The champions of IPL 2022, Gujarat Titans (GT), will host the five-time champions Mumbai Indians (MI) in the fifth match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday, March 24. The Titans won their first-ever IPL trophy under the leadership of Hardik Pandya in their debut season in 2022. Pandya led GT to another IPL final the following year before losing to MSD's CSK in a rain-curtailed summit clash. Hardik Pandya will now captain MI in IPL 2024 while Shubman Gill will lead GT. Gill would be determined to prove his mettle and guide the Titans to another IPL trophy this season.
Let's take a look at the predicted XIs of both sides ahead of a mouth-watering encounter.
GT Predicted XI
Shubman Gill (captain)
Showman Shubman Gill is Gujarat's star opening batter. After winning the Orange Cap in the previous edition, Gill would be raring to take on the Mumbai Indians in GT's campaign opener.
Wriddhiman Saha (wicketkeeper)
Skipper Shubman's opening partner Wriddhiman Saha is also known as one of the most destructive batters in the Indian Premier League. The Indian veteran's power-hitting skills during the powerplays have always led the Titans to high-scoring totals.
Sai Sudharsan
Having amassed 362 runs in eight matches last year, Sai Sudharsan will be the go-to option to bat at one down. The Chennai-based batter impressed everyone with his batting prowess and will be an exciting cricketer to look out for this season.
Vijay Shankar
Another Tamil Nadu-based cricketer, Vijay Shankar is expected to bat at No.4 for Gujarat Titans. Vijay will be a quality addition in the middle-order and is likely to add the required firepower to GT's batting arsenal.
David Miller
South African southpaw David Miller will be an exciting prospect to watch out for in GT's playing XI. He is regarded as one of the most talented finishers in the IPL. Batting in the middle order, one may not expect Miller to score a lot of runs, but he has a knack of scoring runs at a blitzkrieg rate.
Shahrukh Khan
Shahrukh Khan rose to fame after performing brilliantly for Punjab Kings in the previous seasons. He is a batting all-rounder who can anchor the innings with his fiery batting display in the lower order. GT will bank on him to deliver valuable runs and lead them to crucial chases in the ongoing season.
Rahul Tewatia
Mr. reliable Rahul Tewatia has never disappointed to put on a show in the cash-rich league. His escapades over the seasons have been cherished over the years. When it comes to crucial finishes in the IPL, Tewatia is one cricketer who has always been a part of the bandwagon.
Rashid Khan
One of the most feared players in the T20 format is the Afghan star Rashid Khan. Rashid has bagged 139 wickets in 109 matches since his IPL debut in 2017. He took a whopping 27 wickets in the previous edition.
Spencer Johnson
Spencer Johnson will be playing his debut IPL season for the Gujarat Titans. The 28-year-old Aussie pacer clinched 19 wickets in 11 matches in Brisbane Heat's campaign-winning edition of the Big Bash League 2023/24. He will be an exciting prospect to look out for in the current IPL season.
Mohit Sharma
Mohit Sharma has been an integral member of the GT outfit since 2023. Having scalped 27 wickets from 14 matches last year, Mohit will spearhead GT's bowling attack in IPL 2024.
Umesh Yadav
After going unsold in the recently concluded IPL 2024 auction in December, GT purchased the Indian speedster to fill in the boots of injured Mohammed Shami. The Titans will rely upon Umesh to pick up early wickets during the powerplays.
Impact Sub
Azmatullah Omarzai/Kartik Tyagi
MI Predicted XI
Rohit Sharma
Mumbai Indians' ex-skipper who led his team to five IPL trophies over the years will lead the batting order once again. He is MI's top scorer and one of the four batter to score over 6,000 runs in the Indian Premier League.
Ishan Kishan (wicketkeeper)
Alongside Rohit Sharma, hard-hitting batter Ishan Kishan is expected to open the proceedings for the Mumbai Indians. Kishan was MI's second-highest top-scorer with 454 runs in 15 matches during IPL 2023. His aggression with the bat can speak volumes about his skillset in the campaign opener against Gujarat.
Nehal Wadhera
Rising batting talent Nehal Wadhera could replace injured Suryakumar Yadav in the starting XI in MI's IPL 2024 opener. The 23-year-old impressed last year, having amassed 241 runs in 14 matches at a strike rate of 145.18. He also slammed two impressive fifties in IPL 2023. Wadhera will hope to continue his form in the ongoing edition.
Tilak Varma
The young and talented Tilak Varma will be gearing up for IPL 2024 with high expectations. Known for his explosive batting style and exceptional fielding, Varma earned his way into the Indian T20I squad. His ability to adapt to different game situations and deliver under pressure makes him MI's most valuable asset.
Tim David
With his powerful hitting and versatility in the middle order, Tim David has been one of Mumbai's impactful cricketers. The Australian batter hasn't always delivered for MI, but he has always shown up in chasing down high-scoring totals guiding his team to crucial victories.
Hardik Pandya (captain)
Mumbai Indians' new skipper Hardik Pandya will have all eyes on him this season. After a trade with the Gujarat Titans, MI acquired the services of the star Indian all-rounder. Pandya has been a part of MI's four IPL winning campaigns and would be eager to guide them to a sixth IPL title, but this time as captain.
Romario Shepherd
The talented all-rounder from Guyana, Romario Shepherd is set to be a key part of Mumbai's lineup for IPL 2024. With his ability to bowl at a brisk pace, Shepherd will add depth to MI's bowling department.
Gerald Coetzee
The young and promising fast bowler from South Africa, Gerald Coetzee is set to feature prominently in Mumbai Indians' lineup for IPL 2024. Known for his raw pace and ability to generate bounce, Coetzee adds a potent weapon to MI's bowling attack.
Jasprit Bumrah
MI pace bowling spearhead Jasprit Bumrah is expected to lead the bowling attack in IPL 2024. Known for his ability to bowl yorkers at will, Bumrah will be a nightmare for batters during the death overs. MI will rely heavily on Bumrah's experience to provide crucial breakthroughs and contain the opposition's scoring rate.
Shreyas Gopal
Known for his ability to pick up wickets in the middle overs, the leg-spinning all-rounder Shreyas Gopal can turn out to be a key asset for Mumbai this season. He will be crucial in leading the spin attack along with Piyush Chawla.
Piyush Chawla
The experienced leg-spinner Piyush Chawla is expected to play a crucial role in leading Mumbai Indians' spin bowling attack. His ability to deceive batters with his spin variations will bring a strategic edge to his team's bowling attack.
Impact Su
Kwena Maphaka/Akash Madhwal