Why Is Ex-MI Star Nehal Wadhera Not Playing In GT vs PBKS IPL 2025 Match?

Nehal Wadhera [Source: @ShamimSports/X]

In a significant development, Gujarat Titans have won the toss and opted to bowl first in their IPL 2025 opener against Punjab Kings at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. At toss, the GT captain stated that they would like to chase considering the playing conditions at the venue. 

Why Have PBKS Picked Suryansh Shedge Over Wadhera?

It was expected that young Punjab batter Nehal Wadhera would be in PBKS' starting XI for the season opener against GT. However, in a surprising move, the Kings have excluded the swashbuckling southpaw, replacing him with Suryansh Shedge for this match. 

Despite being talented, Wadhera has had a topsy-turvy IPL career, amassing 350 runs at an average of 23.33 and a strike rate of 140. Meanwhile, Shedge was one of the top performers for Mumbai in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, scoring 131 runs at a strike rate of 251.92. 

So, as they have a deep batting lineup, comprising Maxwell, Stoinis and Shreyas Iyer, PBKS might've preferred Shedge over Wadhera for his extraordinary finishing skills. However, the left-handed batter is one of their impact subs and could come into bat if they lose a few early wickets. 

GT vs PBKS Playing XIs

PBKS Playing XI: Shreyas Iyer (c), Prabhsimran Singh (wk), Priyansh Arya, Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, Suryansh Shedge, Azmatullah Omarzai, Marco Jansen, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal

Gujarat Titans Playing XI : Shubman Gill (c), B Sai Sudharsan, Jos Buttler (wk), Shahrukh Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore, Arshad Khan, Rashid Khan, Kagiso Rabada, Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj

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