GT vs PBKS / Will the batsmen dominate or will the bowlers show their magic, know the pitch report

GT vs PBKS: The fifth match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 will be played at the historic Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Tuesday, 25 March 2025. Gujarat Titans (GT) and Punjab Kings (PBKS) will face each other in this match. Both the teams failed to make it to the playoffs last season, after which now in the 18th edition of the tournament, both these teams would like to aim for the title with a great start. Before this exciting match, let us know what color the pitch of Narendra Modi Stadium will show in this match and what can be the strategy of both the teams.

Ahmedabad Pitch Report: Batsmen's paradise, bowlers' challenge

The pitch of Narendra Modi Stadium is known for its batting-friendly nature. High-scoring matches are often seen on this ground, and this time too fans will expect a rain of runs. At the beginning of the innings, fast bowlers can get light swing and bounce with the new ball, which can help them get early success. However, as the pitch becomes flat, the role of spinners will increase, especially in the middle and final overs.

If we look at the IPL statistics, 35 matches have been played on this ground so far. The team batting first won 15 matches, while the team chasing the target won 20 times. The toss has also had a special effect on this ground, where the team batting first after winning the toss won 17 times, while the team losing the toss was victorious 18 times. The highest score of this ground is 233/3, which Gujarat Titans made against Mumbai Indians in 2023. At the same time, the record of the lowest score (89) is also in the name of Gujarat Titans, which was registered against Delhi Capitals in 2024. In the only match played between the two teams on this ground, Punjab Kings defeated Gujarat by 3 wickets.

GT vs PBKS: Probable strategy and pitch impact

Given the nature of the pitch, the team winning the toss may decide to bat first to put up a big score on the board. Gujarat Titans have batsmen like Shubman Gill, Jos Buttler and Sai Sudharsan, who can give a quick start, while spinners like Rashid Khan and Washington Sundar will try to control the game later. Punjab Kings, on the other hand, have aggressive batsmen like Shreyas Iyer, Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis, who are adept at chasing big targets. The bowling of Yuzvendra Chahal and Arshdeep Singh could prove to be decisive on this pitch.

Squad of both teams: Strength and Balance

Gujarat Titans: Shubman Gill (Captain), Jos Buttler, Sai Sudarshan, Shahrukh Khan, Kagiso Rabada, Mohammad Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Nishant Sindhu, Mahipal Lomror, Kumar Kushagra, Anuj Rawat, Manav Suthar, Washington Sundar, Gerald Coetzee, Arshad Khan, Gurnur Brar, Sherfane Rutherford, Sai Kishore, Ishant Sharma, Jayant Yadav, Glenn Phillips, Karim Janat, Kulwant Khejroliya.

This team looks balanced in batting and bowling. Bowlers like Rashid Khan and Kagiso Rabada can pose a threat to Punjab batsmen.

Punjab Kings: Shreyas Iyer (captain), Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, Shashank Singh, Prabhsimran Singh, Harpreet Brar, Vijaykumar Vishak, Yash Thakur, Marco Johnson, Josh Inglis, Lockie Ferguson, Azmatullah Umarzai, Harnoor Singh, Kuldeep Sen, Priyansh Arya, Aaron Hardy, Mushir Khan, Suryansh Shedge, Xavier Bartlett, Paila Avinash, Praveen Dubey, Nehal Wadhera, Vishnu Vinod.

Punjab team has a mix of experienced and young players. Players like Chahal and Maxwell are capable of changing the course of the game.

Expect an exciting match

This match to be held at Narendra Modi Stadium will be very important for both the teams. Gujarat Titans will want to take advantage of the home ground, while Punjab Kings will try to repeat the previous performance. Given the batting-friendly nature of the pitch and the role of spinners, this match is likely to be high-scoring and exciting. Fans are just waiting for March 25, when these two powerful teams will showcase their strength on the field.