Buttler Takes on Maxwell as Titans Face a Revamped PBKS in IPL 2025 Opener
IPL 2025 Preview: Gujarat Titans vs Punjab Kings – A Fresh Start and a Powerplay Push
Overview
As IPL 2025 kicks off, Punjab Kings (PBKS) embrace their usual mantra of a new beginning. After retaining just Prabhsimran Singh and Shashank Singh from IPL 2024, and securing Arshdeep Singh and Harpreet Brar at the mega auction, PBKS have rebuilt their squad under new head coach Ricky Ponting. Meanwhile, Gujarat Titans (GT) stick with continuity, banking on captain Shubman Gill, the genius of Rashid Khan, and new firepower in Jos Buttler, while aiming to boost their sluggish powerplay from last season.
Punjab Kings: A New Era Under Ponting and Iyer
Ponting’s ambition is bold: to craft “the greatest Punjab Kings team” yet. With Shreyas Iyer, a title-winning captain from KKR in 2024, at the helm, PBKS have a promising foundation. The middle order boasts Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis, while Lockie Ferguson and Yuzvendra Chahal bolster the bowling. Despite this potential, PBKS’s history of underachievement looms large—will this be the year they finally shine?
Probable XI:
Prabhsimran Singh, 2. Josh Inglis (wk), 3. Shreyas Iyer (capt), 4. Glenn Maxwell, 5. Nehal Wadhera, 6. Marcus Stoinis, 7. Shashank Singh, 8. Marco Jansen, 9. Harpreet Brar, 10. Vijaykumar Vyshak, 11. Arshdeep Singh, 12. Yuzvendra Chahal
Key Dilemma: Should PBKS pick Josh Inglis or Azmatullah Omarzai as their fourth overseas player? Inglis offers batting stability, but Omarzai adds bowling depth, potentially pushing Priyansh Arya to open alongside Prabhsimran.
Gujarat Titans: Powerplay Focus and Bowling Strength
GT’s core remains intact with Gill, Rashid Khan, and Rahul Tewatia, but the addition of Jos Buttler and a revamped pace attack—Kagiso Rabada, Gerald Coetzee, Mohammed Siraj, and Prasidh Krishna—adds intrigue. Gill’s goal is clear: “maximise the powerplay” after a dismal 7.41 runs per over last season. His own strike rate of 131.08 in the powerplay needs a lift to match his ambitions for GT and India. The middle order looks fragile, but GT’s bowling might just carry them through.
Probable XI:
Shubman Gill (capt), 2. Jos Buttler (wk), 3. Sai Sudharsan, 4. Glenn Phillips, 5. Shahrukh Khan, 6. Washington Sundar, 7. Rahul Tewatia, 8. Rashid Khan, 9. R Sai Kishore, 10. Kagiso Rabada, 11. Mohammed Siraj, 12. Prasidh Krishna
Spotlight Players
Jos Buttler (GT): A T20 powerhouse with a strike rate near 150 since 2024, Buttler’s two IPL 2024 hundreds make him vital for GT’s powerplay push.
Glenn Maxwell (PBKS): Back for his third stint with PBKS, Maxwell’s recent BBL form (325 runs at 186.78) signals a potential return to his 2014 peak (552 runs).
Key Stats
Gill dominates at Narendra Modi Stadium with 1079 T20 runs (avg. 71.93, SR 163.23).
Rabada and Rashid topped the wicket charts in SA20 earlier this year.
Rashid (8.94) and Chahal (9.00) excel in death overs, trailing only Bumrah and Pathirana.
Inglis strikes at 149.09 vs pace and 145.74 vs spin.
Pitch and Conditions
The Narendra Modi Stadium pitch remains unpredictable. IPL 2024 saw low scores (GT’s 89 vs DC) and high chases (two 199+ totals chased, including by PBKS). Chasing teams won 6 of 8 games here last season, suggesting a slight edge for the side batting second.
Summary
PBKS enter IPL 2025 with a revamped squad and high hopes under Ponting and Iyer, leaning on Maxwell and Stoinis for fireworks. GT, meanwhile, blend familiarity with fresh faces like Buttler, aiming to fix their powerplay woes with a fearsome bowling unit. The clash at Ahmedabad promises a battle of strategy and star power—can PBKS break their trophy drought, or will GT’s bowling edge prevail?
