Punjab Kings (PBKS) kick off their IPL 2025 campaign against
Gujarat Titans (GT) at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad today. With a new
captain at the helm, Shreyas Iyer, PBKS are hopeful of ending their 18-year
title drought. Known for his leadership, Iyer has previously led Kolkata Knight
Riders to an IPL title and Delhi Capitals to the final. His reunion with coach
Ricky Ponting adds further strength to the team’s strategy this season.
PBKS have struggled in recent editions, failing to reach the
top five in the last four seasons. Their best performance remains as runners-up
in 2014 and semi-finalists in 2018. Iyer’s captaincy is expected to bring fresh
energy to the squad.
GT Looking for a Strong Comeback
GT, on the other hand, won the IPL in 2022 and finished as
runners-up in 2023. However, last season under Shubman Gill’s captaincy, they
had a tough run, ending in eighth place. Determined to bounce back, GT have
assembled a strong squad featuring Gill and Jos Buttler as openers, alongside
middle-order powerhouses like Sherfane Rutherford, Sai Sudharsan, and Shahrukh
Khan. Their all-rounders, including Rashid Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Glenn Phillips,
Washington Sundar, and Mahipal Lomror, add significant depth.
Key Players in Form
Both captains come into this match in excellent form after
their performances in India's Champions Trophy win in Dubai. Iyer was the top
scorer with 243 runs in five matches, while Gill impressed with a century
against Bangladesh.
Narendra Modi Stadium Pitch Report
The Narendra Modi Stadium has hosted 25 IPL matches, with
teams batting second winning 15 of them. The pitch is known to favor batsmen,
and Gill has predicted a high-scoring game with a total of 240-260 runs
possible. In the last match at this venue, Rajasthan Royals successfully chased
down 172 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. The highest total recorded here
is 233 by Gujarat Titans. Given the pitch conditions, the team winning the toss
may opt to field first.
Predicted Playing XIs
Gujarat Titans: Shubman Gill (C), Jos Buttler, Sai
Sudharsan, Shahrukh Khan, Glenn Phillips, Washington Sundar, Rahul Tewatia,
Rashid Khan, Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj.
GT Impact Subs: Ishant Sharma/Mahipal Lomror.
Punjab Kings: Shreyas Iyer, Prabhsimran Singh,
Priyansh Arya, Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, Shashank Singh, Nehal
Wadhera/Suryansh Shedge, Marco Jansen, Harpreet Brar, Lockie Ferguson, Arshdeep
Singh.
PBKS Impact Subs: Yuzvendra Chahal/Vishnu Vinod.
Head-to-Head Record
Since GT’s entry into IPL in 2022, they have faced PBKS five
times, winning three matches while PBKS have won two.
Weather Forecast
Ahmedabad is set for hot conditions, with temperatures
around 40°C in the day, cooling to 32-33°C by evening. No rain is expected,
ensuring a full game.
Fans can anticipate an exciting contest as PBKS look to
start strong, while GT aim for redemption.
