Hardik Pandya is the captain of Mumbai when he returns to Ahmedabad, having been the subject of what may have been the biggest pre-auction player swap in IPL history. For Hardik returned not just to the team that developed him but also to take over as their leader from a five-time champion. Also, a lot of attention will be paid to how he and Rohit Sharma interact on the field on Sunday night.
The Titans had to choose a new captain following Hardik’s exit, and Shubman Gill last season’s top run scorer—was the clear choice. However, Gill has very little leadership experience; he has only captained his state side Punjab in two Twenty20 matches, just like the captain he succeeded. In the Titans setup, will another inexperienced leader move up to the skies?
Mumbai’s No. 3 player, Suryakumar Yadav, is currently recovering at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru following ankle surgery, and the team’s two overseas quicks, Dilshan Madushanka and Jason Behrendorff, are out for the season due to injuries.
Additionally, Gerald Coetzee is not ready to play against the Titans. The replacement players for Mumbai are the overseas quicks, Luke Wood of England and Kwena Maphaka, a teenage star from South Africa.
The leading wicket-taker from the previous campaign, Mohammed Shami, is out for the Titans as he recovers from ankle surgery. Due to injuries sustained in a bike accident, Jharkhand wicketkeeper Robin Minz, who was acquired by Titans for INR 3.6 crore, was also ruled out of the season.
Sandeep Warrier of Tamil Nadu and BR Sharath of Karnataka were named as the replacements. Matthew Wade is playing in the Sheffield Shield final in Australia, therefore he hasn’t arrived for the Titans yet.
Venue : Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
GT Possible XI : Shubman Gill, Wriddhiman Saha, Sai Sudarshan, David Miller, Vijay Shankar, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohit Sharma, Umesh Yadav and Noor Ahmad.
MI Possible XI : Ishan Kishan, Rohit Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Tim David, Nehal Wadhera, Mohammad Nabi, Piyush Chawla, Gerald Coetzee, Jasprit Bumrah, Luke Wood.
