IPL 2023 GT vs CSK – Preview, weather predictions, pitch report, best playing XI, fantasy tips, injury updates and match prediction

GT vs CSK: In less than a few hours, the Gujarat Titans, who are the defending champions of the IPL will kickstart the latest edition of the tournament with a battle against the MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings. In what is deemed as the curtain-raiser of the tournament, two teams with completely different mindsets will be entering the fray at the Narendra Modi Stadium, hoping to prise out an absolute cracker of a contest.

Chennai Super Kings will try and arrest their decline from the preceding edition of the tournament where they secured just 4 wins from all the games that they were a part of, underlining a handful of glaring woes that plagued the side. From a major batting fail featuring a string of mediocre displays from the batters to an expensive showdown from the bowlers, things spanned out of control for Dhoni and company, on and off the field.

The Titans, on the contrary, will be buoyed by the fact that they are the reigning champions and their record was as clean as it could be in 2022. However, the fans of Rajasthan Royals can tell you an entirely different story as since 2008, after winning their first trophy, they are still search of a second.

Both sides would bank on some solid firepower to get them through the fire early in the tournament, with names big names like MS Dhoni, Hardik Pandya, Ben Stokes and Rashid Khan thrown into the mix. The presence of Ravindra Jadeja will be countered hard by Rahul Tewatia in the ranks of Gujarat to make it an equally bedazzling battle of two alpha all-rounders. With all said and done, expect an absolute cracker of a contest between two powerhouses of the tournament.

GT vs CSK: pitch and weather report

A total of 10 T20I matches have been played at the Narendra Modi Stadium with 6 games won batting first while 4 have been secured chasing so far. The average first innings score is that of 160 while the average score in the second innings is 137. The highest score recorded in the ground was that of 234 by India while the lowest has been a humiliating 66.

As far as the weather report goes there are no chances of rain, with the temperatures being close to 33-degree Celcius with a humidity of 36 percent and a windspeed of 16 kmph. Hence, expect a full game unless there is some dramatic unfolding of complications.

GT vs CSK: Best Fantasy XI

Gujarat Titans: Matthew Wade, Shubman Gill, Kane Williamson, Abhinav Manohar, Hardik Pandya (cap), Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Sai Kishore, Alzarri Joseph, Yash Dayal, Mohammed Shami

Chennai Super Kings: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Devon Conway, Moeen Ali, Ambati Rayudu, Ben Stokes, MS Dhoni (cap), Ravindra Jadeja, Deepak Chahar, Dwaine Pretorious, Prashant Solanki, Simarjeet Singh

GT vs CSK: Who will win today’s match?

The Gujarat Titans will be the obvious favourites to secure the bragging rights considering an enriching depth in their echelons, both in the batting and the bowling depth unlike Chennai’s ageing middle-order that can be a serious concern throughout the tournament.

GT vs CSK: Injury and news

David Miller will be missing the opening fixture while Ben Stokes would not be bowling due to an injury in his knee. MS Dhoni had a late scare and didn’t practice on the penultimate day but as far as reports go, he will be playing against Gujarat Titans in the season opener.