Mullanpur rain prediction today: What are the chances of rain during the PBKS vs GT match in IPL 2024?
Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Gujarat Titans (GT) are set to lock horns in a vital IPL 2024 clash at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur, Chandigarh, on Sunday, April 21.
It will be an evening fixture that gets underway at 7:30 PM (IST). Both sides are languishing in the bottom half of the points table and are in desperate need of a turnaround at this crucial juncture.
With just two wins from their first seven games, PBKS are ninth in the standings, while GT are eighth after having secured three victories from seven outings.
Punjab suffered a nine-run defeat to Mumbai Indians (MI) in their last match. It was a last-over thriller in which PBKS fell short while chasing a 193-run target. Gujarat were beaten comprehensively in their previous outing.
GT were bundled out for a paltry score of 89 against Delhi Capitals (DC). Delhi chased down the modest total in just 8.5 overs to complete a six-wicket win.
With both Punjab and Gujarat looking to get a move on, the forthcoming encounter is likely to be a high-octane one for the viewers. A full 40-over contest is on the cards, with there being no rain prediction in Mohali during the match.
Clear skies are expected throughout the game, with the temperatures hovering between 26 to 30 degrees Celsius. The humidity could do up to 35 percent towards the last hour.
"We would like him back as soon as we can" - PBKS assistant coach on Shikhar Dhawan's injury
PBKS skipper Shikhar Dhawan has missed the team's last couple of matches in IPL 2024 due to a shoulder injury. The team's assistant coach Brad Haddin suggested that the veteran opener is recovering well.
Haddin, however, mentioned that a call on Dhawan's availability for the PBKS vs GT clash will be taken on the morning of the game.
He said during the pre-match press conference:
"It's difficult to replace someone like Shikhar. He's one of the most successful openers in the IPL. He has done it for many years and was starting to get his rhythm back before the unfortunate injury to his shoulder. We would like him back as soon as we can. He is an experienced head at the top of the order, so we're hoping that he is available for selection soon. He has started to progress well. We have seen some good signs over the last couple of days. We will decide on Sunday morning."
Shikhar Dhawan has scored 152 runs across five matches at an average of 30.40 and a strike rate of 125.61 this season.