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The 2023 Indian Premier League gets underway with the 2022 Champions, Gujarat Titans, taking on the four-time winners, Chennai Super Kings. Gujarat Titans are narrow favourites ahead of this match at 4/5 (1.80) with Chennai Super Kings at 1/1 (2.00).
These odds from Ladbrokes were correct at the time of writing.
- Gujarat Titans vs Chennai Super Kings
- Match 1, IPL 2023 – 15:00 GMT
- Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
Pitch Report and Weather Conditions
Contents
We expect to see a pitch which has good pace and bounce but one which will also turn for the spin bowlers. Overall it should be thought of as a batter-friendly surface and a par score will be in the region of 190+ in this game.
Try as you may, you will not find a cloud in the sky in the early evening or after nightfall. It will be hot with the temperature dropping from the low 30s to the high 20s.
Gujarat Titans vs Chennai Super Kings – Match Predictions
This will be only the third time that the Titans and the Super Kings have gone head to head. Last year was Gujarat Titans’ first campaign in the IPL and they beat Chennai Super Kings in both of their group stage matches in 2022.
Prediction 1
Gujarat Titans to hit most sixes
1/1 (2.00)
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Odds from
Prediction 2
Rashid Khan to be Gujarat Titans' Top Bowler
11/4 (3.75)
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Odds from
Probable 6s
With the likes of opener Shubman Gill, Matthew Wade and captain Hardik Pandya in the team, we expect Gujarat Titans to be very attacking in this game. And if those batters don’t clear the ropes, you can normally rely on Sai Sudharsan and Rashid Khan to play in a very attacking fashion down the order!
Our prediction: Gujarat Titans to hit most sixes in the match at 1/1 (2.00).
Probable Wickets
There are very few better spin bowlers in T20 cricket than the Afghanistan skipper, Rashid Khan. The leg-spinner has a strike-rate of 17.0 in this format and has taken 528 wickets from 388 innings with the ball. Last year, he took 19 wickets and he will be a huge threat again in this match.
Our prediction: Rashid Khan to be Gujarat Titan’s highest wicket-taker at 11/4 (3.75).
Man of the Match
With this being the IPL and the 2022 Champions taking on the 2021 Champions, there are plenty of valid candidates for the Man of the Match Award. We have selected Rashid Khan who has the ability to win the game for Gujarat Titans with either the bat or the ball.
Our prediction: Rashid Khan to be the Man of the Match at 8/1 (9.00).
Gujarat Titans vs Chennai Super Kings Preview
IPL titles aren’t won in Match 1 but they can certainly give us a guide on which teams are ready to top the table across the opening week to 10 days.
Gujarat Titans
In spite of blowing away all the other experienced IPL sides with their attacking brand of cricket in 2022, Gujarat Titans have made improvements to their team ahead of this campaign. Jason Roy and Lockie Ferguson are no longer in the franchise but they have more than able replacements in Kane Williamson and Shivam Mavi.
Shubman Gill has been in brilliant white ball form and is a potential match-winner alongside Hardik Pandya and Rashid Khan. South African all-rounder David Miller will miss this game due to international commitments.
Predicted XI: Shubman Gill, Matthew Wade (wk), Kane Williamson, Rahul Tewatia, Hardik Pandya (c), Sai Sudharsan, Wriddhiman Saha, Jayant Yadav, Rashid Khan, Mohammed Shami, Shivam Mavi
Chennai Super Kings
This will be a good measure of how Chennai Super Kings have improved from last year’s tournament when they finished above only one team in the group stage.
Ben Stokes is not at full fitness and will not bowl but this could have a positive effect for the Super Kings who we expect to push him up the order. Devon Conway, Moeen Ali, Ravindra Jadeja and MS Dhoni are our potential match-winners for Chennai.
Predicted XI: Devon Conway, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ben Stokes, Moeen Ali, Shivam Dube, Ambati Rayudu, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni (wk) (c), Deepak Chahar, Matheesha Pathirana, Simarjeet Singh
How to Watch Gujarat Titans vs Chennai Super Kings in the UK: Live Streaming & Channel List
If you are based in the UK you will be able to enjoy every ball of this IPL opener irrespective of if you are at home or on the move via Sky Sports.
- Sky Sports Cricket (TV)
- Sky Go (Streaming)
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