Gujarat Titans vs Punjab Kings, IPL, 2025 Mar 25 Full score card

FOUR! Shashank Singh finishes things off in fine fashion! Mohammed Siraj goes short again and around middle. Shashank brings out the ramp again and plays it to perfection over the keeper's head for a boundary.

FOUR! A bit sloppy in the field! Pitched up and on the pads, Shashank Singh flicks it away wide of deep square leg. Sai Kishore dives to his right but it just bounces past him for a boundary.

Fuller but down the leg side, Shashank Singh misses his flick. Wided.

FOUR! The boundaries just keep on coming for PBKS! Short of a length and well outside off, slower too. Shashank Singh waits for it, gets on top of it, and smacks it over extra covers for four more runs. Shreyas Iyer is still stranded on the other end on 97 but he won't mind that.

FOUR! That is a shot and a half! Overpitched and just outside off. Shashank Singh stays deep inside his crease and scythes it away through extra covers for a boundary.

Fuller and on middle, angling in, Shashank Singh whips it to deep square leg for a brace.

FOUR! Nicley done! Mohammed Siraj bangs this short and wide outside off. Shashank Singh lets it come to him and ramps it over the short third fielder for an easy boundary.

Who will bowl the final over? It will be Mohammed Siraj. 3-0-31-0 so far for Siraj.

Excellent over under the circumstances! Another yorker, angling into the pads, Shashank Singh jams it out towards square leg for one.

Short of a length again, takes pace off, Shreyas Iyer pulls it wihout much timing towards deep square leg for one.

A slower bouncer now, outside off. Shashank Singh mistimes his upper cut up in the air. However, it lands safely between deep point and point. A single is taken.

No run.

Good stop! A yorker, on off Shreyas Iyer squeezes it wide of short third. Sai Kishore dives to his right to make a fine stop. They cross.

Tries the slower again, but bowls this even more outside off, Shreyas Iyer lets it go. Wided again.

A slower one, back of a length but well outside off, Shreyas Iyer leaves it alone. Wided.

FOUR! Into the gap! Fuller one and angling into the pads. Shreyas Iyer picks it up nicely and whips it over the deep square leg fence for a boundary. He moves to 95 now!

SIX! And again! Tossed up, full and on middle. Shashank Singh gets his front leg out of the way and dispatches it over the bowler's head for another six. 44 runs in the last two overs!

Flatter, full and on middle, Shashank Singh tucks it through mid-wicket for a brace.

FOUR! In the gap! Pushed through, short and wide on off, Singh reaches out and spanks it to the left of long off for a boundary.

SIX! That's gone into the crowd! Rashid Khan drags his length back, on middle. Shashank Singh picks up the length early, rocks back and deposits it over the deep mid-wicket fence for a biggie.

Floated, full and on off, Shreyas Iyer pushes it through covers for a single.

Flatter, short and on leg, Shashank Singh looks to sweep but misses as the ball goes off his pads to short fine. A leg bye is taken.

Superb effort in the deep! Pitched up and on middle, Shreyas Iyer lofts it down the ground towards the long on fence. Rahul Tewatia stationed there, jumps up and grabs the ball and throws it inside the field of play while coming down. A couple of runs taken. However, the umpire wants to check for the boundary here. After a lot of replays, the third umpire is convinced that Tewatia has done a good job here. 24 runs off the over!

Is that another six? Or has Rahul Tewatia done enough? The third umpire is taking a long look at it. Tewatia tried to release the ball before his feet made contact with the boundary cushions. The third umpire is happy with the effort and it is given as runs. So, 4 runs saved by Tewatia.

SIX! There he goes again! Goes fuller this time and around off. Shreyas Iyer moves across to get underneath it and launches it over the long off fence for half a dozen more. This is just incredible hitting from the Punjab skipper.

SIX! Kagiso Rabada has made a mess of that on the ropes! Prasidh Krishna goes short once more and on middle. Shreyas Iyer gets hurried into his pull and mistimes it a bit. The ball goes high in the air towards deep square leg. Rabada settles under it and grabs it, but his foot lands on the ropes. Another biggie!

