Gujarat Titans started their title defence in style at home against Chennai Super Kings, achieving a target of 180 with ease. But Tuesday’s game against Delhi Capitals at the Kotla will offer a different challenge since it will be their first away game.
The Capitals face a tough task having been blown to pieces against Lucknow by Mark Wood’s raw pace. Their batting, except for captain David Warner, cut a sorry figure and they also had to pay for sloppy fielding.
Both sides are awaiting the arrival of their South Africans. David Miller, Lungi Ngidi and Anrich Nortje were on the same flights from Johannesburg to Delhi, via Dubai, after their national commitments and are expected to be available.
The Titans were dealt a blow in their opener when they lost Kane Williamson to injury. All-rounder Vijay Shankar said the team had not yet decided on the New Zealander’s replacement.
David Warner. PTI picture
“Really not sure about that. We haven’t spoken about it. It’s just we have to be ready for all those challenges thrown. So, if you can be ready for that, then anything will be right for us,” Shankar said during the pre-match news conference.
“Definitely he’s (Williamson) a top player. So his absence will have a big impact. But as a team we would look to do our own job right,” he added.
The Titans are likely to draft in Miller for Williamson with Sai Sudharsan to continue at No. 3. They will have a wealth of options available if they bowl first, with Sudharsan potentially starting on the bench again, and replacing one of their bowlers in the run chase.
If Nortje plays, he will replace Chetan Sakariya and Mukesh Kumar and a Manish Pandey or a Lalit Yadav could replace an overseas batter.
Shankar was all praise for Shubman Gill’s batting. “Shubman has been outstanding. Even before coming here, he was batting so well.”
Tuesday’s match will be the first IPL fixture in Delhi since May 2021.
Today’s match
■ Delhi Capitals vs Gujarat Titans, 7.30pm, Delhi, live on Star Sports & Jio Cinema