Predicted XI of Gujarat Titans for the Opening Match of IPL 2023
Shubman Gill and Kane Williamson will be a part of the GT XI against CSK in the first match of IPL 2023 (Source: Twitter/@OneCricketApp)
We are just a few days away from the commencement of a carnival across India on which the whole world will have a hawkeye. The 16th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) will kick-off with a blockbuster between the defending champions Gujarat Titans (GT) taking on Captain Cool's Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on March 31.
Strongest XI of Gujarat Titans
Openers
Shubman Gill: The potential Orange Cap winner for the 2023 season's IPL, Gill can give the team a head start. He is coming off a stellar home season and has amassed runs in all three formats. The star Indian batter scored 483 runs in the previous edition of the IPL and will play the whole season if injuries don't haunt the young opener.
Wriddhiman Saha: The veteran Indian wicketkeeper will come in handy filling two spots- a local keeper, and a local opening batter. Saha had a par season for GT, garnering 317 runs in just 11 innings with a par strike-rate of 122.39. And if the stakes go wrong, then Srikar Bharat is waiting in the ranks.
Middle Order
Kane Williamson: Free from the captaincy and a new environment will make Williamson to feel better. He was unbreachable in the home summer playing for New Zealand in the purest form of the sport. GT can defend their title, if the Kiwi tailsman replicates what he has done for his country.
Bhardwaj Sai Sudharsan: The talened southpaw from Tamil Nadu performed allright in the limited opportunities in his first ever IPL season. The Gujarat-based franchise will back the youngster and if he doesn't repay, then Abinav Manohar and Vijay Shankar are ready to go.
Hardik Pandya: Impressing everyone with the bat coming at number 4 for the majority of the season, the GT skipper was the highest scorer for his side in 2022. The original 3D player who is highly virtuous on the field besides being an outstanding all-rounder. To be honest, there is one more dimension in Hardik's armoury and that is his captaincy.
Rahul Tewatia: Known for his final over cameos, Tewatia is one of the must in the team. He is more remembered for his heroics for in 2020 but the two sixes with 12 needed off 2 deliveries against KXIP in the previous edition is not forgotten either.
Spinners
Rashid Khan: The T20 maestro, Rashid Khan was the second most wicket-taker for his unit in the 15th season of this cash-rich league. With his experience of playing across the globe, the spin wizard can change the game in a blink of an eye. Overthat, the Afghan international can be handy with the bat as well.
Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore: Despite coming late to the forge, R Sai Kishore, a tall left-arm spinner is known for his economical spells. GT management will give a long-run for the Tamil Nadu spinner in the upcoming tournament.
Fast Bowlers
Alzarri Joseph: Holding the record for the best-ever IPL figures of 6/12, Alzarri Shaheim Joseph has been one of the deadliest fast bowler going around in recent times. He has shown his prowess for West Indies and has been performing extremely well for the past one year.
Mohammed Shami: A proper seam bowler for all conditions, the Indian regular in Tests and ODIs has been slightly off-radar in the T20Is. But whenever given an opportunity in the IPL, Shami has outclassed many seamers in the league. He was at his best in the last edition, scalping 20 wickets.
Joshua Little: Being the first in the history from Ireland to play in the IPL, Little has his big dream come true. The left-arm angle can play to his advantage for being named in the first XI.
Strongest XI of Gujarat Titans (Source: OneCricket)
Since David Miller is unavailable for the tournament opener, he hasn't been included in their strongest XI. Once he arrives into the mix, Killer Miller is a definite starter. To bring in the dangerous southpaw, they might have to drop either of Williamson, Joseph or Little with Vijay Shankar/Srikar Bharat or Shivam Mavi or Yash Dayal being the local replacements for their respective positions.
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