FOUR! Put away! Prasidh Krishna bangs this into the pitch but well outside off. Shreyas Iyer gets the chance to free his arms and crunches it over point for a one-bounce four.

SIX! SMOKED! What a response from Shreyas Iyer! Short again and on middle, sits up nicely for the batter. Iyer stands tall and whacks it over the deep mid-wicket fence for half a dozen.

Halt! Shreyas Iyer has copped a blow on the side of the ribcage. The physio is out to have a look. Iyer is ready to resume.

Nasty! Prasidh Krishna bangs in a sharp bouncer, on off. Shreyas Iyer looks to pull it away but takes his eyes off it. The ball goes off the bottom edge and onto his midriff. That will hurt a bit.

Fires in a low full toss down the leg, Shreyas Iyer clips it wide of short fine for one more.

Quicker, full and on leg, Shashank Singh works it through backward square leg for one.

Short and on middle, Shreyas Iyer stays back and nudges it through mid-wicket for a run.

Flighted, full and on off, Shashank Singh pushes it wide of short covers for a single.

STRATEGIC BREAK! Shreyas Iyer has led an excellent charge for his side, receiving key contributions first from Azmatullah Omarzai and then Marcus Stoinis. Punjab Kings will be eyeing at least 200 from here, as this has been an absolute belter of a wicket, allowing batters to hit through the line with ease. However, the Gujarat Titans have struck at a crucial juncture and will look to capitalize on this breakthrough. Their death bowling will be tested, and it will be interesting to see whether Shubman Gill relies solely on pace or turns to Rashid Khan, who still has an over left. Shashank Singh is the new batter.

OUT! TAKEN! Sai Kishore has the last laugh here! He floats this up a bit, full and around off. Marcus Stoinis gets into position for the reverse paddle but just fails to get the elevation and the power on the shot. The ball loops up straight to short third where Arshad Khan takes a simple catch. Sai Kishore gets his third wicket and he has been superb for GT here. Punjab Kings are 162/5 now!

SIX! Going, going and gone! Tossed up, full and around middle. Marcus Stoinis backs away a bit, does not get to the pitch of it, but still manages to tonk it over the long on fence for a biggie.

Sai Kishore returns to the attack for his last over. 3-0-20-2 so far for Sai.

SIX! Into the stands! Mohammed Siraj goes short again but down the leg side, begging to be put away. Shreyas Iyer gets inside the line of it and just helps it on its way over the fine leg fence for another biggie.

A low full toss, on middle, Marcus Stoinis drills it to long on for a run. 150 up for Punjab Kings!

Follows it up with a good bouncer, on middle, Marcus Stoinis lets it go. The square leg umpire gives nothing but Shreyas Iyer has opted for the review. The replay shows it is clearly over the head of the batter. A wide called!

Mohammed Siraj nails the yorker this time, swinging in, Shreyas Iyer digs it out through mid-wicket for one.

Goes fuller but down the leg side, Shreyas Iyer fails to glance it away. Wided.

Short of a length and on middle, Marcus Stoinis pulls it to deep mid-wicket for single.

SIX! BANG! Marcus Stoinis joins the party now! Mohammed Siraj lands this back of a length and around middle. Stoinis picks up the length early, swivels and heaves it over the deep square leg fence for a biggie.

Good length and on middle, Marcus Stoinis stays back and pats it towards point.

SIX! AND ANOTHER! Iyer is looking in top form! Rashid drags his length and around middle, Shreyas Iyer shifts his weight to the back foot and pulls it over deep mid-wicket for another biggie.

SIX! IYER COMPLETES HIS FIFTY IN STYLE! Rashid bowls a googly and too full, in the slot, around middle, Shreyas Iyer comes forward and slogs it over wide long on for a biggie. It has been a fantastic inning from the newly appointed Punjab Kings skipper, who has been in rocking form since the ICC Champions Trophy.

Floated it up, into the line of the stumps, Marcus Stoinis goes for a sweep and gets a top edge that goes towards deep square leg for a single.

Full and around middle, Iyer pats it down towards cover point and runs off for a quick single.

Dragged length, and touch outside off, Iyer looks to cut it but misses.

Tossed it up, around off, Shreyas Iyer looks to drive it but gets a thick outside edge to short thrid man.

