IPL GT vs MI 2025: Will Hardik Pandya return to jeers or cheers today?

IPL GT vs MI 2025: With both Gujarat Titans and Mumbai Indians looking for their first win of the season, the stage is set for a thrilling encounter between the two sides on Saturday. After disappointing opening matches, both teams are eager to turn their fortunes around in this crucial early-season fixture.

IPL GT vs MI 2025 – Pitch Report and Key Stats of Narendra Modi Stadium

Category

Details

Match

Gujarat Titans (GT) vs Mumbai Indians (MI)

Date and Time

Saturday, March 29, 2025, 7:30 PM IST

Venue

Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad

Weather Forecast

Clear skies expected, favorable for cricket

Pitch Type

Batting-friendly, consistent bounce, slows down as the game progresses

Average First-Innings Score

Approximately 200 runs

Effect on Bowlers

Fast bowlers may find early movement; spinners become more effective as the game progresses

Chasing or Setting Total

Historically, teams batting second have had better results

Recent Match Stats

Punjab Kings scored 243/5; Gujarat Titans replied with 232/4 (lost by 11 runs)

GT’s Record at Narendra Modi Stadium

Played 17, Won 9, Lost 8

MI’s Record at Narendra Modi Stadium vs GT

Played 3, Won 0, Lost 3

Highest Team Total

Punjab Kings – 243/5 (IPL 2025)

Lowest Team Total

Gujarat Titans – 89/10 (vs Delhi Capitals, 2024)

Highest Individual Score

Shubman Gill – 129 (vs MI, 2023)

Most Wickets

Mohit Sharma – 29 wickets

Best Bowling Performance

Mohit Sharma – 5/10 (vs MI, 2023)

Historical Stats for Chasing

Teams batting second have won 20 out of 36 matches, while teams batting first have won 16

Pandya’s Suspension and Comeback: A Dual Challenge

Hardik Pandya’s absence from Mumbai’s opening game was keenly felt, as the team missed their regular captain due to a suspension for a slow over-rate offence carried over from last season. The star all-rounder returns to Ahmedabad, a city where he led Gujarat Titans to an IPL 2022 title, which now makes for an intriguing narrative. The question arises: Will he be cheered or jeered by the fans?

Pandya’s relationship with the Ahmedabad crowd has been a subject of interest, as his return could either be met with adoration or boos. Last time he played in the city, he was booed, and today, he will be keen to prove his leadership skills, aiming to win back the trust and affection of the fans while leading Mumbai to a much-needed victory.

Gujarat Titans: A Tough Start, But Room for Improvement

The Gujarat Titans had their own struggles in the season opener, where they faltered during their chase against Punjab Kings. Although they had the chase under control, they were undone by some excellent bowling from Vijaykumar Vyshak. The Titans will be looking to bounce back, and their bowlers—Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Kagiso Rabada, and Rashid Khan—will be determined to step up and deliver a stronger performance.

However, it wasn’t just their bowling that let them down. Gujarat Titans also had a disappointing outing in the field, with dropped catches and misfields contributing to their downfall. With the home crowd behind them, the Titans will look to correct these mistakes and avoid any more costly errors.

Mumbai Indians: Hardik’s Return to Spark Batting Line-up

Mumbai Indians, on the other hand, will be heavily reliant on the return of Hardik Pandya, who could inject some much-needed stability and leadership into the side. Mumbai’s batting struggled in their opener at Chepauk, falling prey to Khaleel Ahmed’s pace and the crafty left-arm wrist spinner Noor Ahmad. With the match now shifting to Ahmedabad, the wicket’s true bounce and placid nature should favor Mumbai’s batters.

Key players like Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, and Pandya himself will be looking to capitalize on the conditions, and the addition of new players like Will Jacks and Ryan Rickleton could add depth to their line-up.

Gujarat’s Bowling Challenge: Overcoming Mumbai’s Big Guns

On the bowling front, Gujarat will need to step up their game to challenge Mumbai’s strong batting lineup. The likes of Trent Boult and Deepak Chahar will have a critical role to play in containing the dangerous batters of Gujarat, including Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan, and Jos Buttler. The Titans will also need their wrist spinners to continue performing well, with Vignesh Puthur hoping to build on his previous success and add another magical performance to his growing IPL resume.

Fielding Woes and Opportunities for Both Teams

Fielding has been a sore point for both teams so far in the season. Gujarat Titans’ sloppy fielding allowed Punjab Kings to get away with crucial runs, while Mumbai Indians were not immune to their own fielding issues. Both teams will be looking to tighten their fielding and prevent costly mistakes in this important encounter.

IPL GT vs MI 2025 – Match Preview

Key Event

Details

Match Date

Saturday, March 29, 2025

Venue

Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad

Teams

Gujarat Titans (GT) vs Mumbai Indians (MI)

Hardik Pandya’s Status

Returning from suspension, key player for MI

Previous Encounter

GT defeated MI in IPL 2022 final

Gujarat Titans’ Last Match

Defeat against Punjab Kings (poor fielding)

Mumbai Indians’ Last Match

Loss against Chennai Super Kings (batting issues)

Key Players for GT

Rashid Khan, Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan

Key Players for MI

Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya

Focus Areas for GT

Improved fielding and bowling performance

Focus Areas for MI

Batting form and leadership from Pandya

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