IPL 2023, PBKS vs GT: Preview, Pitch Report, Probable XIs, Fantasy Tips & Prediction
Punjab Kings lost their last game to SRH [Source: AP]
The 18th match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 will see Gujarat Titans lock horns with Punjab Kings at the iconic PCA IS Bindra Stadium, Mohali, on Thursday, April 13.
Team Preview: Punjab Kings
Punjab Kings kicked off their tournament campaign with a pair of victories, but their momentum was halted in their third game against Sunrisers Hyderabad, where they lost by eight wickets.
The team's batting was subpar in this match, with only captain Shikhar Dhawan putting up a fight and his teammates falling around him. Their bowlers failed to make an impact either, allowing the opposition to chase down the total effortlessly.
Team Preview: Gujarat Titans
GT suffered a heart-breaking defeat against KKR [Source: Twitter]
On the other hand, Gujarat Titans are in a similar position to Punjab Kings, having also started their tournament campaign with two consecutive wins before suffering a defeat in their third match against Kolkata Knight Riders.
In their last match, they were without their regular captain, Hardik Pandya. In his absence, star spinner Rashid Khan stepped up to take the captaincy charges, but Pandya is expected to return to lead the team in their upcoming game.
As they lost their respective previous games, both teams will look to turn things around in this match and return to their winning ways. However, before we delve into the game, let's take a moment to review all the essential details you'll need to know:
Match Details
Date and Time: 13 April, 7:30 pm IST
Venue: Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium, Mohali
Live Streaming: Jio Cinema & Star Sports Network
Pitch Report
The surface in Mohali heavily favours batters, with pacers finding some assistance in the initial overs and spinners dominating in the middle overs. The team that wins the toss is likely to opt for chasing, as it has been a successful strategy at this venue.
Probable Playing XI
Punjab Kings: Shikhar Dhawan (c), Prabhsimran Singh, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Shahrukh Khan, Sam Curran, Nathan Ellis/Kagiso Rabada, Harpreet Brar, Rahul Chahar, Arshdeep Singh
Gujarat Titans: Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan, Hardik Panyda (c), Vijay Shankar, David Miller, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Mohammed Shami, Alzarri Joseph, Yash Dayal
Cricket Exchange Fantasy Tips
Wicket-Keeper: Wriddhiman Saha
Batters: Shikhar Dhawan, David Miller, Shubman Gill, Sai Sudarshan
All-Rounders: Hardik Pandya, Sam Curran
Bowlers: Mohammed Shami, Rashid Khan, Arshdeep Singh, Nathan Ellis/Kagiso Rabada
Captain: Shikhar Dhawan
Vice-Captain: Shubman Gill
Prediction
Although the two teams appear evenly matched, Gujarat Titans have the edge with their winning record and formidable bowling attack, despite their relatively weak batting lineup. All in all, we can look forward to a thrilling T20 game at Mohali on Wednesday.
 "Shivani Shukla")
