Indian T20 League 2023: Here's a look at strongest playing XI of Gujarat

The defending Champions Gujarat under the captaincy of Hardik Pandya are set to take on Chennai in the tournament opener of the Indian T20 League 2023. Both teams will play this match tomorrow, the 31^st of March at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Notably, the tournament will be played once again in the old home-and-away format.

Meanwhile, both times will be looking ahead to lineup their strongest playing XI in the first match of the tournament. With said that, here we’ll have a look at the probable strongest playing XI of Gujarat for the first match against Chennai.

Here’s a look at the probable strongest playing XI of Gujarat:

Openers: Shubman Gill and Wriddhiman Saha (wk)

Star Indian opener Shubman Gill had been in brilliant batting form of late almost in all formats of the game. Speaking of his performance in T20 cricket, he appeared last time for India against New Zealand at the same venue where he will play the first match of the Indian T20 League against Chennai. In his last T20I appearance, Gill smashed a brilliant century of 126 runs off 63 balls with 12 boundaries and seven sixes to his name.

Apart from him, the senior wicketkeeper-batter Wriddhiman Saha can give a brilliant mix of experience to the young excellence of Shubman Gill. The duo can open the innings for Gujarat in the tournament opener against the yellow outfits.

Middle-order: Kane Williamson, Hardik Pandya, and David Miller

The middle order of Gujarat could include an amazing amalgam of blistering batters alongside the experience. Former Hyderabad skipper Kane Williamson might come at number three to bat followed by skipper Hardik Pandya on number four to provide some stability to the batting lineup.

Following Kane Williamson and Hardik Pandya, the blistering South African southpaw David Miller can fill in the number five spot. The trio can play a crucial role in piling up a big total for Gujarat in the all-important clashes of the tournament.

All-rounders: Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan

The blistering Haryana-based all-rounder Rahul Tewatia stunned everyone with his amazing batting excellence last year in the 2022 edition of the Indian T20 League. It all happened when he won the match for Gujarat by hitting two consecutive sixes on the last two balls when the team required 12 runs off only two balls.

Speaking of Rashid Khan, he recently led his national side of Afghanistan to a historic first-time series win against Pakistan in the three-match T20I series. If he continues the same run of form with both the bat and the ball, it can play a very defining role for Gujarat in the quest to defend their title in the tournament.

Bowlers: R Sai Kishore, Yash Dayal, Alzarri Joseph, and Mohammed Shami

The core bowling lineup of Gujarat might consist of a mix of three pacers including one spinner. The senior pacer Mohammed Shami could lead the pace attack including young uncapped Indian pacer Yash Dayal alongside Caribbean bowling star Alzarri Joseph. Joseph recently claimed a five-wicket haul in his last T20I appearance for West Indies against South Africa.

Apart from the pacers, the left-arm orthodox spinner R Sai Kishore might be a major factor for the defending champions in the tournament opener against Chennai. Sai Kishore has a good track record in the T20s in domestic cricket by scalping 57 wickets in 49 matches including four-wicket hauls and two five-wicket hauls.