IPL 2025: Gujarat Titans and Punjab Kings Set for High-Voltage Clash in Ahmedabad
Gujarat Titans (GT) and Punjab Kings (PBKS) will clash in the fifth game of IPL 2025 at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad today. Both teams are keen to change their fortunes after a disappointing 2024 season. GT, which had won the trophy in their inaugural season in 2022 and were runners-up in 2023, had a poor year last time around, finishing eighth. With Shubman Gill at the helm, they will seek to regain their winning momentum. PBKS, who could only muster five victories in 14 matches last year and were placed ninth, have appointed Shreyas Iyer as captain this time with a hope of renewal.
In their five IPL matches against Punjab Kings so far, Gujarat Titans are marginally ahead with three victories against PBKS' two. The contest is expected to be intense, with both teams fielding strong lineups. The Narendra Modi Stadium pitch is traditionally a batter’s paradise, offering a flat surface with consistent bounce, which allows stroke-makers to score big. However, in some games last season, the pitch slowed down, making run accumulation slightly tricky. Pacers can expect good bounce early on, but as the game progresses, batters are likely to dominate.
Weather in Ahmedabad will be conducive for cricket, with sunny skies, high humidity, and temperature rising to around 38°C. There being no chance of rain, a complete uninterrupted game is in store. The track history in IPL matches at this ground indicates the batting team's large advantage when facing a total. Of 36 games here, 20 were won by teams batting second and 15 by teams setting a target. Based on this trend, the captain who wins the toss might choose to bowl first so as to take advantage of good chasing conditions.
Both teams are likely to play full-strength playing XIs. Gujarat Titans will include Shubman Gill, Jos Buttler, Sai Sudharsan, Glenn Phillips, Mahipal Lomror, Rahul Tewatia, Washington Sundar, Rashid Khan, R Sai Kishore, Kagiso Rabada, and Mohammed Siraj. Punjab Kings will include Prabhsimran Singh, Priyansh Arya, Shreyas Iyer, Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, Shashank Singh, Marco Jansen, Arshdeep Singh, Harpreet Brar, Lockie Ferguson, and Yuzvendra Chahal. With both sides possessing star players and a batting pitch, supporters will be in for a thrilling showdown as GT takes on PBKS in the struggle for an early lead in IPL 2025.
