IPL Gujarat Titans vs Chennai Super Kings

Get ready for IPL 2023's opening match between Gujarat Titans (GT) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK)! It's a clash of the titans as the current IPL champions take on the most successful team in IPL history. The match is set to take place at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad on March 31, 2023.

Both teams have made important changes to their squads for the new season, which will impact their playing elevens. The odds for both teams are almost identical across a lot of bookmakers while you may find that CSK are underdogs if you look hard enough.

Let's take a closer look at the team previews for GT and CSK. The Gujarat Titans have retained the core of their squad and seem to have added to their strengths, with Shubman Gill in great form and Mohammad Shami as one of the most reliable white-ball bowlers in the world. Hardik Pandya, who is fit and likely to play a big role with both bat and ball, adds balance to the team. However, the absence of David Miller, who scored 481 runs and had the highest batting average for GT last season, will be felt. Kane Williamson is expected to replace him, but it's not a like-for-like role. The GT batting lineup is quite dependent on Gill and Pandya, and if both of them get out cheaply, the team could struggle.

On the other hand, CSK has added Ben Stokes to their lineup, who will bring flexibility as an all-rounder. He will replace Dwayne Bravo, who is no longer a part of the IPL. Devon Conway, Moeen Ali, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ambati Rayadu, Ravindra Jadeja, and MS Dhoni are likely to be the top order for CSK, with Ajinka Rahane replacing the retired Robin Uthappa. The bigger question is their bowling lineup, but with Deepak Chahar back as the powerplay enforcer, they have a good chance to take early wickets, which can have a big impact on the outcome of the match.

We think CSK has an edge in this match and love the odds being offered on them wherever you find them as the underdogs. GT's absence of Miller and concerns over death bowling make them vulnerable, and their batting lineup is too dependent on Gill. This could be a good match to back the underdog and bet on CSK to win.

Tip: CSK to Win.