A Veteran Of 105 Tests And…? 3 GT Bowlers Who Will Be Crucial Vs MI

Bhargav Dixit

Gujarat Titans released most of their IPL 2024 bowlers. [Source: @Ipl_scoop/X]Gujarat Titans released most of their IPL 2024 bowlers. [Source: @Ipl_scoop/X]

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One of the five teams which Gujarat Titans will face twice during Indian Premier League 2025 is Mumbai Indians. In spite of a superior head-to-head record in this rivalry and the opposition’s poor form of late, GT would never want to take MI lightly.

With their second match of the season scheduled to be played against them in Ahmedabad, the Shubman Gill-led franchise would want to put their best foot forward in a bid to register a third consecutive win against former captain Hardik Pandya’s team.

For them to do so, Gujarat’s bowlers will have to stand tall on their respective potential to restrict a star-studded Mumbai batting unit. The players who are expected to dominate on March 29 are:

3. Rashid Khan

Seventh-highest IPL wicket-taker against Indians, Titans spinner Rashid Khan is right at the top among his current teammates. In 15 matches against them, his 20 wickets have come at an average and strike rate of 18.30 and 18 respectively. For bowlers with at least 10 wickets against this team, Rashid’s economy rate of 6.10 is the lowest.

Additionally, the 26-year-old player is one of the three bowlers to have dismissed former Mumbai captain Rohit Sharma four times in the tournament. Only six bowlers have dismissed Sharma more times in the IPL.

2. Ishant Sharma

Definitely a left-field option but veteran Gujarat pacer Ishant Sharma could do well against this opponent primarily because of his record over the years. After Rashid, Ishant is the second-highest wicket-taker against MI among current GT bowlers.

Other than his 16 wickets coming at an economy and strike rate of 8.86 and 20.68 respectively, he also has eight T20 wickets at the Narendra Modi Stadium at 7.50 and 19.5. Although Rashid has more wickets here, Ishant betters his economy rate of 8.49 by a distance.

1. Kagiso Rabada

Much like Ishant, even pacer Kagiso Rabada will be playing his first season for Titans this year. After Rashid and Ishant, he is their third-highest wicket-taker against Indians – 13 wickets at an economy rate of 8.48 and a strike rate of 20.76.

What also works in Rabada’s favour is his impeccable record against star batter Suryakumar Yadav. For the unversed, he is one of the five bowlers to have dismissed Yadav four times in the IPL – most by a bowler.