March 29, 2025 | Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad | 7:30 PM IST
Match Context
The Gujarat Titans (GT) and Mumbai Indians (MI) clash in Match 9 of IPL 2025, with both teams desperate for their first win of the season. GT narrowly lost to Punjab Kings despite a fiery start, while MI faltered against Chennai Super Kings. This high-stakes encounter at the Narendra Modi Stadium promises fireworks, tactical battles, and a chance for redemption.
Pitch and Conditions
- Venue: Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad (capacity: 132,000)
- Pitch Report: A batting paradise with short boundaries and a flat deck. Expect scores of 190-210 in the first innings. Dew in the second half could make chasing advantageous.
- Weather: Hot and humid (38°C), no rain forecast.
Predicted Playing XIs and Impact Player Strategies
Gujarat Titans
- Batting 1st:
Shubman Gill (C), Sai Sudharsan, Jos Buttler (WK), Sherfane Rutherford, Shahrukh Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, R. Sai Kishore, Arshad Khan, Mohammed Siraj, Kagiso Rabada. - Bowling 1st:
Replace Sherfane Rutherford with Prasidh Krishna.
Impact Subs:
- Batting Focus: Glenn Phillips (power-hitter) or Anuj Rawat (wicketkeeping backup).
- Bowling Focus: Prasidh Krishna (pace) or Ishant Sharma (experience).
Key Player: Shubman Gill – GT’s leading run-scorer in IPL 2024 (890 runs) and a dominant force against MI (274 runs in 5 matches).
Mumbai Indians
- Batting 1st:
Rohit Sharma, Ryan Rickelton (WK), Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav, Will Jacks, Hardik Pandya (C), Robin Minz, Mitchell Santner, Trent Boult, Deepak Chahar, Satyanarayana Raju. - Bowling 1st:
Replace Rohit Sharma with Vignesh Puthur (left-arm spinner).
Impact Subs:
- Batting Boost: Naman Dhir (aggressive finisher) or Reece Topley (left-arm swing).
- Spin Option: Vignesh Puthur (3/32 vs CSK in debut).
Key Player: Hardik Pandya – Returns from suspension; his all-round prowess (200+ runs, 10+ wickets in IPL 2024) could tilt the game.
Head-to-Head and Form Guide
- Overall: GT leads 3-2 in IPL encounters.
- At Ahmedabad: GT has a 3-0 record against MI here.
- Recent Form:
- GT: Lost to PBKS by 11 runs (Top performers: Sudharsan 74, Buttler 54).
- MI: Lost to CSK by 20 runs (SKY’s 45 the lone bright spot).
GT vs MI Dream11 Team Picks
| Category | Players | Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| Captain | Ryan Rickelton (MI) | Consistent opener; 68* in MI’s first game. |
| Vice-Captain | Sai Sudharsan (GT) | In sublime form (74 in opener). |
| Batters | Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma | Gill (129 vs MI in 2023), SKY (strike rate 180+). |
| All-Rounders | Mitchell Santner, Hardik Pandya | Santner’s economical spin; Pandya’s X-factor. |
| Bowlers | Rashid Khan, Trent Boult, Kagiso Rabada | Rashid (10 wickets vs MI), Boult’s powerplay threat. |
Team Composition: GT 5 | MI 6 | Credits Left: 8.0
Tactical Insights
- GT’s Middle-Order Concern: Over-reliance on Gill and Sudharsan. Shahrukh Khan and Tewatia must step up.
- MI’s Powerplay Weakness: Lost 3 wickets inside 6 overs vs CSK. Rohit Sharma needs a strong start.
- Spin Battle: Rashid Khan vs Suryakumar Yadav – Rashid has dismissed SKY twice in 15 balls.
- Pace Duel: Rabada (145+ kph) vs Hardik’s aggressive batting (SR 160+ vs pace).
Full Squads
Gujarat Titans:
Shubman Gill (C), Sai Sudharsan, Jos Buttler, Rashid Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Shahrukh Khan, R. Sai Kishore, Kagiso Rabada, Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj, Sherfane Rutherford, Glenn Phillips, Arshad Khan, Ishant Sharma, Anuj Rawat.
Mumbai Indians:
Hardik Pandya (C), Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Tilak Varma, Trent Boult, Ryan Rickelton, Will Jacks, Deepak Chahar, Mitchell Santner, Vignesh Puthur, Naman Dhir, Reece Topley, Robin Minz.
Prediction
GT’s strong record at Ahmedabad and MI’s shaky middle-order tilt the odds toward the Titans. However, MI’s revamped pace attack (Boult, Chahar) could exploit GT’s death-overs vulnerability. Verdict: GT wins by 15-20 runs if they bat first.
Match Overview
- Teams: Gujarat Titans (GT) vs Mumbai Indians (MI)
- Date & Time: March 29, 2025, 7:30 PM IST
- Venue: Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad (capacity: ~132,000) 17
- Broadcast: Star Sports Network (TV) and JioCinema (streaming) 15
Head-to-Head Record
- Overall: GT leads 3-2 in 5 IPL encounters 158.
- In Ahmedabad: GT has won all 3 matches against MI at this venue 37.
Key Players to Watch
| Gujarat Titans | Mumbai Indians |
|---|---|
| Shubman Gill (C): Leading run-scorer at the venue (986 runs) 7. | Hardik Pandya (C): Returns after a ban; faces hostile Ahmedabad crowd 34. |
| Sai Sudharsan: Scored 74 in GT’s opener vs PBKS 18. | Rohit Sharma: Seeks form after a duck in MI’s first game 35. |
| Rashid Khan: GT’s spin ace; 10 wickets in GT-MI clashes 1. | Vignesh Puthur: MI’s debutant left-arm spinner (3/32 vs CSK) 14. |
| Kagiso Rabada: Pace spearhead; struggled in death overs vs PBKS 8. | Trent Boult: MI’s new-ball bowler; lacked penetration vs CSK 1. |
Pitch and Weather Report
- Pitch: Batting-friendly surface with an average first-innings score of 200+. Dew in the second innings may favor chasing teams 57.
- Weather: Clear skies, 38°C, no rain forecast 15.
Predicted Playing XIs
Gujarat Titans:
- Shubman Gill (C)
- Jos Buttler (WK)
- Sai Sudharsan
- Shahrukh Khan
- Rahul Tewatia
- Sherfane Rutherford
- Rashid Khan
- Kagiso Rabada
- Mohammed Siraj
- Prasidh Krishna
- Sai Kishore
Impact Sub: Glenn Phillips 14.
Mumbai Indians:
- Rohit Sharma
- Ryan Rickelton (WK)
- Will Jacks
- Suryakumar Yadav
- Hardik Pandya (C)
- Tilak Varma
- Naman Dhir
- Mitchell Santner
- Deepak Chahar
- Trent Boult
- Vignesh Puthur
Impact Sub: Satyanarayana Raju 48.
Match Context
- GT’s Middle-Order Woes: Struggled in their opener despite strong top-order performances 38.
- MI’s Comeback Hopes: Historically slow starters but aiming to reverse their IPL 2024 form 3.
- Hardik Pandya’s Return: Faces GT for the first time since his controversial 2024 exit; fans previously booed him in Ahmedabad 34.
Toss and Match Prediction
Prediction: Analysts favor the chasing team due to dew and Ahmedabad’s high-scoring trend
Toss Trend: Teams chasing have won 55% of matches here since 2023 17.
