Click here for Punjab Kings v Gujarat Titans odds
Tuesday 31 March,15:00
TV: Sky Sports
Punjab Kings v Gujarat Titans IPL team news
Punjab Kings were runners-up last season after coach Ricky Ponting put his faith in all-out batting power. It can hardly have been said to have been a failure. In a one-off game against RCB they just came up short.
A run to the play-offs should be the minimum, though, and they look well-equipped to once again try to out-six sides. The key to success, however, will be whether Arshdeep Singh and Yuz Chahal can do just enough to keep their noses in front in the field.
Lockie Ferguson will not be available for the first half of the league. Ben Dwarshuis or Xavier Bartlett look likely to be subbed in and out depending on whether they batl second or first.
Possible XI: Prabhsimran, Arya, Shreyas, Shashank, Wadhera, Stoinis, Omarzai, Jansen, Harpreet, Chahal, Arshdeep
Gujarat Titans have a well-balanced squad capable of going deep into the tournament. Their only potential weakness may be the form of Jos Buttler but even that could be solved with Tom Banton waiting in the wings.
Otherwise it will be about getting bowling combinations right because at the top of the batting order Sai Sudharsan and Shubman Gill are reliability personified.
Jason Holder might be a smarter pick than Kagiso Rabada. They have strong sixth-bowling options in Washington Sundar and Phillips.
Possible XI: Sai, Gill, Buttler, Phillips, Sundar, Tewatia, Shahrurkh (sub Prasidsh Krishna), Holder, Rashid, Siraj, Kishore
Punjab Kings v Gujarat Titans IPL pitch report
Despite being a one-dimensional batting unit, Punjab's home ground is not a guaranteed road. Although we do note that Ponting has suggested it could be flatter this year. The RPO in the nine IPL night matches is 8.86. Six of those games were won by the team battting first. It's not a huge study sample but is definitely one to keep an eye on.
Last season in five matches there were three scores of more than 200 in the first dig (two of those were both teams to score 200) while the other two saw Punjab defend 111 and be rolled for 101 against RCB. It's difficult to play with confidence on the runs-related markets.
Punjab Kings v Gujarat Titans IPL match prediction
Punjab Kings are 1.768/11 on the Betfair Exchange with Gujarat Titans 2.226/5. Although we respect the Punjab approach and are enamoured with their balance, this might be a game to take them on.
There could be few cuter sides in IPL this season than Gujarat. They could well have a solid and spectacular season thanks to a varied and high-skilled bowling attack.
Combining Sai Kishore and Rahid Khan potnetially gives them potency and control for eight overs while Holder and Prasidh Krishna at the death are a devilish combo for batting teams.
We would have the two slightly closer in the betting and throw in that uncertainty around the home Punjab pitch and we could have a win for the outsider. Gujarat may be better equipped to cope with varied conditions.
If you do want to be on Punjab, the best way could be to play Sportsbook overs line on their total sixes at 8.5. No team hit more sixes than Punjab last season. and they have beaten the line in seven of their last ten.
Back Punjab over 8.5 sixes
Punjab Kings v Gujarat Titans IPL player bets
Prab Singh is the top-rated Punjab batter in the last two years for the win on top runscorer, returning 25% of the time. The Betfair Sportsbook's 7/24.50 is a fair bet. For Gujarat the problem is that Sai and Gill are almost as good as each other and it can often be smart to wait to see who wins first and then get on the other for the next game. Sai wins at 37% and Gill 34%. The pair are 5/23.50 and [12/5 respectively. Sai really should be the fav.