Can Gujarat Titans Secure Their Playoff Spot Against Sunrisers Hyderabad?

Ahmedabad, May 1 (NationPress) As the Gujarat Titans prepare to step onto their home ground at the Narendra Modi Stadium this Friday, they are fueled by the desire for redemption after a heavy defeat to the Rajasthan Royals, where they fell victim to the astonishing performances of Vaibhav Suryavanshi and Yashasvi Jaiswal.

The 14-year-old sensation's record-setting 35-ball century saw GT suffering an eight-wicket loss despite amassing an impressive 209 runs. However, with the crucial phase of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 nearing, the Titans are determined to strengthen their playoff aspirations against a struggling Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Despite the recent setback, there’s no need for Shubman Gill’s team to panic. With six victories out of nine matches, GT holds a secure position in the top four with 12 points, needing just two more wins from their remaining five encounters to almost guarantee a playoff berth. Their campaign is marked by consistency and depth, evident in both batting and bowling.

The top order has excelled with players like Sai Sudharsan, the current Orange Cap holder, who has been the backbone of their batting, scoring 456 runs, including five half-centuries. He is well supported by captain Gill (389 runs) and Jos Buttler (406 runs), both ranked among the league's highest scorers. Although Suryavanshi's recent exploits momentarily overshadowed them, this trio remains a formidable force in the tournament.

On the bowling side, Prasidh Krishna has emerged as the pace attack leader, while Mohammed Siraj and Ishant Sharma contribute effectively. The resurgence of Rashid Khan, particularly his impressive 2-25 against the Kolkata Knight Riders, is a positive sign for the team. Washington Sundar has also provided essential support with his economical bowling in the middle overs.

GT can take confidence from their earlier encounter with Sunrisers this season, where they secured a commanding seven-wicket victory in Hyderabad, led by Siraj’s fiery 4-17 performance. A repeat of that display could effectively extinguish SRH's playoff ambitions.

For Sunrisers Hyderabad, every upcoming match is critical. With only three wins from nine games, last year's finalists have sunk to ninth place in the standings, on the brink of elimination. A loss on Friday would likely spell the end of their campaign.

SRH's signature aggressive batting has been noticeably absent this season, particularly from the top order. Openers Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma have struggled recently. Head has managed just one fifty in his last eight innings, while Abhishek has failed to reach double digits in his last two outings, marking a significant drop in performance for a pair expected to set the tone for substantial scores.

The middle order has not offered much relief either, with Heinrich Klaasen, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Ishan Kishan all struggling for form, placing a heavy burden on rising star Aniket Verma.

This 23-year-old from Madhya Pradesh has surprisingly outshone the big names in six-hitting this season and could be pivotal in any potential SRH comeback.

In terms of bowling, Harshal Patel stands out, utilizing his crafty variations to challenge batters even on flat pitches. However, seasoned players like Pat Cummins and Mohammed Shami have yet to find their rhythm, and their inconsistent performances have hampered SRH in critical moments.

When: Friday, May 2

Where: Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad

Where to watch: The live broadcast will be on the Star Sports network and streaming on JioHotstar.

Squads:

Gujarat Titans: Shubman Gill (Capt), Jos Buttler (wk), B Sai Sudharsan, Shahrukh Khan, Sherfane Rutherford, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Kagiso Rabada, Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore, Mohammad Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Ishant Sharma, Washington Sundar, Glenn Phillips, Anuj Rawat, Mahipal Lomror, Arshad Khan, Jayant Yadav, Nishant Sindhu, Kulwant Khejroliya, Gerald Coetzee, Manav Suthar, Kumar Kushagra, Gurnoor Brar, and Karim Janat.

Sunrisers Hyderabad: Pat Cummins (capt), Ishan Kishan (wk), Atharva Taide, Abhinav Manohar, Aniket Verma, Sachin Baby, Smaran Ravichandran, Heinrich Klaasen (wk), Travis Head, Harshal Patel, Kamindu Mendis, Wiaan Mulder, Abhishek Sharma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Mohammed Shami, Rahul Chahar, Simarjeet Singh, Zeeshan Ansari, Jaydev Unadkat, Eshan Malinga.