A win on home turf, a win on our first trip, multiple players stepping up at different stages of the game - the Gujarat Titans have started TATA IPL 2023 on a positive note. 

Our Titans know a thing or two about chasing down totals and once again, their clinicality was on display while batting second against Delhi Capitals. We had a young Titan in Sai Sudharsan picking up the Player of the Match award for his outstanding half-century, alongside some brilliant performances with the ball from Rashid Khan, Mohammad Shami and Alzarri Joseph.

The title defence could not have begun any better. The senior and junior players have taken responsibility and lived up to their tasks, helping the Titans tick every box with ease. Wriddhiman Saha, who has been exceptional behind the wickets and is registering some crucial runs with the bat, complimented the coaching staff for giving individuals the freedom to express themselves. 

“All the individuals are given the freedom to share their thoughts and the coaching staff members are very friendly. Maybe that’s why the good performance from last season is continuing. We try to be thorough with our preparations for each game in the TATA IPL. We set a benchmark that way and are following that,” Saha said while addressing the media on Friday. 

We will be playing our first afternoon game of the season, under the scorching heat in Ahmedabad. We also have some “Cool as ice” individuals in our camp, who will try to provide us the cutting edge against our Sunday’s opponents, the Kolkata Knight Riders. 

Peak into the opponent's camp

The Kolkata Knight Riders picked up a resounding win in their last match against Royal Challengers Bangalore. After a poor start with the bat, they managed to put up a match-winning total courtesy of Shardul Thakur’s explosive half-century and their spin trio of Varun Chakravarthy, Sunil Narine and Suyash Sharma did all the damage in the second innings, picking up nine wickets between themselves. 

The Titan to watch out for

David Miller hit the most sixes among our batters last season (23) and also contributed some of the most important knocks on our way to glory. Just a day after his arrival in India, the South African got off and running against Delhi Capitals, picking up things where he left last season. The calm and storm that Miller brings to the table has been invaluable for the Titans camp and the fans at Narendra Modi Stadium will be hoping for more of these in TATA IPL 2023.  

Key numbers

Wriddhiman Saha needs 34 runs to complete 2,500 runs in TATA IPL. 

Shubman Gill is 23 short of 2,000 runs in TATA IPL.  

David Miller needs another 14 runs to complete 2,500 runs in TATA IPL.

Since IPL 2021, Mohammad Shami has picked up 18 wickets in powerplay, the joint-highest alongside Trent Boult.  

Since the beginning of last season, Titans’ pacers have picked up 75 wickets in TATA IPL, the most by any team. 

Match details

Gujarat Titans vs Kolkata Knight Riders, Match 13
Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
3.30 PM