Gujarat Titans' challenge for a perfect start to the season 

Betting Odds

Our Predictions 

• Shubman Gill has odds of 2.95 to be Gujarat Titans' best batter  
• Shreyas Iyer has odds of 3.35 to be Punjab Kings' best batter 
• Rashid Khan has odds of 3.10 to be Gujarat Titans' best bowler 
• Yuzvendra Chahal has odds of 3.40 to be Punjab Kings' best bowler 

MATCH PREVIEW     

It is Game No. 5 in the Indian Premier League 2025. We will have the Gujarat Titans up against the Punjab Kings as both teams begin their campaign with this game. The Gujarat Titans had their worst season in three years in 2024 and did not reach the playoffs. The team will start its campaign at home and enjoy a good record at this venue. The Titans shall start the game with the odds in their favor. The Punjab Kings are the bottom hunters of the points table and are known for making nervous starts. It will be interesting to see if the Punjab Kings can defy the odds in this game and start the season with a win, as the Gujarat Titans will come hard at them.  

Gujarat Titans Preview     

Shubman Gill and his men had the worst season last year, finishing 8th on the points table. It was a forgettable season where the key players lacked consistency, and the side did not win close games. They have a strong group of players and shall start the game as favorites on cricket betting sites. Gill would look to lead from the front and expect a clinical show from his players.  

Shubman Gill and Jos Buttler make a solid opening combination, and the team expects a strong start from the pair. The middle order is formidable for the team, and they expect runs from Sai Sudharsan, Shahrukh Khan, Mahipal Lomror, and Washington Sundar. The Titans would like to use the depth in their batting lineup and expect big hits in the lower middle order from Glenn Phillips, Rashid Khan, and Rahul Tewatia.  

Kagiso Rabada and Mohammad Siraj bring tons of experience and want to make early breakthroughs in this game. Rashid Khan is one of the best bowlers in this format and shall look to do well in the middle overs with Washington Sundar. Mohammad Arshad Khan and Tewatia add depth to the attack and shall look to contribute with the ball.  

Expected Starting XI for Gujarat Titans     

Shubman Gill (c), Sai Sudharsan, Jos Buttler (wk), Shahrukh Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Glenn Phillips, Washington Sundar, Rashid Khan, Mohammad Arshad Khan, Mohammad Siraj, Kagiso Rabada, Mahipal Lomror (Impact Player) 

Punjab Kings Preview     

Shreyas Iyer comes in as skipper for the season after leading the Kolkata Knight Riders successfully to a title last season. However, Iyer won't have it easy, as the Punjab Kings are one of the weakest teams in the IPL. They haven't made the playoffs since 2014 and shall start the game with lower odds. They start behind on cricket betting apps, and Iyre must inspire confidence in the team to start the tournament with a win.  

Prabhsimran Singh is one of the rising stars for Punjab, and he will look to deliver a positive start in this game with Vishnu Vinod. Shreyas Iyer must anchor the innings in the middle order and add runs with Suryansh Shegde and Marcus Stoinis in the middle order. Glenn Maxwell is an excellent finisher, and he must add quick runs in the lower middle order with Shashank Singh and Marco Jansen.  

Marco Jansen and Arshdeep Singh enjoy a good record in this format, and they must strike early to put the team in a strong position. Yuzvendra Chahal has an important role in the middle overs and must keep the scoring under check with Harpreet Brar. Kuldeep Sen, Stoinis, and Maxwell add to the team's bowling options and must perform well, as the Titans have a strong batting lineup.  

Expected Starting XI for Punjab Kings     

Shreyas Iyer (c), Prabhsimran Singh, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Vishnu Vinod (wk), Shashank Singh, Harpreet Brar, Marco Jansen, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Sen, Suryansh Shegde (Impact Player)  

TOSS: To Bowl First      

It is a challenging track on which to set a score. Most games at this venue see the team chasing the score emerge as the winner as the wicket stays true throughout the game. The side winning the toss in this game won't hesitate to bowl first.    

PITCH AND WEATHER CONDITIONS      

We expect clear skies over Ahmedabad and warm and humid conditions. Batsmen must be watchful against the slowness and can do well on this track once they get their eyes set on it. Spinners get assistance from the surface, but we don't expect much from the surface for fast bowlers. The side batting first will be happy to have 180 runs on the board. 

OUR PREDICTION      

The Punjab Kings have a poor track record in the early days of every season. The team has a strong batting lineup but lacks the killer punch with the ball, which poses a challenge against a strong batting lineup. The Gujarat Titans arguably have the strongest bowling attack in the tournament. They have a good record at their home ground, which will give them an edge.  

Our prediction is for Gujarat Titans to win