Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Gujarat Titans (GT) will take center stage in the 18th match of the 2023 season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) on Thursday, April 13 at the Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium in Mohali. Punjab had a great start to their campaign and won their first two games of the ongoing edition.
Check here 👉 Punjab Kings vs Gujarat Titans, Match 18 - Live Cricket Score
However, when the Shikhar Dhawan-led side locked horns with Sunrisers Hyderabad, no batter barring the skipper (99* runs off 66 balls) could get a substantial score to his name and as a result, they could only manage 143 runs in 20 overs. Eventually, Sunrisers chased down the total in 17.1 overs.
Punjab would look to put up a clinical show in the clash on Thursday and get back to winning ways. As PBKS bid to conquer the defending champions, let us look at the playing XI that they can assemble for the encounter.
Here's Punjab Kings’ predicted XI against Gujarat Titans
Openers: Shikhar Dhawan (c), Prabhsimran Singh
Shikhar Dhawan has been a bankable name in the Indian Premier League. The ace batter has been associated with the marquee event since its inception and has amassed a staggering tally of 6469 runs in 209 matches at a strike rate of 127.01.
Dhawan has been in pristine touch in the ongoing edition of the T20 extravaganza. He has annihilated bowling attacks that have come his way and piled on 225 runs in three outings at an excellent strike rate of 149.01. The 37-year-old has also displayed his leadership credentials and led the Punjab side superbly.
Coming to Prabhsimran Singh, the 22-year-old has played a fearless brand of cricket and provided Punjab with brisk starts. He has hammered 83 runs in three matches at a stunning strike rate of 176.59. The youngster would look to put up a show with the bat against Hardik Pandya & Co.
Middle Order: Matthew Short, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Shahrukh Khan
Matthew Short set the Big Bash League 2022-23 ablaze with his jaw-dropping performances. The 27-year-old featured in 14 games for Adelaide Strikers and blasted 458 runs at a strike rate of 144.47. Also, he fared well with the ball and chipped in with crucial wickets. He would be itching to prove his mettle in the IPL 2023.
Talking about Jitesh Sharma, the 29-year-old has taken the attack from the get-go and changed the course of several games in favour of the Punjab side. Also, he has a safe pair of hands behind the stumps. The wicketkeeper-batter would be eager to deliver the goods in the coming game.
Barring Short and Jitesh, Punjab Kings have the services of Shahrukh Khan in the middle order. He is a marauder with the bat and has dismantled bowling attacks for fun in the domestic circuit. However, the 27-year-old has been mediocre with his outings in the 16th IPL edition and scored only 26 runs in three games. He would like to make amends and make a mark with his performances.
All-rounders: Liam Livingstone, Sam Curran
Punjab possess gun England all-rounders in Liam Livingstone and Sam Curran at their disposal. Livingstone is a ferocious striker of the cricket ball and has decimated top-quality bowling attacks with his power-hitting might. Also, he is no muck with the ball and has played the role of a sixth bowler when needed.
Livingstone was magnificent with the bat in the IPL 2022. He racked up 437 runs in 14 matches at an incredible strike rate of 182.08. The Punjab management would hope the flamboyant cricketer plays in the same vein in the ongoing season of the T20 carnival.
Coming to Sam Curran, the Northampton-born has strangled batters with his variations and provided his side with timely breakthroughs. Further, he has been a handy contributor with the bat and played crucial knocks slotting in the middle order. The southpaw would look to display his class against Gujarat.
Bowlers: Harpreet Brar, Rahul Chahar, Kagiso Rabada, Arshdeep Singh
On the spin-bowling front, Punjab have the services of Harpreet Brar and Rahul Chahar. Harpreet has contained batters with his impeccable line and length and stemmed the flow of runs. On the other hand, Chahar has been a wily customer with the ball and provided timely breakthroughs to his side.
Coming to Punjab’s fast-bowling stocks, they possess the likes of Kagiso Rabada and Arshdeep Singh. Rabada has been a strike force with the ball in the cash-rich league. He has featured in 63 games and picked up 99 wickets at an economy of 8.26. The speedster would look to torment batters with his pace in the forthcoming clash.
Talking about Arshdeep, the left-arm pacer has been a proven performer in the IPL arena. He has featured in 40 matches and bagged 46 wickets at an economy of 8.37. The 24-year-old has been at his wicket-taking best in the ongoing season and has snared six scalps in three outings. He would look to carry on the good work for the Punjab side and stake a claim to win the Purple Cap in IPL 2023.
Punjab Kings (PBKS) probable XI:
Shikhar Dhawan (c), Prabhsimran Singh, Matthew Short, Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Shahrukh Khan, Sam Curran, Harpreet Brar, Rahul Chahar, Kagiso Rabada, Arshdeep Singh
Punjab Kings (PBKS) probable Impact Players:
Harpreet Singh Bhatia, Rishi Dhawan, Baltej Singh, Atharva Taide, Mohit Rathee
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