Dragged length, around off, Marcus steers it to cover for no run.

FOUR! Innovation! Full and into the stumps, Marcus Stoinis brings out a reverse sweep and clears the short third man fielder for a boundary.

Quicker and flatter, around off, Iyer pushes it to long on for a single.

SIX! Iyer gets enough on it to clear the long on fielder! Sai again bowls it in the slot, full and around middle and leg, Shreyas Iyer comes forward and just heaves it across against the turn. The ball goes up and over the long on fielder for a biggie.

Nagging length, around off, Iyer defends it to cover.

SIX! This is high-class hitting from a class batter! Sai offers flight and bowls it fuller and tries to follow the batter by bowling it in the stumps. Shreyas Iyer makes room and lofts it inside out over cover for a massive six.

Slightly fuller and around off, Stoinis drops it down to cover.

Short and around off, Iyer goes on the back foot and flicks it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

A googly, on a length, and around leg, turns in, Marcus Stoinis flicks it to deep square leg with the turn for a single.

Flighted it up, around off, Marcus drives it to cover.

Too full and on the pads, Stoinis defends it back to the bowler.

Nagging length, around off, Iyer works it away to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Dragged length, around off, turns away a bit, Marcus defends it off the front foot.

No hat-trick for Sai! Floated it up, around off, Marcus Stoinis drives it to cover.

Marcus Stoinis walks out to face the hat-trick ball. A slip in place.

OUT! LBW! Two in two for Sai Kishore! Glenn Maxwell is gone for a golden duck! He tosses it up and keeps it fuller again, into the line of the stumps. Glenn Maxwell looks to play a reverse sweep on the very first ball and misses the line. The ball hits him on the back leg and there has been a big appeal for LBW. The umpire raises his finger and Glenn Maxwell has a chat with the skipper at the other end and, in the end, doesn't take a review. Sai Kishore is on a hat-trick. Well, well, well, the Ball Tracking is in and it shows that the ball would have gone over the stumps. It did not look to be the case to the naked eye.

Glenn Maxwell walks out to bat.

OUT! CAUGHT! Sai Kishore picks up a big wicket for his side and Gujarat Titans have a much-needed breakthrough! He bowls an arm ball, from around the wicket, and keeps it fuller and on the pads. He doesn't give any room to the batter as Azmatullah Omarzai transfers his weight to the front foot and swings across the line. He miscues it towards deep mid-wicket where Arshad Khan takes an easy catch. Punjab Kings are 105/3.

Dragged length, around off, Azmatullah Omarzai makes room and slices it to cover point for no run.

Tossed it up, around off, Iyer drives it to sweeper cover for a single.

Ends with a back-of-a-length ball, outside off, Azmatullah Omarzai looks to punch it off the back foot to the off side. But he gets beaten on the outside edge.

Short of a length and around off, on the right shoulder of the batter, Azmatullah Omarzai looks to pull it but misses again. These short balls have been pretty effective against him.

FOUR! Second boundary of the over! Krishna goes fuller and around off, Azmatullah Omarzai takes out his front leg forward. He swings at it and lofts it inside out over extra cover for another boundary of the over. Doesn't time it well off the middle of the bat, but the ball clears the infield.

BEATEN AGAIN! Hits the deck hard, on short of a length and around off, Azmatullah Omarzai stays on the back foot and looks to pull it. He misses it as the ball takes a bit of extra bounce.

Krishna drags his length back and bowls it on a back of a length and outside off, keeps it away from the batter, Azmatullah Omarzai swings at it from the back foot. He misses it.

FOUR! Boundary after the break! Slightly fuller from Krishna, and touch outside off, Azmatullah Omarzai stands tall and throws his hands at it. He punches it in the gap to the left of the mid off fielder for a boundary.

Strategic Break! Punjab Kings are going along pretty nicely, with skipper Shreyas Iyer leading from the front. They still have a lot of batting left and will be eying for something well over 200 here. However, the ball has started to turn a bit here and Gujarat Titans will hope that their spin twins can get a couple of breakthroughs and take back some control of this game. An exciting phase of cricket awaits us.

Flighted it up, on the pads, Shreyas Iyer makes room and steers it to cover for no run.

