The final week of the league stage of the Indian Premier League 2023 has begun, and no team has qualified for the playoffs as the race for the playoffs continues to heat up. On Monday, the Gujarat Titans host the Sunrisers Hyderabad in their final home league encounter. With a victory over SRH, the Hardik Pandya-led team will qualify for the IPL quarterfinals for the second consecutive season.
Former India cricketer Mohammed Kaif predicted that the defending champions will defeat Sunrisers Hyderabad and become the first team to crack the top four this season.
Speaking on Star Sports Cricket Live, Kaif stated, “With a win against SRH, Gujarat Titans can become the first team to qualify for the semifinals. Hardik Pandya, the captain, appeared dissatisfied with his and his team’s performance in the previous game, and they will attempt to make a comeback. Their performance away from home has been impressive, and they will aim to improve their home record this time.”
Former India cricketer Irfan Pathan has identified a major issue with the GT batting order in this season’s IPL. The defending champions have struggled to find a consistent third batsman.
“The number 3 batting position for the Gujarat Titans poses a dilemma.”
This year, Hardik has not been able to meet expectations with the bat. Pathan added, “However, if he is not performing at number three, it will be difficult for the team’s management to determine who to send to this position.”