The State of Play
The Gujarat Titans will look to build on their thrilling win over the Rajasthan Royals – and make a significant move in the table – when they take on the Delhi Capitals tomorrow.
The Titans have made an inconsistent start to IPL 2024 – winning three and losing three of their first six games – but the hope is their last-ball victory over the Royals will inspire a steadier set of performances.
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Afghanistan international Rashid Khan was the hero last time out with a brilliant all-round display, taking one for 18 from four overs with the ball before a match-winning 24 of 11 deliveries handed the Gujarat franchise a much-needed win.
He said afterwards: “I had a good session before the last game and that really helped me, and I felt I was a back to my best. I enjoyed today. You just have to be positive. The more positive you are thinking inside, the better the result comes out.”
The Titans will hope Khan can repeat that performance against a Capitals side needing wins, and quickly, if they are to stand any chance of reaching the play-offs.
Rishabh Pant’s men have just two wins from their first six games, although they too come into this contest on the back of a morale-boosting success.
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Pant himself was one of the heroes, continuing his encouraging comeback from a serious injury with 41 off just 24 balls as they beat the Lucknow Super Giants by six wickets.
But even he could not steal the limelight from rising star Jake-Fraser McGurk, who smashed 55 off 35 balls on his IPL debut to set the platform for the Capitals’ win.
His efforts continued his upward trajectory having starred in the Big Bash League before making his Australia debut against the West Indies.
“Everything’s happened so quickly,” Fraser-McGurk told ESPN Cricinfo. “I haven’t really had the time to reflect on it. It’s been an amazing journey so far this year, but cricket is a funny game. It can go back and forth, but as long as I’m learning and making my opportunities count, I can’t see anything bad happening.”
Striking it clean & smashing every record in some style 🔥 pic.twitter.com/obg6FPWCuQ
— Delhi Capitals (@DelhiCapitals) April 14, 2024
Expected line-ups
Gujarat Titans: Sudharsan, Gill (c), Wade (wk), Manohar, Shankar, Tewatia, MS Khan, R Khan, Ahmad, Yadav, Johnson
Delhi Capitals: Shaw, Warner, Fraser-McGurk, Pant (c, wk), Stubbs, Hope, Patel, Yadav, Kumar, Sharma, Ahmed
How to watch
Sky have the rights to show the IPL to UK viewers in 2024 and will broadcast every game live. Wednesday’s match will be shown on Sky Sports Cricket from 2.50pm BST.
In India, the games can be streamed on the Jio Cinema app and website. They are also available across the Star Sports Network.
Preparing to play against Delhi Capitals be like… 😉#AavaDe | #GTKarshe | #TATAIPL2024 | #GTvDC pic.twitter.com/D4RC246N4L
— Gujarat Titans (@gujarat_titans) April 16, 2024
Prediction
The Titans will be backed by a boisterous home crowd at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad but the Capitals have the greater need to collect the two points given the state of the table.
In David Warner, Fraser-McGurk and Pant – who needs to maintain his form if he is to make the India squad for the T20 World Cup this summer – they have the more explosive batters and also possess ace spinner Kuldeep Yadav, who appears to be returning to his best with three for 20 last time out.
We fancy the Capitals to shock the hosts and claim a third win of the season.
