PBKS vs GT Preview - Match 17

*PBKS VS GT PREVIEW:*

*BUILD UP-*

*GUJARAT STILL FORMIDABLE:*

It was only a few days ago when the Rashid led GT witnessed one of the most miraculous performances of all time. Scratch your head and try to recall when was the last time that you saw a domestic Indian better smash 5 sixes in a row to win the game for his team? I bet you won’t be able to. Such was the power game that Rinku Singh brought. 

Despite that close loss which may seem a little humiliating, GT are still a force to reckon with, whose players are turning up big time when needed and collectively delivering the goods asked of them. The form and the hitting versus Pace that Shankar showed the other day was a testimony to the fact that everyone’s enjoying the environment and a rare loss like this should be forgotten as soon as possible. 

*HOW PUNJAB ARE SHAPED:*

IPL has seen many unusual stories and a lot of them have revolved around Punjab. This year, with Punjab starting strong and their veteran skipper finding form has also been a story to cherish. Having won the first two games, Punjab lost a game to SRH, who opened their account but the former shouldn’t be too worried about their only loss because their stars are turning up and now with the availability of Rabada and Livingstone, they are only going to get better than ever as a T20 side. 

*HOW THESE TEAMS SHOULD LINE UP AHEAD OF THE GAME?*

*PUNJAB*:
*PROBABLE XI-*

Shikhar Dhawan(c), Prabhsimran Singh, Jitesh Sharma, Liam Livingstone, Sikandar Raza, Shahrukh Khan, Sam Curran, Harpreet Brar, Kagiso Rabada, Rahul Chahar, Arshdeep Singh 

PBKS will have to ponder about the choice selection between Bhanuka Rajapaksha and Sikandar Raza, but with the all round abilities of Raza, he should edge past the Lankan to claim the NO5 spot. 

The Shikhar led unit are likely to include both the new entrants, Liam and Rabada into the team and the possibility of using Rabada upfront against someone like Gill who has his struggles against express pace and seam should be a good fit. 

PBKS can bring in Nathan Ellis as an impact sub replacing Liam who is unlikely to bowl with the number of bowling resources that Punjab already have. 

*GUJARAT:*
*PROBABLE XI-*

Shubman Gill, Wriddhiman Saha, Sai Sudarshan, Vijay Shankar, Hardik Pandya, David Miller, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Mohammad Shami, Joshua Little/Alzarri Joseph 

GT will be looking forward with Hardik joining them back again, who provides them with some invaluable T20 experience and the right balance. 

Gill, who has been in decent nick needs to be wary of the threat that Rabada brings to the table. If he counters him, he should be good for the rest of the innings. 

Rashid will be high and on top of the moon after registering a quality IPL Hattrick last game, his matchup vs Shikhar, who is leading the batting charts, should give him a ton of confidence. 

*MY PREDICTIONS-*

*FOR PBKS:*
Highest run getter- Prabhsimran Singh/Shikhar Dhawan 
Highest wicket taker- Kagiso Rabada/Sam Curran 

*FOR GT:*
Highest run getter- Hardik Pandya/Shubman Gill 
Highest wicket taker- Rashid Khan/Mohammad Shami 

*PREDICTION FOR THE GAME*
Gujarat to clinch victory with Punjab slipping to their second defeat in back to back games.