IPL 2022: Gujarat Titans Aim To Crush Mumbai Indian's Hopes Tonight

Gujarat Titans had a five-match winning streak before they lost to Punjab Kings in the last game, while Mumbai Indians, for the first time in their IPL history, bagged a win after eight straight losses.

In their first IPL season, Hardik Pandya-led Gujarat is perfectly placed at the top of the points table with 16 points in 10 games.

The side faced their maiden defeat in the last match but they are certainly on their way to confirming a spot in the top four for the knockout phase.

On the other hand, five-time champions Mumbai managed to claim the first two points in their ninth game after a win in the last match against Rajasthan Royals.

Rohit Sharma's side is out of contention for playing play-off but they now have nothing to lose in the tournament and will look to tarnish other teams' chances going forward. The sides are battling in the competition for the first time in history.

Pandya Eyes Dominance Against His Former IPL Team

Titans' captain Hardik Pandya will be up against his former IPL side, for whom he played for seven seasons. The all-rounder was tasked to do well in order to grab his place in the national team and the 28-year-old has responded well whilst leading the side brilliantly. He is also the leading run-getter for his side, with 309 runs in nine games at an average of 44.14. He has been the Titans' mainstay in the middle order and will look to showcase his form against the Mumbai Indians.

Hardik has received support from others, especially lower middle-order batters David Miller and Rahul Tewatia. They have managed to bag wins from unexpected positions.

Miller is also set to play his 100th IPL match. The explosive batter will become the third South African after AB de Villiers and Faf du Plessis to feature in 100 IPL matches.

The inclusion of wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha as an opener has also helped Titans at the top of the order, while Sai Sudarshan is also making valuable contributions.

Mumbai Indians' Batting Woes On The Cards

No one had expected that Mumbai Indians would be having a horrible season because of the reputation they have built since the inception of the league. The main reason behind their dismal performances is their batting. Skipper Rohit Sharma (155 runs) has failed to register fifty while Ishan Kishan (225 runs), the most expensive IPL player acquired by Mumbai Indians for 152.5 million, has also not lived up to the hype.

On the other hand, the emerging batter Tilak Varma and experienced Suryakumar Yadav have led the batting charge in the middle order.

Yadav, 31, has scored 290 runs at an average of 48.33 and a strike rate of 147.20 in seven games. He will again play a vital role in tonight's encounter.

Varma, 19, has been some find for MI this year as the young uncapped batter is the leading run-scorer for the franchise. He has made 307 runs at an average of 43.86 and a strike rate of 137.05 in 9 games.

Both batters have shuffled positions on numerous occasions, but the form has been permanent and Mumbai Indians will once again pin hopes on these two in tonight's game as well.

MI skipper Rohit would have something to cheer for if he clears the boundary as he is one six away from becoming the second MI player to hit 200 sixes in IPL. Kieron Pollard is the first MI player to hit 200 sixes.

Is Rashid Khan's form a concern for Gujarat?

Afghanistan's Rashid Khan was picked by Titans after he opted not to play for Sunrisers Hyderabad this season. The 23-year-old is receiving 150 million as salary and is among the highest-paid players this year but his bowling form has been a concern for the Titans in middle-overs.

Although the leg-spinner has given control but has not been able to take wickets for what he is renowned for. In 10 innings, Rashid has only nine wickets at an economy of 6.92.

On the other hand, veteran Indian pacer Mohammad Shami is leading the pack brilliantly and has picked up 15 wickets in ten games this season already. New Zealand's pacer Lockie Ferguson is the other notable bowler for Titans with 11 wickets, but he has been conceding runs at more than 8.5 runs per over.

MI's Poor Bowling Form

Similar to batters, Mumbai Indians' bowlers have also failed to perform collectively. Spearhead Jasprit Bumrah has been below par as per his standards. In nine games, he has conceded runs at 7.45 runs per over and has only claimed five wickets in nine games. Australia's Daniel Sams is the highest wicket-taker for the franchise with seven wickets in six games but four of them came against Chennai Super Kings.

Expected Gujarat Titans Playing XIs

Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan, Hardik Pandya (c), David Miller, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Alzarri Joseph, Pradeep Sangwan, Lockie Ferguson, Mohammed Shami

Expected Mumbai Indians Playing XIs

Ishan Kishan (wk), Rohit Sharma (c), Tim David, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Kieron Pollard, Hrithik Shokeen, Daniel Sams, Jasprit Bumrah, Kumar Kartikeya, Riley Meredith

Gujarat Titans vs Mumbai Indian Pitch Report

The side batting first will have to post 170 or more to avoid being hammered in the second half of the game. The wicket has been more fruitful for the chasing sides so far, hence, both captains will look to have a bowl first.

Gujarat Titans vs Mumbai Indian Match Prediction

It would be a huge task for Mumbai Indians to go head to head in terms of dominance against a quality Gujarat Titans but a win in the last game against Rajasthan Royals will surely give them big confidence.

Meanwhile, the Titans have seen a new match-winner in every game as seven different players have bagged Player of the Match awards in their eight wins. The depth in their batting and bowling is unmatched compared to the five-time IPL champs.

The venue also favors GT like they have shown earlier, outplaying the opposition in both games at Brabourne while home side MI have lost both their encounters so far.

Related Match Preview

• GT vs MI Match Preview: Buoyant Gujarat Look To Seal Playoff Spot Against Struggling MI

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