Gujarat Greats vs India Capitals, icc/llct20, Today Match Prediction 06 December 2023

GUGS vs INDCAP Match Prediction & Analysis

Gujarat Giants were the table toppers until the last day of the league stage of Legends League Cricket 2023. The washed-out match between Manipal Tigers and Urbanrisers Hyderabad not only dethroned the Giants but sent them down the number 3. 

As a result, the Giants will now face the 4th-placed India Capitals in the Eliminator match at the Lalabhai Contractor Stadium in Surat.

While there have been many domestic T20 games at this venue with average scores of around 160-170 runs, we should have a better idea of the pitch conditions after the Qualifier 1 game.

In their last match, Giants dropped Kallis and Gayle from the side with Kevin O Brien leading the team and Abhishek Jhunjhunwala coming in to bat at number 3.

The Giants were still strong with the bat despite the two legends not playing in the XI. India Capitals also boast of some big-hitting players such as Ricardo Powell, and Ben Dunk.

RECENT PERFORMANCE

GUGS

W W W L

GUGS

160/5 in 18.4 8.57

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Gujarat Giants beat Southern Super Stars by 6 wickets 03 Dec 2023

SNSS

159/8 in 20.0 7.95

GUGS

193/5 in 20.0 9.65

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Gujarat Giants beat Urbanrisers Hyderabad by 1 runs 26 Nov 2023

TYH

192/7 in 20.0 9.6

BWAK

169/7 in 20.0 8.45

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Gujarat Giants beat Bhilwara Kings by 3 runs 22 Nov 2023

GUGS

172/6 in 20.0 8.6

MT

173/8 in 20.0 8.65

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Manipal Tigers won by 10 runs 20 Nov 2023

GUGS

163/9 in 20.0 8.15

INDCAP

L W L L

INDCAP

186/9 in 20.0 9.3

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Manipal Tigers beat India Capitals by 4 wickets 02 Dec 2023

MT

187/6 in 19.5 9.43

INDCAP

167/3 in 16.4 10.02

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India Capitals beat Southern Super Stars by 8 wickets 25 Nov 2023

SNSS

163/6 in 20.0 8.15

INDCAP

186/6 in 20.0 9.3

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Urbanrisers Hyderabad beat India Capitals by 3 runs 23 Nov 2023

TYH

189/5 in 20.0 9.45

INDCAP

228/8 in 20.0 11.4

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Bhilwara Kings beat India Capitals by 4 wickets 18 Nov 2023

BWAK

229/7 in 19.2 11.85

HEAD TO HEAD

TEAMS PREVIEW

Gujarat Greats Preview

Gujarat Giants kicked off the season with a loss and then bounced back with 3 back to back wins. However, their game against India Capitals in Jammu was washed out and as they go up against the Capitals in this Eliminator match, it will be the first time these two teams lock horns this season.

There seem to have been some personnel changes for the Giants as we saw two of their key players including the captain sit out the last match against Southern Super Stars.

The former Gujarat cricketer Abhishek Jhunjunwala played a match-winning knock scoring 81 off 49 balls at number 3. And there was a new opening pair in Kevin O Brien and Dhruv Raval.

This top order still looks solid even without Gayle and Kallis. And in the middle order, there will be Richard Levi, Chirag Khurana, and Sekkuge Prasanna all of whom are capable of good finishing knocks.

Elton Chigumbura in the lower order is another handy batter to watch out for. He scored an unbeaten 20 off 10 balls in their last game as the Giants chased down 160 runs against Southern Super Stars.

There is S Sreesanth in the bowling attack who will lead the pace department along with Trent Johnston and the two will play among the key wicket-takers for Gujarat Giants. 

Some other big names in this squad include Monty Panesar and Sulmenn Benn and we reckon Giants should go with at least one of them in this Eliminator match.

Gujarat Greats Predicted Playing XI:

Dhruv Raval (wk), Kevin O Brien (c), Abhishek Jhunjhunwala, Chirag Khurana, Elton Chigumbura, Seekkuge Prasanna, Trent Johnston, S Sreesanth, Sarabjit Ladda, Ishwar Chaudhary, Monty Panesar, Richard Levi

Gujarat Greats Actual Playing XI:

Jacques Kallis, Chris Gayle, Rajat Bhatia, Rayad Emrit, Kevin O'Brien, Abhishek Jhunjhunwala, Seekkuge Prasanna, S Sreesanth, Sarabjit Ladda, Ishwar Chaudhary, Richard Levi, Parthiv Patel

India Capitals Preview

India Capitals are a much better side than what their position in the points table indicates. They finished with just 1 win and a washed-out match in this season though they performed well, particularly with the bat.

Their loss against Urbanrisers Hyderabad was a very close game where the Capitals finished with 186 runs chasing a target of 190. Kevin Pietersen and Ashley Nurse were the top run-scorers for them in that run-chase while Gautam Gambhir and Hashim Amla failed as openers.

However, in the very next game, India Capitals bounced back with a hundred from Ricardo Powell who opened the innings alongside Gambhir. Kirk Edwards was unbeaten on 45 at number 4 as India Capitals chased down a 164-run target with 7 wickets in hand.

That was the only win for Gambhir’s men this season. Though they continued the batting form in the next match scoring 186 runs batting first against Manipal Tigers they were handed a 4-wicket loss.

In addition to Gautam Gambhir and Ricardo Powell at the top, other key players who’ve stepped up and delivered for India Capitals include Kirk Edwards, Kevin Pietersen, and Ben Dunk in the middle order.

These 3 in the middle followed by Ashley Nurse as the match-finisher, India Capitals pack a strong batting lineup capable of posting a big total. However, it is the bowling where the Capitals have been hugely inconsistent.

That can be a huge factor in orchestrating another setback for the Capitals as they face a strong Giants lineup.

India Capitals Predicted Playing XI:

Gautam Gambhir (c), Ricardo Powell, Kirk Edwards, Ben Dunk (wk), Kevin Pietersen, Ashley Nurse, Bharath Chipli, Rusty Theron, Isuru Udana, KP Appanna, Pravin Tambe, Hamish Bennett

India Capitals Actual Playing XI:

Gautam Gambhir, Ricardo Powell, Kirk Edwards, Ben Dunk, Kevin Pietersen, Ashley Nurse, Bharat Chipli, Rusty Theron, Isuru Udana, KP Appanna, Ishwar Pandey, Fidel Edwards

PITCH AND WEATHER CONDITIONS

Weather Conditions

It is a balanced pitch where both batters and bowlers have flourished with outstanding performances. There is something for everyone on this surface and it should offer a great contest befitting of an Eliminator match of Legends League Cricket. The weather will be clear with a high of 30 degrees Celsius on the match day.

GUGS vs INDCAP Pitch Report

Lalabhai Contractor Stadium in Surat will be the venue for the Gujarat Giants vs. India Capitals Eliminator match of Legends League Cricket 2023. While there have been no international games on this ground, it has hosted a handful of Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy matches. There have been many occasions where teams have scored below 150 runs on this ground but we reckon this particular game should be a high-scoring one with at least 180 runs to be scored in the 1st innings.

Toss: To Bowl

There hasn’t been a huge advantage to either batting first or second in the domestic T20 matches played here. However, considering the batting strength of both teams along with the inconsistency of the Capitals’ bowling attack, we reckon both skippers should be more confident chasing a target.