THE EDGE: The Edge previews Thursday’s IPL clash between Gujarat Titans v Punjab Kings with a recommended BETDAQ bet.
Gujarat Titans v Punjab Kings
MATCH OVERVIEW:
Gujarat Titans face Punjab Kings at the IPL on Betdaq Betting Exchange Thursday afternoon. This is a massive game for both sides; Gujarat Titans are definitely weaker than their opening two seasons, and Punjab Kings are already on the backfoot with two losses from their opening three games. Gujarat have managed two wins from three, their loss coming against CSK which has no shame given they are current Champions. Obviously Gujarat only know winning – this is their third year as a franchise – they won it their first year and got to the Final last year!
With Mumbai Indians and RCB having a poor start, there is definitely a good chance Gujarat are at least back in the playoffs. For Punjab, even though it’s a long tournament and we’re still in the early days, another loss here would have them already looking towards the bottom of the table. That’s never a good place to be with franchise cricket; it’s just easy for sides to lose motivation even with the IPL being the best league in the world. The Punjab batting will say that they have done well – they’ve scored 177/6, 176/6 and 178/5. Consistent, but the bowling has been consistently loose too.
All things considered, we should have a pretty close game here. The Titans have lost some key players from their opening two seasons and definitely look a little lighter on batting this season. Their bowling still looks top notch, lead by Rashid Khan. Even Josh Little, after his success last season, can’t get in the side at the moment.
WEATHER AND PITCH WATCH:
Ahmedabad is always a superb place for cricket – it is the world’s biggest cricket stadium after all. Scoring so far here has been remarkably consistent; in the first game we saw 168/6 posted and Mumbai Indians just came up short with 162/9. In the second game Sunrisers Hyderabad scored 162/8 and that was chased down as Gujarat finished with a six for 168/3. 168 is obviously a good number here! I would expect very similar conditions, if you’re batting first I think you need to be aiming for 175+. Mumbai Indians should have chased in the first game here only for a middle/lower order slow down.
RECOMMENDED BET:
Gujarat Titans are the favourites here at 1.78, and that’s no surprise. I feel there’s still a little value on offer in that price actually. I expect the key difference here to be the bowling – scoring doesn’t look especially easy compared to some other grounds. You never quite know what’s coming with the IPL, but conditions don’t look ripe for a run fest. The Punjab bowling is definitely weaker, and I think that’s where the game can be won or loss. The Gujarat batting is solid, and they can take advantage of some average bowling.
The Edge Says:
Two points win Gujarat Titans to beat Punjab Kings at 1.78 with Betdaq Exchange
View the market here -> https://betdaq.biz/RjaPun
IN-RUNNING STRATEGY:
In the opening two games here, I don’t think it’s been a massive edge to bat first or second. I don’t see that being a major trading angle here like other grounds in India. As I said above, Mumbai could have chased in the opening game here but massively slowed down after Rohit Sharma got out. I actually don’t see a conditions edge here, and I feel the best in-running trading angle will be taking on the Punjab Kings bowling when the time arrives.
