While the batting looks in perfect shape, India's new-look pace department needs to come up with something special against the Proteas in Cuttack on Sunday.
Srinivas Bhogle and Purnendu Maji present Rediff.com's Most Valuable Player Index of IPL 2023 after Game 52.
Thousands of fans on Monday flocked the streets of Ahmedabad as the Gujarat Titans took out a victory parade on an open-top bus to celebrate their title triumph in a memorable maiden season in the IPL.
The West Indian achieved this feat during the match against Gujarat Titans at the DY Patil Stadium in Mumbai after he dismissed Abhinav Manohar, Lockie Ferguson, Rahul Tewatia and Yash Dayal in the 20th over as Gujarat Titans were restricted to 156 for 9 after electing to bat.
He bowled a tight line, took a wonderful catch and smashed 40 runs off just 18 balls to take his team to victory and live another day in this season of the IPL.
It may be an inconsequential game on paper but Indian bowlers await another tough test against South Africa ahead of the T20 World Cup when the two teams meet in the final game of the three-match series in Indore on Tuesday.
Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje are expected to spit fire on a track that will offer steep bounce as India's top-order gears up for its toughest test in adverse conditions against a top-notch South African side in the T20 World Cup on Sunday.
It's a pity that all the cricketing brains in the dugout -- Brian Lara, Muttiah Muralitharan, Kumar Sangakkara and Dale Steyn in coaching roles -- cannot convert performances out in the middle.
Gujarat Titans will need their batters to fire when they take on high-flying Lucknow Super Giants as both teams look to seal IPL play-offs berth at the MCA Stadium in Pune on Tuesday.
South African pace duo Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje joined the Delhi Capitals squad in Mumbai on Tuesday ahead of the upcoming Indian Premier League, starting on April 9.
The likes of skipper Hardik Pandya, David Miller, Rahul Tewatia and Rashid Khan, who had produced stellar performances and played a key role in GT's success so far, have floundered against Punjab.
Gujarat are clearly the team to beat in the competition having won eight out of nine games.
David Miller hit a superb 62 from 43 balls which helped Rajasthan Royals get back into the contest after a horror start.
'I am proud of the boys, the way they played in the series. The way they carried the responsibility and showed maturity.'
RCB is hoping that the former India captain would return to form soon with captain Faf du Plessis backing him
However, South Africa have lot of openers stacked on top (Bavuma, Quinton de Kock, Aiden Markram, Rassie van der Dussen and Reeza Hendricks) with a light middle order which is still a huge concern.
Gujarat Titans have been firing on all cylinders, with their batting prowess and bowling might.
The Proteas squad members assembled at the Feroz Shah Kotla for their optional practice session after clearing their RT PCR tests
It will be a test of wits between two new captains in Ravindra Jadeja and Hardik Pandya when defending champions Chennai Super Kings clash with debutants Gujarat Titans in the IPL match in Pune on Sunday.
A battle royale is on the cards when Hardik Pandya's Gujarat Titans take on the Sanju Samson-led Rajasthan Royals, two line-ups armed with potent bowling units in a top-of-the-table IPL showdown at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on Thursday.
Images from the T20 World Cup Super 12 match between South Africa and India, in Perth, on Sunday.
IMAGES from the opening T20I played between India and South Africa in Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday.
South Africa have recalled fast bowler Anrich Nortje and all-rounder Wayne Parnell, and handed a first Twenty20 International call-up to batsman Tristan Stubbs, in a full-strength squad for the five-match tour of India starting on June 9.
Debutants Gujarat Titans will start as favourites against spin-heavy former champions Rajasthan Royals when the two teams face-off in the first IPL Qualifier, at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata, on Tuesday.
All-rounder Shakib Al Hasan scored a superb 77 as Bangladesh claimed their first ever victory in South Africa with a 38-run win in the first One-Day International at Centurion Park on Friday.
Titans look to forget Rinku Singh's onslaught against Punjab Kings
Gujarat Titans are currently at the top of the IPL table with 18 points from 12 games and a win on Sunday will more or less secure them a top-2 finish. That would mean an extra chance of making it to the final.
'We had Miller and Morris, but I thought it was tough. The boys did really well to get over the line.'
Shamsi's wrist spin accounted for Liam Livingstone, Sam Curran and David Willey, who was bowled first ball to set up a hat-trick chance that Chris Jordan denied him.
IMAGES from the IPL 2023 match between Gujarat Titans and Delhi Capitals at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Tuesday
The teams which don't make long-term promises that are difficult to fulfil but focus on immediate process and know the roles of players required for slots.
Lungi Ngidi decimated India's top order as South Africa triumphed by five wickets
Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Harshal Patel are likely to be the frontline pacers, but for the third pacer's slot it will be interesting to see if India pick Umran Malik, who troubled quite a few batters in IPL 2022 with his raw pace, or young Arshdeep Singh, who impressed with his consistent performances for Punjab Kings.
New franchise Gujarat Titans on Sunday unveiled their team logo in the Metaverse ahead of their maiden IPL season this year.
Gujarat Titans have built a strong team combination at the mega-auction, with marquee players such as Mohammed Shami, Jason Roy, and Lockie Ferguson.
The Indian cricket team will assemble in New Delhi on June 5 ahead of the five-match T20I series against South Africa.
Gujarat Titans will be seeking to cap their dream debut season by winning the title
There wasn't a more relieved man in the GT dugout than Coach Nehra who has been known to give his captain and players backing to play with freedom.
Skipper Sanju Samson will look for support from his batsmen as Rajasthan Royals aim to return to winning ways against laggards Sunrisers Hyderabad in Dubai on Monday and keep their play-offs hopes alive.
Liam Livingstone and Evin Lewis's explosive batting will meet its match in Chris Gayle's power and KL Rahul's finesse when Rajasthan Royals lock horns with Punjab Kings to improve upon their mid-table position in the Indian Premier League in Dubai on Tuesday.
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