Full and around off, Azmat drives it to long off for a single.

BEATEN AGAIN! Touch fuller and outside off, turns away again, Azmatullah Omarzai looks to slice it to the off side but gets beaten by the turn.

BEATEN! Sai gives flight to the ball and pitches it on the dragged length but outside off, gets it to turn away sharply. Azmatullah Omarzai makes room and looks to drive it inside out over cover but gets beaten on the outside edge.

Tossed it up, around off, Azmatullah Omarzai drives it to cover off the front foot.

Begins with a short ball, around off and middle, from around the wicket, Iyer turns it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Sai Kishore comes into the attack now.

Back of a length, around off, Iyer guides it towards third man for a single.

In the air... but falls short of the deep mid-wicket fielder! Krishna hits the deck hard and bowls on back of a length, into the body of the batter, Shreyas Iyer goes back and looks to pull it. But the ball gets big on him and he top-edges it towards deep mid-wicket. Rashid Khan runs across forward to his left and puts in a slide but the ball falls short of him. Two runs taken.

Back of a length and outside off, Azmatullah Omarzai opens the face of the bat and guides it to deep third for another single.

Dragged length and outside off, Iyer runs it down to deep third man for a single.

BEATEN! Hits the deck hard, back of a length and outside off, gets to shape away, Shreyas Iyer looks to cut it again but misses this time because of extra bounce.

The spinners might play a big role here for the Gujarat Titans.

FOUR! CRACKING SHOT! Hard length and around off, Shreyas Iyer gets on the top of the bounce as he hops up and cuts it in the gap towards backward point for a boundary.

BEATEN! A leg break, fuller and outside off, gets it to turn away, Azmatullah Omarzai is drawn forward to defend it but gets beaten on the outside edge.

SIX! WOW! WHAT A WAY TO START! Rashid floats it up, and in the slot, around off, Azmatullah Omarzai clears out his front leg and thumps it down the ground for a biggie.

Azmatullah Omarzai comes out to the middle now.

OUT! CAUGHT! Rashid Khan strikes in his first over only! He bowls a googly, on a nagging length, from over the wicket, around off, Priyansh Arya shifts his weight to the back foot and looks to fetch it out to pull it to the leg side. He miscues it as the ball takes the top edge and goes towards cover where Sai Sudharsan takes a simple catch. Punjab Kings are 79/2.

Dragged length, around middle, gets an extra bounce, Shreyas Iyer goes back and pulls it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Full and around off and middle, Arya eases out to long on for a single.

FOUR! EASY PICKINGS! Rashid tosses it up but on the pads, Priyansh Arya goes on his knee and looks to sweep it. Gets an inside edge as the ball races away to the boundary at deep fine leg after getting deflected off the pads.

FOUR! Neatly done! On a hard length, around off, Iyer rises with the bounce and glides it to the right of short third for a boundary. At the end of the Powerplay, the Punjab Kings are 73/1.

On off, on a length, Arya has a swipe across the line towards deep backward square leg for a single.

FOUR! Gets it through! Low full toss, on off, Arya does not miss out. Does not try to overhit this one and just times the drive to the left of extra cover for a boundary. Moves to 41 off 19.

Dug in short by KG, over off and middle, Arya swings to hook it away but misses as the ball sails over his bat.

A confident shout for LBW from Rabada, but the umpire stays unmoved! Jos Buttler thinks it is going down leg, but Gill goes with the bowler and takes the review. Slanting into the front pad, on a length, Iyer swings to heave it away but misses and gets hit on the kneeroll on the front pad. A leg bye is taken as the ball rolls on the off side. The Ball Tracking shows that the impact is outside leg. Gujarat Titans lose a review.

Is that out? Gujarat Titans goes up for an LBW review. Jos Buttler does not look that interested, but Kagiso Rabada convinced Shubman Gill to go upstairs. The replays show no bat involved, and Ball Tracking comes up with impact outside leg. A poor review from GT!

Oh, that's a beauty! Angling in and then it straightens, on a good length, around off, Iyer is squared up in his defence as the ball zips past the outside edge.

