Last Updated on 4 months by Charbel Coorey

GT vs CSK Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report: IPL 2023 Match 1 | GT vs CSK Dream11 Prediction Today | Ahmedabad Pitch Report

The IPL 2022 champions meet the four-time champions looking to bounce back. Ahmedabad is set to host a full set of home matches for the triumphant Gujarat Titans, who are aiming to become just the third team in history to win back-to-back titles after Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings.

But, there are a number of challengers in what looks to be a fascinating 2023 edition of the Indian Premier League, with CSK seeking a big response after a disappointing ninth-place finish a year ago.

It is a long season, but this match already has a sense of importance to it. Just four playoff spots are available in a competitive ten-team league, so a good start is vital. Winning breeds confidence as Gujarat found out last season, winning ten of their 14 league matches before two stunning performances in the playoffs.

In this match, both teams will have to deal with some key absentees. David Miller is unavailable for the Titans, while it remains to be seen how Mukesh Chowdhury’s absence affects the Super Kings. However, the talent on display is mouthwatering. Shubman Gill is in career-best touch, the Gujarat attack is worth the price of admission, and so too are CSK’s collection of top-class all-rounders.

Strap in. The IPL is back and its opening match has the makings of a beauty.

Match Details

• Location: Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad.
• Time: 7:30pm (IST).
• For more cricket fixtures around the world, visit Fixture Calendar.

IPL 2023 Match 1: GT vs CSK Possible Playing XIs

Kane Williamson arrived in Ahmedabad early in the week ahead of the season opener. He may make the first playing XI with David Miller unavailable for the first match due to national duty.

Gujarat Titans: 1. Shubman Gill, 2. Wriddhiman Saha (wk), 3. Kane Williamson (OS), 4. Hardik Pandya (c), 5. Matthew Wade/Odean Smith (OS), 6. Rahul Tewatia, 7. Rashid Khan (OS), 8. R Sai Kishore, 9. Alzarri Joseph (OS), 10. Yash Dayal/Shivam Mavi, 11. Mohammed Shami

Mukesh Chowdhury is unavailable for CSK due to injury. Simranjeet Singh may take his place. Maheesh Theekshana is currently on Sri Lanka duty in New Zealand.

Big buy Ben Stokes is a fine top order player in T20s, so CSK may look to play him in the top three.

Chennai Super Kings: 1. Ruturaj Gaikwad, 2. Devon Conway, 3. Ben Stokes, 4. Moeen Ali, 5. Ambati Rayudu, 6. Ravindra Jadeja, 7. Shivam Dube, 8. MS Dhoni (c & wk), 9. Mitchell Santner, 10. Deepak Chahar, 11. Simarjeet Singh/Tushar Deshpande

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

Gujarat Titans:

• Shubman Gill is a leading contender for the Orange Cap. He now has a T20I century to his name, achieved earlier this year on this ground against New Zealand.
• Shubman has not had the best of times against CSK in the past. He does have two fifties in ten innings against them, but also has two ducks. He averages 21.78 overall, but he is in superb touch now.
• Kane Williamson could be in for a big season. Expect the Titans to encourage him to play freely. He has an excellent career record against CSK, with 417 runs at an average of 41.70 and strike rate of 132.80.
• Hardik Pandya scored the fourth-most runs in IPL 2022 (487) and took nine wickets. He strikes at 155.45 in 12 innings against CSK, with 171 runs at an average of 28.50.
• Rashid Khan will be vital, as always. He is often a factor even with the bat against CSK, with a strike rate of 191.30 in four innings against them. With the ball, he has picked up 11 wickets in 12 matches at an average of 30.45 and strike rate of 26.18.
• Rashid has dismissed Ruturaj Gaikwad twice in 35 balls in T20s. He has conceded 53, however. The legspinner also has superb T20 numbers against Ben Stokes: 21 balls, 15 runs conceded, three dismissals.
• Mohammed Shami is a genuine Purple Cap contender. He took 1/20 and 2/19 against CSK last season, and has dismissed Conway once in just three balls in the IPL.

Chennai Super Kings:

• Devon Conway had a strong 2022 in T20 cricket. In 25 innings, he hit 901 runs at an average of 45.05 and strike rate of 129.27. Key player.
• Ruturaj Gaikwad is also vital for CSK. He averages 57.07 in CSK victories and just 20.65 when they lose.
• Gaikwad scored two half-centuries against GT last season. However, he often starts IPL campaigns slowly. He started with a duck in 2020, 5 in 2021 and another duck in 2022.
• Ben Stokes is set to play as a specialist batsman due to a knee issue. CSK may look to bat him at three or four, given he often performs better up the order. He strikes at 126.22 at three and 135.28 at four in all T20s.
• It is a big season for Ravindra Jadeja. Since the start IPL 2020, Jadeja has struck 575 runs at an average of 41.1 and strike rate of 147.8. He has also picked up 24 wickets in this period, striking every 29.6 deliveries.
• CSK missed Deepak Chahar terribly in 2022. Since the start of 2021, he has taken 32 wickets in the powerplay at an economy of 7.69. Also, he has dismissed Shubman Gill twice in 33 balls (45 runs) in the IPL, so watch out for this battle.

Other Stats and Facts

• Head-to-head: Matches 2, GT 2, CSK 0.
• Kane Williamson has good numbers against Ravindra Jadeja in T20s (80 balls, 95 runs, one dismissal). He has also scored 63 off 48 against Deepak Chahar without dismissal.
• Ruturaj Gaikwad finds it very difficult to get Mohammed Shami away. He has never been dismissed, but has only scored 37 off 52 balls.
• Moeen Ali in T20s in 2022: 1,263 runs, avg. 26.31, SR 149.29. He also took 40 wickets at an economy of 7.98.

Narendra Modi Stadium Ahmedabad Pitch Report and Weather

The Ahmedabad pitch for the recent fourth Test between Australia and India was a flat one. So, we could see a good batting surface to start with, before the pitches slow up more as the tournament progresses.

Earlier this year, India smashed 234/4 against New Zealand. Shubman Gill scored 126* off 63 balls in that match, followed by Hardik Pandya’s 4/16 in demolishing New Zealand for 66.

In seven IPL matches since the start of 2021, the average first innings score is 154.14. The chasing team won six of the seven encounters, so expect the captain who wins the toss here to bowl first on what is set to be a clear and warm night.

IPL 2023 Match 1: GT vs CSK Dream11 Prediction Today Match 31 March 2023

Note: The below teams are not based on the final playing XIs. We may not be able to update these in time. Use the stats and commentary in this article as well as your own instincts to create your teams.

Option 1:

Option 2:

Fan2Play Prediction

Base team:

• Wicket-keepers: Devon Conway
• Batters: Shubman Gill
• All-rounders: Ravindra Jadeja, Hardik Pandya
• Bowlers: Rashid Khan, Deepak Chahar, Mohammed Shami

IPL 2023 Match 1: GT vs CSK Match Prediction – Who will win?

GT’s bowling attack can help them pick up a win and start their season a positive note.