For the first time, two brothers - Krunal Pandya and Hardik Pandya - will lead their respective teams against each other in the Indian Premier League. 

But with IPL 2023 approaching its business end, all love and brotherhood will be kept aside when Krunal Pandya’s Lucknow Super Giants and Hardik Pandya’s Gujarat Titans lock horns at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday. The match will start at 3:30 PM IST.

Super Giants are placed well on the points table and a win against Gujarat Titans will see their hopes of making back-to-back playoffs get a huge lift. The win, however, won’t be easy to come. 

It will take some doing for LSG to overcome the resilient GT at their home venue. Titans are not only the defending champions but are slowly becoming runaway leaders on the points table at this year’s IPL. 

With KL Rahul ruled out for the rest of the IPL season due to a tendon tear on his right thigh, Karun Nair will join LSG as a replacement.

IPL 2023 standings

Both teams have played 10 matches each in IPL 2023 so far. While LSG come into the contest after a washout against CSK in Lucknow, GT humbled the in-form Rajasthan Royals by nine wickets on Friday, May 5.

GT top the charts with 14 points - seven wins and three losses. LSG, meanwhile, have won five and lost four. They are second on the points table with 11 points at the time of writing this preview.

Super Giants to watch out for

Ahmedabad is a huge venue and offers a perfect contest between bat and ball. Ample bounce to pacers, turn for spinners and value for shots to batters, you name it! So the likes of variation experts Naveen ul Haq and Ravi Bishnoi should enjoy their time here.

Krunal Pandya has shown effectiveness in batting on such surfaces and Ayush Badoni will be another key man in the LSG batting lineup at Amdaavad!

Titans in the Gujarat camp

Mohammed Shami ran through Delhi Capitals in the previous match with figures of 4/11 in four overs and LSG will have to make sure they don’t let him sniff wickets on Sunday. Rashid Khan and Hardik Pandya, arguably among the most impactful all-rounders, will also be in action. Shubman Gill will again look to provide GT with solidity at the start. 

GT vs LSG head-to-head

Snapping a three-match losing streak will be Krunal Pandya’s first priority. Sunday’s meeting will be the second time the two sides face off in IPL 2023. 

Round One on April 22 saw LSG restrict Gujarat Titans to 135/6 with a tight bowling performance but despite a half-century by skipper KL Rahul, GT won the contest by seven runs. LSG faced GT twice last season and ended up on the losing side on both occasions. 

Match details

Gujarat Titans vs Lucknow Super Giants, Match 51

Venue: Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad

Time: 3:30 PM