Upcoming Fixtures:
GT: Mumbai Indians (home), RCB (away), SRH (away)
PBKS: LSG (away), RR (home), CSK (home)
#lsg #csk #rr #rcb #rcbvssrh #srh #gtvspbks #gujratvspunjab #RCB #Royal
IPL 2025 Preview: Gujarat Titans vs Punjab Kings – A Fresh Start and a Powerplay Push
Overview
As IPL 2025 kicks off, Punjab Kings (PBKS) embrace their usual mantra of a new beginning. After retaining just Prabhsimran Singh and Shashank Singh from IPL 2024, and securing Arshdeep Singh and Harpreet Brar at the mega auction, PBKS have rebuilt their squad under new head coach Ricky Ponting. Meanwhile, Gujarat Titans (GT) stick with continuity, banking on captain Shubman Gill, the genius of Rashid Khan, and new firepower in Jos Buttler, while aiming to boost their sluggish powerplay from last season.
Punjab Kings: A New Era Under Ponting and Iyer
Ponting’s ambition is bold: to craft “the greatest Punjab Kings team” yet. With Shreyas Iyer, a title-winning captain from KKR in 2024, at the helm, PBKS have a promising foundation. The middle order boasts Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis, while Lockie Ferguson and Yuzvendra Chahal bolster the bowling. Despite this potential, PBKS’s history of underachievement looms large—will this be the year they finally shine?
Probable XI:
Prabhsimran Singh, 2. Josh Inglis (wk), 3. Shreyas Iyer (capt), 4. Glenn Maxwell, 5. Nehal Wadhera, 6. Marcus Stoinis, 7. Shashank Singh, 8. Marco Jansen, 9. Harpreet Brar, 10. Vijaykumar Vyshak, 11. Arshdeep Singh, 12. Yuzvendra Chahal
Key Dilemma: Should PBKS pick Josh Inglis or Azmatullah Omarzai as their fourth overseas player? Inglis offers batting stability, but Omarzai adds bowling depth, potentially pushing Priyansh Arya to open alongside Prabhsimran.
Gujarat Titans: Powerplay Focus and Bowling Strength
GT’s core remains intact with Gill, Rashid Khan, and Rahul Tewatia, but the addition of Jos Buttler and a revamped pace attack—Kagiso Rabada, Gerald Coetzee, Mohammed Siraj, and Prasidh Krishna—adds intrigue. Gill’s goal is clear: “maximise the powerplay” after a dismal 7.41 runs per over last season. His own strike rate of 131.08 in the powerplay needs a lift to match his ambitions for GT and India. The middle order looks fragile, but GT’s bowling might just carry them through.
Probable XI:
Shubman Gill (capt), 2. Jos Buttler (wk), 3. Sai Sudharsan, 4. Glenn Phillips, 5. Shahrukh Khan, 6. Washington Sundar, 7. Rahul Tewatia, 8. Rashid Khan, 9. R Sai Kishore, 10. Kagiso Rabada, 11. Mohammed Siraj, 12. Prasidh Krishna
Spotlight Players
Jos Buttler (GT): A T20 powerhouse with a strike rate near 150 since 2024, Buttler’s two IPL 2024 hundreds make him vital for GT’s powerplay push.
Glenn Maxwell (PBKS): Back for his third stint with PBKS, Maxwell’s recent BBL form (325 runs at 186.78) signals a potential return to his 2014 peak (552 runs).
Key Stats
Gill dominates at Narendra Modi Stadium with 1079 T20 runs (avg. 71.93, SR 163.23).
Rabada and Rashid topped the wicket charts in SA20 earlier this year.
Rashid (8.94) and Chahal (9.00) excel in death overs, trailing only Bumrah and Pathirana.
Inglis strikes at 149.09 vs pace and 145.74 vs spin.
Pitch and Conditions
The Narendra Modi Stadium pitch remains unpredictable. IPL 2024 saw low scores (GT’s 89 vs DC) and high chases (two 199+ totals chased, including by PBKS). Chasing teams won 6 of 8 games here last season, suggesting a slight edge for the side batting second.
Summary
PBKS enter IPL 2025 with a revamped squad and high hopes under Ponting and Iyer, leaning on Maxwell and Stoinis for fireworks. GT, meanwhile, blend familiarity with fresh faces like Buttler, aiming to fix their powerplay woes with a fearsome bowling unit. The clash at Ahmedabad promises a battle of strategy and star power—can PBKS break their trophy drought, or will GT’s bowling edge prevail?
