The highly anticipated match between Gujarat Titans and Mumbai Indians in the IPL 2023 Qualifier 2 faced a delay due to rain in Ahmedabad. Originally scheduled to begin with the toss at 19:00 hours and the match at 19:30 hours, an important update revealed a revised timeline. The toss is now set for 19:45 IST, with the first ball scheduled for 20:00 IST. Live pictures showed the captains, Hardik and Rohit, having a chat, and Hardik marking his bowling run-up, signaling a positive sign for Gujarat Titans.
This crucial encounter serves as a virtual semi-final for both teams, as the winner will secure a place in the final and have a chance to claim their sixth IPL title. Gujarat Titans, despite finishing at the top spot in the table, suffered a defeat against Chennai Super Kings in Qualifier 1. Mumbai Indians, on the other hand, secured the fourth spot in the league stage and showcased a dominant performance in the Eliminator against Lucknow Super Giants. Now, they aim to keep their hopes alive and vie for the coveted IPL trophy.
Here’s what Vijay Shankar had to say on his personal form –
Vijay Shankar: Feeling really good, the most important thing is to contribute to the team success, feeling happy about that. I think we have been playing some really good cricket, very important to trust our hard work and the playoff is something really interesting and a nice place to be in, so important for us to go out there and enjoy ourselves. (On pressure of playing qualifier 2) Pressure is always there, very important to enjoy the pressure and do our best. Irrespective of the game, it is important for us to do our best and trust the process. (On whether he is available to bowl) Hopefully, I keep practicing for that. Never know with the new rule and we have a lot of all rounders in the side as well, so it’s important for me to just keep preparing. If it happens, it happens.
The victor of the Gujarat Titans vs Mumbai Indians match will face Chennai Super Kings in the final of the tournament. Both teams have their eyes set on this opportunity, with Gujarat Titans looking to bounce back from their previous loss and Mumbai Indians determined to continue their winning momentum.