Punjab Kings Favored Over Gujarat Titans in IPL 2024 Match Despite Missing Captain Dhawan

The Punjab Kings (PBKS) are set to confront the Gujarat Titans (GT) in match 37 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Chandigarh on April 21. Despite missing their injured captain Shikhar Dhawan, PBKS are favored to win the match due to their home advantage and strong bowling attack.

Dhawan, who has been one of the most successful opening batsmen in IPL history, will sit out the match with an injury. In his absence, Sam Curran will spearhead the Punjab side. PBKS have struggled with both their top-order batting and bowling consistency so far this season, but have found bright spots in the performances of middle-order batters like Liam Livingstone and Shashank Singh.

The Gujarat Titans, meanwhile, have failed to replicate their dominant form from last season that saw them reach the playoffs. GT's batting has heavily relied on opener Shubman Gill, while their bowling unit has lacked the same potency without key player Mohammed Shami. New captain Hardik Pandya has also struggled to make an impact with both bat and ball.

The Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Stadium in Chandigarh is a new venue for the IPL and is expected to offer assistance to both batters and bowlers. The average first innings score at the ground has been 174. PBKS will be counting on their formidable pace trio of Kagiso Rabada, Arshdeep Singh, and Harshal Patel to exploit the conditions.

Why this matters: The match is crucial for both teams' prospects of making the IPL playoffs. A win for PBKS would see them leapfrog GT in the points table, while GT will be looking to build momentum after a inconsistent first half of the tournament. With several star players on both sides, the game is anticipated to be an exciting contest.

The historical matchup between PBKS and GT is even, with both teams winning two matches each in their four meetings so far. In their previous encounter this season, Punjab chased down a target of 200 runs against Gujarat, with Shashank Singh and Ashutosh Sharma playing match-winning knocks. "We have the ability to beat any team in the competition on our day," said stand-in PBKS captain Sam Curran ahead of the match. "We're not far off from where we want to be as a team and a win against Gujarat at home will give us a lot of confidence."

Key Takeaways

• PBKS to face GT in IPL 2024 match 37 in Chandigarh on April 21.
• PBKS favored to win due to home advantage and strong bowling attack.
• GT's batting relies on Shubman Gill, while bowling lacks Mohammed Shami's impact.
• Chandigarh pitch expected to assist both batters and bowlers, with average 1st innings score of 174.
• Match crucial for both teams' playoff prospects, with PBKS and GT tied 2-2 in head-to-head.