Upcoming Fixtures:
GT: Mumbai Indians (home), RCB (away), SRH (away)
PBKS: LSG (away), RR (home), CSK (home)
#lsg #csk #rr #rcb #rcbvssrh #srh #gtvspbks #gujratvspunjab #RCB #Royal
Buttler Takes on Maxwell as Titans Face a Revamped PBKS in IPL 2025 Opener
IPL 2025 Preview: Gujarat Titans vs Punjab Kings – A Fresh Start and a Powerplay Push
Overview
As IPL 2025 kicks off, Punjab Kings (PBKS) embrace their usual mantra of a new beginning. After retaining just Prabhsimran Singh and Shashank Singh from IPL 2024, and securing Arshdeep Singh and Harpreet Brar at the mega auction, PBKS have rebuilt their squad under new head coach Ricky Ponting. Meanwhile, Gujarat Titans (GT) stick with continuity, banking on captain Shubman Gill, the genius of Rashid Khan, and new firepower in Jos Buttler, while aiming to boost their sluggish powerplay from last season.
Punjab Kings: A New Era Under Ponting and Iyer
Ponting’s ambition is bold: to craft “the greatest Punjab Kings team” yet. With Shreyas Iyer, a title-winning captain from KKR in 2024, at the helm, PBKS have a promising foundation. The middle order boasts Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis, while Lockie Ferguson and Yuzvendra Chahal bolster the bowling. Despite this potential, PBKS’s history of underachievement looms large—will this be the year they finally shine?
Probable XI:
Prabhsimran Singh, 2. Josh Inglis (wk), 3. Shreyas Iyer (capt), 4. Glenn Maxwell, 5. Nehal Wadhera, 6. Marcus Stoinis, 7. Shashank Singh, 8. Marco Jansen, 9. Harpreet Brar, 10. Vijaykumar Vyshak, 11. Arshdeep Singh, 12. Yuzvendra Chahal
Key Dilemma: Should PBKS pick Josh Inglis or Azmatullah Omarzai as their fourth overseas player? Inglis offers batting stability, but Omarzai adds bowling depth, potentially pushing Priyansh Arya to open alongside Prabhsimran.
Gujarat Titans: Powerplay Focus and Bowling Strength
GT’s core remains intact with Gill, Rashid Khan, and Rahul Tewatia, but the addition of Jos Buttler and a revamped pace attack—Kagiso Rabada, Gerald Coetzee, Mohammed Siraj, and Prasidh Krishna—adds intrigue. Gill’s goal is clear: “maximise the powerplay” after a dismal 7.41 runs per over last season. His own strike rate of 131.08 in the powerplay needs a lift to match his ambitions for GT and India. The middle order looks fragile, but GT’s bowling might just carry them through.
Probable XI:
Shubman Gill (capt), 2. Jos Buttler (wk), 3. Sai Sudharsan, 4. Glenn Phillips, 5. Shahrukh Khan, 6. Washington Sundar, 7. Rahul Tewatia, 8. Rashid Khan, 9. R Sai Kishore, 10. Kagiso Rabada, 11. Mohammed Siraj, 12. Prasidh Krishna
Spotlight Players
Jos Buttler (GT): A T20 powerhouse with a strike rate near 150 since 2024, Buttler’s two IPL 2024 hundreds make him vital for GT’s powerplay push.
Glenn Maxwell (PBKS): Back for his third stint with PBKS, Maxwell’s recent BBL form (325 runs at 186.78) signals a potential return to his 2014 peak (552 runs).
Key Stats
Gill dominates at Narendra Modi Stadium with 1079 T20 runs (avg. 71.93, SR 163.23).
Rabada and Rashid topped the wicket charts in SA20 earlier this year.
Rashid (8.94) and Chahal (9.00) excel in death overs, trailing only Bumrah and Pathirana.
Inglis strikes at 149.09 vs pace and 145.74 vs spin.
Pitch and Conditions
The Narendra Modi Stadium pitch remains unpredictable. IPL 2024 saw low scores (GT’s 89 vs DC) and high chases (two 199+ totals chased, including by PBKS). Chasing teams won 6 of 8 games here last season, suggesting a slight edge for the side batting second.
Summary
PBKS enter IPL 2025 with a revamped squad and high hopes under Ponting and Iyer, leaning on Maxwell and Stoinis for fireworks. GT, meanwhile, blend familiarity with fresh faces like Buttler, aiming to fix their powerplay woes with a fearsome bowling unit. The clash at Ahmedabad promises a battle of strategy and star power—can PBKS break their trophy drought, or will GT’s bowling edge prevail?
Upcoming Fixtures:
GT: Mumbai Indians (home), RCB (away), SRH (away)
PBKS: LSG (away), RR (home), CSK (home)
#lsg #csk #rr #rcb #rcbvssrh #srh #gtvspbks #gujratvspunjab #RCB #Royal
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