Excellent stop! Short and wide on off, Arya slaps it along the ground towards deep backward point. Sai Sudharsan is quick across the turf to his left and dives to prevent the boundary. Two runs taken. An expensive first over from Khan, 21 runs off it!

FOUR! Class written all over it! With an upright seam, full and at the stumps, Priyansh shows the full face of the bat and eases the drive to the left of the bowler for a boundary.

SIX! Width offered and Arya cashes in again! Near the tramline on off, on the fuller side, Arya reaches out and flays it over deep backward point for a flat six. 15 runs off the over already!

FOUR! Wow, what a shot! On a length, around the fifth stump, Arya stays still at the point of contact and hits through the line. Cracks it past cover for a boundary.

Gets the ball to slant back into the pads, on a length, Arya is beaten on the flick and wears it on the front pad. Half a shout for LBW from Khan but Jos Buttler is quick to indicate that it is going down leg.

FOUR! No slip and it races away! Full and swinging away from the left-hander, Arya goes for the drive away from his body. Gets an outside edge that flies past the keeper Jos Buttler to his left for a boundary.

Wide! Gets a good away shape first up but this slips beyond the wide guideline on off. Arya reaches out but fails to connect.

Change? Yes, Arshad Khan replaces Mohammed Siraj.

Honing in at the stumps, full in length, Iyer goes hard on the drive and it goes off the inner half through mid-wicket for a couple of runs. Mohammed Siraj hunts it down with a slide.

SIX! Nicely done! A bit too full from KG and too straight as well, on the pads, Iyer brings his wrists into play and lifts it with ease over deep square leg for a six.

Bangs it on a hard length, on off, Shreyas hops and keeps it out on the off side.

At 142.1 kph, on off, on a good length, seaming away, Iyer gets squared up as he looks to flick it away on the leg side. Gets a leading edge that clears the in-field on the off side. Arshad Khan mops it up in the deep by moving to his right. Two runs taken.

FOUR! Lovely shot! On a length, on middle and leg, Iyer presents a high elbow and the full face of the bat. Lofts it over mid on for a boundary to get off the mark.

Skipper Shreyas Iyer walks out to bat at number 3.

OUT! TAKEN! Arshad Khan makes no mistake this time and Kagiso Rabada has his first wicket in GT colours! Rabada bends his back and bashes the deck hard, on off, on a hard length, Singh tries to flay it away on the off side but it gets miscued off the outer half of the bat. It flies all the way down to deep third where Khan moves to his right and crouches to take a reverse cup catch around his face.

FOUR! Streaky, but they all count! On a back of a length, going away from the left-hander with the angle, Arya stands tall and looks to go over the top on the off side. Gets a thickish outside edge that beats Kagiso Rabada to his right at deep third for a boundary.

SIX! Clean strike! Swinging back into the pads, on a length, Arya gets into a good position and whips it disdainfully over deep square leg for a biggie.

Leg bye! Slanting into the right-hander, on a length, Prabhsimran Singh stays leg side of the ball and advances down the track. Swings to go big on the leg side but fails to get bat on it. The ball goes off the back pad in front of point for a leg bye.

And again! Closer to the batter, on a good length, Singh goes fishing at the delivery again and the ball zips past the outside edge.

In the corridor of off, moving away in the air, on a length, Singh pokes at the delivery and gets beaten on the outside edge.

Leg bye! A good inward shape into the pads, on a length, Arya misses the flick and wears it on the front pad. A leg bye is taken as the ball goes on the off side.

MISFIELD, FOUR! At the stumps, low full toss, Prabhsimran Singh firms the drive towards mid on where Arshad Khan dives to his left but ends up diving over the ball and concedes a boundary.

Big swing and a miss! In the channel on off, on a good length, Singh shimmies down the track and swings for the hills but connects with thin air.

CHANCE MISSED! On a length, angling across, Priyansh Arya swings through the line to go downtown. Skies it up towards mid off where Arshad Khan and Rashid Khan converge, but the communication is not clear. Eventually, Arshad goes for the catch but fails to lay a hand on it. They cross.

Miscued but safe! Pitched up by KG, on off, Arya shapes up to go back over the bowler's head with a straight bat. It gets sliced across but clears the in-field on the off side for a brace.

