IPL 2023 - 3 Players to watch out for in PBKS vs GT clash

Punjab Kings and Gujarat Titans are set to lock horns with each other in the 18^th match of the ongoing Indian Premier League 2023. Both teams will play this match at the PCA IS Bindra Stadium in Mohali today from 7.30 pm. Now, both teams are now almost on the same page in the tournament with the same number of wins and losses in three matches each.

Gujarat Titans are placed in fourth place with a good net run rate whereas Shikhar Dhawan’s men are in sixth with a less effective net run rate. In this match, both teams will be eyeing to register the third win in the tournament and gain a spot in the points table of the tournament.

With said that, here we’ll have a look at the three players to watch out for in this all-important clash between Punjab Kings and Gujarat Titans.

Shikhar Dhawan

Punjab Kings skipper and veteran opener has been in brilliant form during the ongoing 16^th season of the Indian Premier League. He is currently the highest run-scorer in the tournament and holds the orange cap with 225 runs in three matches two unbeaten knocks and an unbelievable average of 225.00 including two half-centuries.

Dhawan is coming off with two consecutive half-centuries with the bat in the last two matches for Punjab Kings. He could make a big difference for the hosts while opening the innings both in the first innings or while chasing the target.

Shubman Gill

The young Indian opener has been in a good form in the current season so for Gujarat Titans except for one poor outing in the second match. He has played the individual knocks of 63, 14, and 39 so far in the three matches he played for GT. He might be a big factor for the defending champions in their fourth match against PBKS.

Notably, Gill has scored 339 runs in the last 10 T20 appearances with an average of 42.37 having an impressive strike rate of 181.89. The 23-year-old could produce a crucial knock for GT in the beginning, be it chasing the target or batting first in Mohali.

Rashid Khan

The star Afghanistan bowling all-rounder Rashid Khan was in the role of a stand-in skipper for Gujarat Titans in the absence of regular skipper Hardik Pandya. He stunned everyone with a sensational hat trick in the 17^th over of the match while defending the target against Kolkata Knight Riders. Although his hat-trick went in vain as Rinku Singh smashed five consecutive sixes off the last five balls to win the match for KKR nobody can write off the impact of Rashid Khan on that match.

He could be a great asset for the defending champions by scalping some crucial wickets in the middle overs to restrict Punjab Kings from scoring a big total or chasing the target.