IPL match preview: Qualifier 2 - Gujarat Titans v Mumbai Indians
The Gujarat Titans and Mumbai Indians will battle for a place in the 2023 Indian Premier League final.
Gujarat Titans.Reigning champions Gujarat and record-holding five-time title holders Mumbai lost to the Chennai Super Kings and beat the Lucknow Super Giants, respectively, in the play-offs. One more win and either of them will be in the final against the Chennai Super Kings.
The match will be played in Ahmedabad, which hasn't hosted IPL cricket in more than 10 days. The pitch should be well rested and full of runs. This venue has served up a good few 200-plus first-innings scores this IPL season.
Mumbai have really bounced back well. They had a disappointing start to their 2023 campaign and, in 2022, finished in last position. That's not becoming of the five-time champions and they've shown what they're actually all about this time.
The Titans were exposed against the Super Kings recently. They might have developed an over-reliance on Shubman Gill and, if he doesn't fire alongside David Miller and company, their five-man bowling attack can in turn be exposed.
Mumbai and Gujarat's history is brief. They've met three times. Mumbai have two wins to the Titans' one. Head to head, they have a win each in 2023.
Cameron Green was key to Mumbai's push into the play-offs with a century against the Sunrisers Hyderabad and again shone with the bat in victory over the Super Giants. The Australian all-rounder could put in another big showing here before jetting off in preparation for the Ashes.
When Mumbai and Gujarat met on 12 May, Titans leg-spinner Rashid Khan took a four-wicket haul and struck 79 in defeat. The Afghanistan all-rounder's roles with bat and ball will be vital for the defending champions again.
Gujarat have gone off the proverbial boil, while Mumbai's momentum has gained plenty of traction. Rohit Sharma and company are looking in better shape to reach the final.