Ahmedabad will once again witness Hardik Pandya walking onto the field, but this time in Mumbai Indians’ blue, not Gujarat Titans’ navy. A year ago, the same stands that once hailed him as a hero turned hostile following his move back to Mumbai Indians, and the booing followed him throughout IPL 2024. Now, as he steps onto the Narendra Modi Stadium on Saturday night, the question remains: has Ahmedabad forgiven Hardik Pandya?
The past year has been a whirlwind for Pandya. While his debut season as MI’s full-time captain ended in disappointment, he has since played a crucial role in India’s success, leading the team to victory in the 2024 T20 World Cup and the recently concluded Champions Trophy. Those achievements may have changed the narrative around him, and MI head coach Mahela Jayawardene hopes the fans will have moved on from last season’s resentment.
“Fans are fans, and emotions are part of the game,” Jayawardene said. “I think, 12 months on, he’s achieved a lot, and hopefully, everyone can enjoy a good game of cricket.”
However, Pandya will be more focused on reversing MI’s sluggish starts in the IPL, a trend that has haunted them for years. After already losing their opening match, the five-time champions need to recover quickly. But it won’t be easy against Gujarat Titans, who showcased their aggressive batting power in their near-record chase against Punjab Kings earlier this week.
A Crucial Match for Both Sides
The Narendra Modi Stadium has been a fortress for Gujarat Titans against Mumbai Indians, with GT leading the head-to-head at this venue 3-0. Each of their five IPL encounters has been won by the team batting first, making the toss crucial. The conditions are expected to be hot, with significant dew in the second innings, further tilting the advantage towards chasing sides.
Pandya, who missed the first match of the season, will be back in action with both bat and ball, while Rohit Sharma, who suffered a duck in the previous game, will be keen to make amends. The MI batting unit—comprising Ryan Rickelton, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, and Pandya himself—will have their task cut out against Rashid Khan and R Sai Kishore. MI’s opening partnership will also be key, as they go up against a dangerous pace attack led by Mohammed Siraj and Kagiso Rabada.
On the other hand, Gujarat Titans will look to address their middle-order struggles. The addition of Jos Buttler, Sherfane Rutherford, and Rabada has strengthened their squad, but they still appear top-heavy. Their last game against PBKS exposed their vulnerability against wide yorkers, a flaw MI’s bowlers will likely exploit.
Team Updates and Tactical Plans
Gujarat Titans
Injury/Unavailability: No injury concerns.
Tactics & Matchups: Sherfane Rutherford struggled against Vyshak Vijaykumar’s yorkers in the previous game, but GT may give him another chance before considering Glenn Phillips. If any changes occur, Washington Sundar might replace Arshad Khan to add depth to the spin attack. The key matchups will be Mohammed Siraj and Rabada testing Rohit Sharma early, while Rashid Khan’s battle with Suryakumar Yadav will be one to watch.
Probable XI:
Shubman Gill (C), Jos Buttler, Sai Sudharsan, Shahrukh Khan, Sherfane Rutherford, Washington Sundar, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, R Sai Kishore, Kagiso Rabada, Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj.
Mumbai Indians
Injury/Unavailability: No confirmed updates on Jasprit Bumrah’s availability.
Tactics & Matchups: Robin Minz is likely to make way for Pandya, while Vignesh Puthur, the surprise performer from the first game, may be used as an Impact Player. MI will focus on their bowling execution, particularly against GT’s openers. Mitchell Santner and Puthur will be key against Buttler and Rutherford, while Trent Boult’s early breakthroughs could dictate the match flow.
Probable XI:
Ryan Rickelton (wk), Rohit Sharma, Will Jacks, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya (C), Naman Dhir, Mitchell Santner, Deepak Chahar, Trent Boult, Satyanarayana Raju, Vignesh Puthur.
Did You Know?
Hardik Pandya led GT to their maiden IPL title at this very venue in 2022, earning the Player of the Match award in the final.
MI’s captaincy transition to Pandya began in Ahmedabad last year, ending in a six-run defeat that sparked tactical debates.
GT had the worst middle-order numbers in IPL 2024 and remain top-heavy this season.
Spinners have struggled more in second innings at Ahmedabad. In the last match here, GT’s spinners took 4 wickets for 78 runs in 8 overs, whereas Yuzvendra Chahal and Glenn Maxwell went for 60 runs in 5 overs.
What They Said:
Parthiv Patel (GT Assistant Coach):
“No one has asked how well Shreyas Iyer batted, or how Shashank Singh finished the innings. It’s always about that one or two overs where bowlers can change the game. That’s the impact of good execution in T20 cricket.”
Mahela Jayawardene (MI Head Coach):
“Vignesh Puthur was always going to play for Mumbai at some point. We just felt the Chennai wicket suited his skill set, and he proved that he was ready.”
The Final Word
The upcoming MI vs. GT clash is not just about the match but about the storylines surrounding it—Pandya’s return to Ahmedabad, MI’s quest to overturn their poor starts, and GT’s attempt to fix their middle-order woes. With both teams aiming for a crucial win early in the tournament, expect a high-intensity battle under the lights at the Narendra Modi Stadium.
Will the Ahmedabad crowd welcome Pandya back with open arms, or will the echoes of last year’s hostility persist? The answer awaits on Saturday night.