Attacking the stumps, fuller in length, at 140.8 kph, Prabhsimran glances it down to deep fine leg and gets off the mark with a single.

Rabada bashes the hard length first up, just outside off, Singh rides the bounce and dabs it to backward point.

Kagiso Rabada to share the attack.

A slight mix-up but Arya gets back in time! On the off stump line, on a good length, Arya has a hack across the line. Gets it off the inner half of the bat towards short fine leg and sets off for a single. Singh sends him back and the throw goes to the batting end but misses. Arya was in anyway.

Swing and a miss! At 137.9 kph, pushed across the left-hander with an upright seam, on a length, Arya swings to go back over the bowler's head but fails to connect.

Tighter line, on a hard length, on off, Arya pats it with a straight bat to the right of the bowler.

FOUR LEG BYES! Too straight from Siraj, at the hips, Priyansh Arya gets inside the line but misses the tickle. The ball goes off the thigh pad and races down to the deep fine leg fence.

FOUR! Priyansh Arya and the Punjab Kings are on their way! Shaping back in, on the fuller side, on middle, Arya plants his front foot ahead and picks it up and over square leg for a boundary.

Siraj is on target straight away! On a back of a length, seaming back in, on off, Arya gets on his toes and stabs it down with a straight bat.

All in readiness for the action to commence. Shubman Gill and Co. have made their way out to the centre. They are followed by the two openers of the Punjab Kings, Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya. Mohammed Siraj will start with the new ball for the Gujarat Titans. Arya will face the first ball. A slip in place. Let's play...

Glenn Maxwell of the Punjab Kings is up for a quick chat. Says that it is nice to play for another year in the IPL, and though the staff has changed for PBKS, he is excited to play for them again. Mentions that the preparations have been good.  Adds that he is excited to start a new journey with the Punjab Kings. Tells that they had a camp in Dharamsala and the preparations have been quite good in Chandigarh too. Mentions that he wants to add leadership and his experience to the squad, and he hopes to mentor some young guys.

Impact players nominated by Punjab Kings - Nehal Wadhera, Praveen Dubey, Vyshak Vijaykumar, Harpreet Brar and Vishnu Vinod.

Punjab Kings (Playing XI) - Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh (WK), Shreyas Iyer (C), Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, Suryansh Shedge, Azmatullah Omarzai, Marco Jansen, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal.

Impact players nominated by Gujarat Titans - Sherfane Rutherford, Glenn Phillips, Ishant Sharma, Anuj Rawat and Washington Sundar.

Gujarat Titans (Playing XI) - Shubman Gill (C), Sai Sudharsan, Jos Buttler (WK), Shahrukh Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Sai Kishore, Arshad Khan, Rashid Khan, Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna.

The skipper of Punjab Kings, Shreyas Iyer, says that they would have bowled first. Adds that the wicket looks good, and he likes to chase. He wants to have a decent idea of the score on the board. States that it is challenging to captain a new side in IPL, but there have been a couple of familiar faces in the side and he has worked with Ricky Ponting in the past. Mentions that it gets easier when the energy of the team is high. Says that they have many all-rounders in the team and they had a headache as to whom to leave out. Informs that there would be just one spinner, and the others are all-rounders with three seamers.

The captain of the Gujarat Titans, Shubman Gill, says that they will bowl first. Adds that dew is a big factor and there is not much assistance to the spinners, and big targets can be chased here. Mentions that the preparations have been amazing and that they have covered all the bases. Says that they are very fortunate to play in the biggest stadium in the world and love the fans. Ends by saying that they are playing with 4 pacers and 2 spinners.

TOSS - Gujarat Titans have won the toss and they will BOWL first.

PITCH REPORT - Matthew Hayden is near the deck. He informs that pitch number 6 will be used for this game and it is a beautiful evening. Shares that the square boundaries are 66 metres to one side and 64 metres to the other, with the straight hit being 72 metres. Eoin Morgan joins him to talk about the wicket. Morgan says that this surface looks wonderful. Mentions that the grass covering is always a good indicator of the bounce being consistent. Hayden says that the ground staff expect the dew to set in around the halfway mark. Morgan feels that chasing is the way to go, but it is a batter's wicket, and even if you lose the toss and have to put runs on the board, it should not be much of an issue.

