Big image – Which group is in rhythm?
But that very same adrenaline can blur the reality. Reality is that each wins have been slim escapes after far-from-perfect outings. Creases nonetheless want ironing out. GT’s batting – though constant – stays caught someplace between fourth and fifth gear, probably resulting from an undercooked center and lower-middle order whereas Mohammed Siraj is missing incisiveness within the powerplay. Jos Buttler, Washington Sundar and Rashid Khan are steadily entering into type though Kagiso Rabada, Prasidh Krishna and Siraj have not had the impression GT wish to see.
That makes this assembly an attention-grabbing checkpoint. The adrenaline of last-ball wins can carry a group solely thus far. This sport will present which facet is definitely in rhythm, and which has simply been surviving the margins a bit of higher.
Key query
Jason Holder has not performed any IPL 2026 sport however he’s an in-form allrounder GT may play. He took probably the most T20 wickets within the 2025 calendar 12 months, and on the 2026 T20 World Cup he impressed with scores of 33, 49 and 37* in opposition to England, South Africa and India respectively. He additionally took 10 wickets on the T20 World Cup. Should GT give him a go, as an alternative of Glenn Phillips or Kagiso Rabada?
Team information
GT are snug utilizing 5 bowlers, with Washington Sundar getting used sporadically relying on match-ups. Kushagra or Holder could be tempting choices, however in any other case, the group prefers stability of their XIs, and seamer Ashok Sharma may preserve his place within the XII.
Gujarat Titans XII: 1 B Sai Sudharsan, 2 Shubman Gill (capt), 3 Jos Buttler (wk), 4 Washington Sundar, 5 Glenn Phillips, 6 Rahul Tewatia, 7 Shahrukh Khan/Kumar Kushagra, 8 Rashid Khan, 9 Kagiso Rabada, 10 Ashok Sharma, 11 Prasidh Krishna, 12 Mohammed Siraj
Lucknow Super Giants XII: 1 Aiden Markram, 2 Mitchell Marsh, 3 Rishabh Pant (capt, wk), 4 Ayush Badoni, 5 Nicholas Pooran, 6 Abdul Samad, 7 Mukul Choudhary, 8 Mohammed Shami, 9 George Linde, 10 Avesh Khan, 11 Prince Yadav, 12 Digvesh Rathi
In the highlight
Mohammed Siraj was RCB’s go-to powerplay bowler, and for GT he’s purported to be that too. But he had two wicketless overs in opposition to Punjab Kings – he didn’t bowl anymore that day – and throughout the 2 video games in opposition to DC and Rajasthan Royals, his solely two wickets of the season got here within the seventeenth and twentieth overs respectively. He additionally conceded 100 in eight overs in opposition to RR and DC. When will his first powerplay wicket of IPL 2026 arrive?
Runs have been onerous to come back by for Nicholas Pooran. He has not crossed 17 in 10 of his final 11 T20s, a run extending from the SA20 adopted by no cricket in February and March after which throughout the primary three IPL 2026 video games. In IPL, he’s averaging 7.33 in three video games. His dynamic batting makes him powerful to drop, however how lengthy a rope will LSG give him?
Stats and trivia
- Rashid is again to his greatest. In 2025, he averaged 57.1, had an financial system of 9.3 and wanted 37 balls for each wicket. In his 5 T20 appearances in 2026, he has a median of 17, financial system of seven.1 and takes a wicket each 14 balls.
Pitch and circumstances
This would be the first day sport on pitch no. 4 at Ekana Stadium in IPL historical past. Across the 4 night video games performed on this strip, the chasing facet has received the final three matches. But it is powerful to find out a successful whole as first-innings scores as diversified as 144, 166 and 227 have been chased down. It is predicted to be a scorching afternoon.
Next three video games
Lucknow Super Giants
April 15: Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Bengaluru
April 19: Punjab Kings, New Chandigarh
April 22: Rajasthan Royals, Lucknow
Gujarat Titans
April 17: Kolkata Knight Riders, Ahmedabad
April 20: Mumbai Indians, Ahmedabad
April 24: Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Bengaluru
Sreshth Shah is a sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo. @sreshthx
