, March 31.

Having won the title in their debut season, Gujarat Titans will be looking to begin their second year on a high. Pandya, who stunned the cricketing fraternity with his brilliant captaincy, will bank on his team’s unbeaten record against Chennai Super Kings. The Titans tasted victory twice against CSK, who had a forgettable 2022 season.

While GT will be gearing up to pick up from where they left off, it will not be easy for them to go past CSK this time, as the Yellow Brigade has been strengthened with the addition of England all-rounder and big-stage player Ben Stokes.

The Super Kings will also have Dhoni at the helm from the start of the season, unlike last year when Ravindra Jadeja was named as CSK captain prior to their opening match. The move backfired on the four-time champions as it did not yield the desired results and forced the management to return to their trusted marshal – Dhoni – mid-way through the tournament.

The clarity of roles from the start of the tournament could also help CSK players to perform better. On the eve of their match, CSK suffered a blow as one of their best bowlers from last season, left-arm pacer Mukesh Choudhary and new recruit Kylie Jamieson have been ruled out due to stress fractures.

On the other hand, the Titans boosted their think tank by adding a proven leader in Kane Williamson. The New Zealand white-ball captain could share his insights with captain Pandya and head coach Ashish Nehra.

CAPTAIN’s BATTLE

While Hardik Pandya exudes exuberance and flamboyance, Dhoni, with his experience and calmness, is a difficult opponent to overcome. However, given the nature of the game and the importance of home support, Titans have a slight advantage over CSK.

PREVIOUS MEETINGS

Gujarat Titans have a 2-0 lead in the head-to-head record against Chennai Super Kings in IPL games. In their first-ever clash, Gujarat Titans snatched victory from the jaws of defeat. Despite an early collapse of the top-order, David Miller and Rashid Khan stood up and handed GT a three-wicket win in the final over thriller while chasing 170. The second meeting was quite similar to the first one as Wriddhiman Saha took GT over the line with a seven-wicket win in the final over.

1. GT (170/7) beat CSK (169/5) by 3 wickets, Apr 17, 2022.
2. GT (137/3) beat CSK (133/5) by 7 wickets, May 15, 2022.

CSK vs GT, Head to Head in IPL

INJURY CONCERNS

It was reported that MS Dhoni has been struggling with a niggle in his left knee. However, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have refuted the report of an injury to MS Dhoni and confirmed that their captain is available for selection. Dhoni didn’t bat on the eve of the first game of IPL 2023, which raised doubts over his availability.

AHMEDABAD PITCH REPORT

The pitch at the Narendra Modi Stadium has always been batting-friendly in the T20 format. However, with both teams replacing players who could exploit the roughness in the wicket with slower ones, a low-scoring game is expected at the venue.

PREDICTED PLAYING XI

Chennai Super KingsDevon Conway, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ambati Rayudu, Moeen Ali, Ben Stokes, Shivam Dube, MS Dhoni (c) (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Deepak Chahar, Dwaine Pretorius, Simrajeet Singh

Gujarat TitansKS Bharat (WK), Shubman Gill, Kane Williamson, Hardik Pandya (C), Abhinav Manohar, Matthew Wade, Rahul Tewatia, Shivam Mavi, Rashid Khan, Mohammed Shami, Alzarri Joseph.