The pitches at the Narendra Modi Stadium have always been good for batting, and the captain winning the toss might prefer chasing due to the dew factor. The weather is clear, and we are set for an exciting encounter. Will Gujarat’s pace attack dominate, or will Punjab’s aggressive batting take control? The toss and playing XI announcements are just around the corner, so stay tuned for all the action!

Punjab Kings, on the other hand, have gone for a complete overhaul and look like an entirely different unit this year. They retained only two players from last season, one of whom was their breakout star, Shashank Singh, who was their highest run-scorer in 2024. With a power-packed batting lineup featuring Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Shreyas Iyer, and Josh Inglis, PBKS have added serious firepower. Iyer, their newly appointed captain, will need to step up and lead from the front, especially since the team will look to him for stability in the middle order. However, it’s their bowling that has seen the most improvement. The addition of Yuzvendra Chahal and Marco Jansen alongside Arshdeep Singh, their highest wicket-taker of the last season, gives them a well-rounded attack. Chahal’s experience in middle overs and Jansen’s ability to strike with the new ball will be key for them. If Punjab’s big hitters fire, Gujarat’s bowlers will have their work cut out.

The Gujarat Titans will be relying heavily on their captain, Shubman Gill, to lead from the front with the bat. His form at the top will be crucial, especially since the middle order still has some question marks. The addition of Jos Buttler is a massive boost for them, providing experience and explosiveness alongside Gill at the top. Sai Sudharsan, their highest run-scorer last season, will once again be a key figure, holding the innings together. However, their middle order lacks the firepower they once had with David Miller, putting extra responsibility on Rahul Tewatia to be their finisher. The biggest improvement, though, has come in their bowling attack. Rashid Khan remains their X-factor, but the inclusion of Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj, and Prasidh Krishna gives them one of the most fearsome pace attacks in the tournament. If they can click as a unit, Gujarat’s bowling could be a nightmare for any opposition.

Hello and welcome to the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, where the Gujarat Titans take on the Punjab Kings in the 5th match of IPL 2025! Both teams had a disappointing campaign last season, failing to make it to the playoffs, but they come into this edition with renewed energy and fresh ambitions. The Titans have stuck with their core players and are going to continue under the leadership of Shubman Gill, while the Kings have taken a bold approach, making major changes, including appointing their costliest buy, Shreyas Iyer, as captain. 

... MATCH DAY ...

With every team having already made their first mark on IPL 2025, the stage is now set for the final two contenders to launch their campaign. Gujarat Titans (GT) and Punjab Kings (PBKS) are ready to ignite the tournament with a blockbuster clash at the iconic Narendra Modi Stadium. GT, under the leadership of Shubman Gill, are determined to erase the memories of their underwhelming 2024 season, and with the lethal opening duo of Gill and Jos Buttler, they have firepower to set the game ablaze. The ever-reliable Rashid Khan remains their biggest X-factor with the ball, and the addition of Kagiso Rabada further bolsters their arsenal. With him playing against his former team adds a bit of more spice to this match. But PBKS, led by their new skipper Shreyas Iyer who led the Kolkata Knight Riders to the title last season, and guided by the tactical brilliance of Ricky Ponting, are out to shatter their playoff curse. Their lineup is stacked with explosive hitters like Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis, while the pace battery, spearheaded by Arshdeep Singh and Marco Jansen, is ready to unleash fury. The all- round brilliance of Azmatullah Omarzai who has taken the world by storm in recent times will be a key factor for them. And let’s not forget their game-changing acquisition - Yuzvendra Chahal, one of the finest leg-spinners in IPL history, who could be the difference-maker in crunch moments. While GT have dominated the head-to-head battle, winning two of their last three encounters, PBKS are hungrier than ever, bringing a fearless, no-holds-barred attitude to the fight. GT’s balance gives them the edge, but their middle-order vulnerability and pace concerns could be their Achilles’ heel, while PBKS must overcome their historic inconsistency and shaky death bowling. With both teams craving a statement win, this showdown promises fireworks, drama, and pure cricketing chaos. The big question remains - whose side are you on?