Cricket’s biggest league is back with high-voltage clashes. The opening match on Friday (March 31) is a blockbuster because MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will square off against defending champions Gujarat Titans led by the flamboyant all-rounder Hardik Pandya at the iconic Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
Both teams have entered the 16th edition after contrasting campaigns last year. CSK, through huffs and puff, could win four matches in the entire season, finishing second last on the points table. But Gujarat, who were the new face of the IPL, ended up clinching their maiden title.
Last year, at the same venue Gujarat easily defeated Sanju Samson-led Rajasthan Royals by seven wickets on the back of Hardik Pandya‘s all-around performance and David Miller‘s brilliant cameo while chasing a small 131-run target.
CSK, from the start of the tournament, found themselves in trouble. It was a season to forget for the Yellow Army, but this time, with the return of MS Dhoni as full-time captain and a strong team, it is quite difficult to predict who will be the winner of today’s match.
Gt vs CSK pitch and weather report
Pitch report:
The Ahmedabad pitch assists the batters and fast bowlers at first, but slowly, spinners start getting some help. The average first-innings total of 160. The chasing teams have a winning percentage of 80 at the stadium despite the slow track. The team winning the toss is likely to decide to bowl first.
Weather report:
Yesterday night, IPL fans were worried about the heavy rain in Ahmedabad. But today, as per accuweather.com, there is little to no rainfall and the temperature is expected to hover around 27 and 32 degrees Celcius with around 50-57 percent humidity. The wind speed is expected to be around 13-18 km/h. So the weather will be perfect for playing, and rain is not expected to be a spoilsport during the high-octane clash.
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