The 51st match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 will see Gujarat Titans (GT) locking horns with Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the iconic Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Friday, May 2. With playoff hopes hanging in the balance, both teams will be eager to grab two valuable points in this critical mid-season encounter.
GT, led by Shubman Gill, are hoping to return to winning ways after a disappointing outing against Rajasthan Royals. Despite posting a formidable 209/4 on April 28 in Jaipur, the Titans were handed a comprehensive eight-wicket defeat.
Gill led from the front with a blistering 84 off 50 balls, smashing five fours and four sixes. Jos Buttler also contributed with a steady half-century. However, their bowling attack struggled as Rajasthan's young star Vaibhav Suryavanshi struck a sensational century, supported ably by Yashasvi Jaiswal.
SRH, under the leadership of Pat Cummins, secured a morale-boosting win against Chennai Super Kings at the Chepauk Stadium. However, their IPL 2025 campaign has been below par. With only three victories and six losses from nine matches, SRH is in a must-win situation. To keep their playoff dreams alive, they must win all of their remaining five games and depend on other match results to work in their favor.
The Narendra Modi Stadium has offered varied playing surfaces throughout IPL 2025, making the pitch behavior unpredictable. Matches at this venue have showcased a mix of high-scoring thrillers and low-scoring tussles depending on the soil type used for the pitch.
If the match is played on a black soil pitch, batters could face difficulties due to the slower and lower bounce. These conditions demand a more traditional approach to shot-making. Conversely, if the red soil surface is used, it is likely to favor bowlers due to its pace and bounce. Bowlers will have to stay consistent with line and length, especially during the powerplay overs, and avoid over-experimentation with the new ball.
One of the biggest external factors influencing matches at this stadium has been the presence of dew in the second innings. The heavy dew makes it difficult for bowlers to grip the ball properly, especially spinners, leading to poor execution and giving batters an upper hand under lights. Captains winning the toss may prefer to bowl first to avoid dealing with a wet ball during crucial death overs.
In their recent home game, Gujarat Titans registered a solid seven-wicket win over Delhi Capitals at this venue. The match turned out to be a high-scoring affair, once again highlighting the pitch's batting-friendly nature on certain days. GT will look to replicate that performance and get back to winning momentum.
With both teams needing wins to stay in contention for the playoffs, this fixture carries immense importance. GT will aim to regroup quickly and utilize their home advantage, while SRH will look to ride the momentum from their recent victory and stay alive in the tournament.