IPL 2024, PBKS Vs GT: Punjab Kings Opt To Bat As Team Looks To End Final-Over Curse; Check Playing XIs

Mullanpur: The Punjab Kings (PBKS) will be desperate to turn their fortunes around as they host the Gujarat Titans (GT) at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur on Sunday. Despite the home advantage typically favouring teams in the early stages of the IPL, PBKS have suffered three consecutive defeats at their home ground.

The Kings are reeling from the disappointment of losing their last three matches in the final over. Stand-in captain Sam Curran has expressed frustration with the team’s tendency for last-minute drama, emphasizing the need to convert close encounters into victories. The absence of veteran opener Shikhar Dhawan has exposed a lack of experience at the top of the order, leading to early collapses. However, the emergence of uncapped Indian talents, Shashank Singh and Ashutosh Sharma, has provided a silver lining for PBKS.

On the other side, GT will be eager to bounce back from their humiliating defeat against the Delhi Capitals (DC) in their previous outing. Shubman Gill’s team was skittled out for a mere 89 runs, resulting in a heavy loss with 67 balls remaining. This setback has significantly impacted their Net Run Rate (NRR), making a strong showing crucial for their playoff aspirations.

The Mullanpur pitch is known to assist fast bowlers, especially during the early stages of the innings. This trend is expected to continue on Sunday, with dry weather conditions forecast for the match duration.

Playing XIs

Punjab Kings: Sam Curran(c), Prabhsimran Singh, Rilee Rossouw, Liam Livingstone, Shashank Singh, Jitesh Sharma(w), Ashutosh Sharma, Harpreet Brar, Harshal Patel, Kagiso Rabada, Arshdeep Singh

PBKS Impact Subs: Rahul Chahar, Vidhwath Kaverappa, Atharva Taide, Harpreet Singh Bhatia, Shivam Singh

Gujarat Titans: Wriddhiman Saha(w), Shubman Gill(c), David Miller, Azmatullah Omarzai, Shahrukh Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore, Noor Ahmad, Sandeep Warrier, Mohit Sharma

GT Impact Subs: Sai Sudharsan, Sharath BR, Manav Suthar, Darshan Nalkande, Vijay Shankar