Key match-ups, analysis, form, team news, weather forecast, tickets, TV and streaming information, odds, predictions and more ahead of the latest encounter in the 2023 IPL
Punjab Kings are taking on Gujarat Titans in the 2023 Indian Premier League.
The match is set to get underway at 7:30pm local time (3pm BST) on Thursday, April 13.
The two sides will face off at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium in Mohali.
Both teams were beaten for the first time of the season last time out, with both defeats coming as something of a shock.
Punjab Kings went into their game against Sunrisers Hyderabad having won two from two, with their opponents yet to pick up a point in the 2023 IPL.
Batting first, captain Shikhar Dhawan was left isolated on 99 not out, with Sam Curran the only other player to score double figures, with the leg breaks of Mayank Markande causing all sorts of trouble.
In response, the bowlers failed to gain control of the game, with the Sunrisers easing their way to a first victory of the season, winning by eight wickets with 17 balls remaining.
The end to Gujarat Titans’ game was infinitely more chaotic. It seemed they had a third successive win secured, with Kolkata Knight Riders requiring 39 runs from eight balls for victory following a Rashid Khan hat-trick.
What happened next almost defies imagination. Rinku Singh hit five sixes off the last five balls to secure a three-wicket win for the Knight Riders, causing one of the most memorable finishes in IPL history.
Therefore, both sides will be looking to bounce back from unexpected defeats to earn their third win of the season.
Liam Livingstone has arrived in India to join up with his Punjab Kings teammates and could be in line to make his first IPL appearance of the season. The batter has not made a competitive appearance since he picked up an injury on his Test debut in Pakistan in December.
Punjab Kings could also see South African star Kagiso Rabada come into their side for the first time this season. The bowler travelled to India after the start of the tournament due to his involvement in South Africa’s ODI series against the Netherlands.
Bhanuka Rajapaksa could come back into the side after he retired hurt in the Kings' second match against Rajasthan Royals, and was believed to be rested against Sunrisers.
Hardik Pandya missed the defeat to Kolkata Knight Riders as he was unwell. The Titans captain should be back to lead his side in this match.
Shikhar Dhawan has been in the runs for Punjab [Noah Seelam/AFP via Getty Images]
Shikhar Dhawan has led by example for Punjab Kings so far this season and is the current holder of the Orange Cap with 225 runs. He is responsible for more than 42 per cent of their runs, showing a performance from Dhawan is imperative to a result in favour of Punjab.
However, the Kings captain struggles against Titans spinner Rashid Khan, being dismissed four times in seven innings against the Afghan spinner, as well as struggling for runs, scoring 53 runs from 56 balls. Khan may hold the secret to dismissing Dhawan, which poses all kinds of problems for Punjab.
Matches played: 2
Punjab Kings wins: 1
Gujarat Titans wins: 1
There is a zero per cent chance of rain in Mohali on Thursday, with the temperature cooling from 31 degrees Celsius at 7pm to 26 degrees when play is expected to finish.
Punjab Kings: Shikhar Dhawan (c), Shahrukh Khan, Jonny Bairstow (injured, replaced by Matt Short), Prabhsimran Singh, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Jitesh Sharma, Raj Bawa (injured, replaced by Gurnoor Singh Brar), Rishi Dhawan, Liam Livingstone, Atharva Taide, Arshdeep Singh, Baltej Singh, Nathan Ellis, Kagiso Rabada, Rahul Chahar, Harpreet Brar, Sam Curran, Sikandar Raza, Harpreet Bhatia, Vidwath Kaverappa, Mohit Rathee, Shivam Singh
Gujarat Titans: Hardik Pandya (c), Shubman Gill, David Miller, Abhinav Manohar, Sai Sudharsan, Wriddhiman Saha, Matthew Wade, Rashid Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Vijay Shankar, Mohammed Shami, Alzarri Joseph, Yash Dayal, Pradeep Sangwan, Darshan Nalkande, Jayant Yadav, R Sai Kishore, Noor Ahmad, Kane Williamson (injured, replaced by Dasun Shanaka), Odean Smith, KS Bharat, Shivam Mavi, Urvil Patel, Josh Little, Mohit Sharma
*squads are for the 2023 season as a whole and not specific to this match
Gujarat Titans lost a thriller against KKR [Indranil Mukherjee/AFP via Getty Images]
Punjab Kings: Shikhar Dhawan (c), Prabhsimran Singh, Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma (wk), M Shahrukh Khan, Sam Curran, Harpreet Brar, Nathan Ellis, Rahul Chahar, Kagiso Rabada, Arshdeep Singh
Gujarat Titans: Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan , Hardik Pandya (c), Vijay Shankar, David Miller, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Alzarri Joseph, Josh Little, Mohammed Shami
Gujarat Titans are the favourites to win, with odds of 4/5. Punjab Kings are available at 10/11.
The nature of their defeat against Kolkata Knight Riders will see Gujarat Titans far from their best, with Punjab Kings greatly strengthened by the availability of Liam Livingstone and Kagiso Rabada.
As a result, Punjab Kings will come away with a third win of the season.
In the UK, Sky Sports have exclusive rights to this year's tournament, with matches available on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Cricket.
Fans in India can watch all the action on Star Sports.
Elsewhere in the world, viewers in Australia can watch the IPL on Fox Sports while in New Zealand, Sky Sport will provide coverage.
Willow TV and Flow Sports will broadcast the tournament in the United States and the Caribbean, respectively.
Fans in MENA can catch the action on beIN Sports while in South Africa, SuperSport have the rights.
If you are watching from the Middle East, you'll be able to view the game on Times Internet.
People from Bangladesh can watch the game on Gazi TV.
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