Match Context
- Date: March 29, 2025
- Venue: Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
- Pitch Report: A batting-friendly track with short boundaries and consistent bounce. Expect totals of 190-200+. Spinners like Rashid Khan and variations from pacers will be key.
- Teams’ Form: GT lost their opener chasing 243 vs. Punjab Kings; MI fell to CSK. Bumrah’s absence weakens MI’s bowling further.
Gujarat Titans Squad Analysis
- Key Batsmen: Shubman Gill (c), Jos Buttler (wk), Sai Sudharsan, Sherfane Rutherford
- Key All-Rounders: Rahul Tewatia, Washington Sundar, Shahrukh Khan
- Key Bowlers: Rashid Khan, Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna
- Likely XI: Gill, Buttler (wk), Sudharsan, Rutherford, Tewatia, Shahrukh, Sundar, Rashid, Rabada, Siraj, Krishna
Mumbai Indians Squad Analysis (Bumrah Unavailable)
- Key Batsmen: Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Will Jacks
- Key All-Rounders: Hardik Pandya (c), Naman Dhir
- Key Bowlers: Trent Boult, Deepak Chahar, Mitchell Santner, Reece Topley
- Likely XI: Rickelton (wk), Rohit, Surya, Tilak, Hardik, Jacks, Naman, Santner, Boult, Chahar, Topley
Fantasy XI Prediction
Based on the squads, form, and pitch conditions, here’s the Dream11 team:
- Wicketkeeper: Jos Buttler
- Batsmen: Shubman Gill (Captain), Suryakumar Yadav (Vice-Captain), Rohit Sharma, Sai Sudharsan
- All-Rounders: Hardik Pandya, Rahul Tewatia
- Bowlers: Rashid Khan, Trent Boult, Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj
Captaincy Choices
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Shubman Gill: With no Bumrah, Gill’s chances of a big score at home increase. His record at Ahmedabad (890 runs in IPL 2023) makes him a top captaincy pick.
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Suryakumar Yadav: MI’s best hope for a match-defining knock. Ideal if MI bats first.
Vice-Captaincy Choices
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Hardik Pandya: Without Bumrah, Hardik will bowl more overs and bat in a key position—huge point potential.
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Rashid Khan: A guaranteed wicket-taker, especially against MI’s middle order on a pitch offering some turn.
Player Insights
Gujarat Titans
- Shubman Gill: Likely to anchor and accelerate against MI’s depleted pace attack (Boult, Chahar, Topley).
- Jos Buttler: Explosive at the top, his 54 off 33 in the opener shows he’s in form.
- Sai Sudharsan: Consistent accumulator; scored 74 last game.
- Rashid Khan: MI’s batsmen (Surya, Tilak) can struggle against wrist-spin—Rashid’s a lock.
- Kagiso Rabada: GT’s lead pacer could exploit early movement and target MI’s top order.
Mumbai Indians
- Rohit Sharma: Needs a big knock after a lean start. Good record vs. GT.
- Suryakumar Yadav: The X-factor; expect him to dominate GT’s spinners.
- Hardik Pandya: More bowling responsibility without Bumrah—could bowl 3-4 overs plus bat in the top 5.
- Trent Boult: MI’s best bowler in Bumrah’s absence. Swing early and death-over yorkers make him valuable.
- Will Jacks: Differential if he plays—offers batting firepower and handy off-spin.
Match Prediction
GT holds the edge due to home advantage and MI’s weakened bowling sans Bumrah. Expect a high-scoring game (190-200+), with GT’s top order (Gill, Buttler, Sudharsan) likely to outgun MI unless Surya or Hardik produce magic. Rashid Khan could be the game-changer with the ball.
Differential Picks
- Sherfane Rutherford (GT): Scored 46 vs. Punjab Kings; could shine lower down.
- Mitchell Santner (MI): On a pitch with some grip, his left-arm spin might surprise GT’s right-handers.
Strategy Notes
- Toss Impact: Batting first is preferred at Ahmedabad—load up on top-order batsmen (Gill, Surya, Rohit). If chasing, prioritize all-rounders (Hardik, Tewatia) and bowlers (Rashid, Boult).
- Bowling Focus: Without Bumrah, MI’s attack (Boult, Chahar, Topley) lacks bite in the death—favor GT batsmen.
This XI balances reliability (Gill, Surya, Rashid) with high-upside picks (Hardik, Boult).
