Reasons Why Wanindu Hasaranga Is Absent from Rajasthan Royals’ Lineup Against Gujarat Titans in IPL 2025 – Explained
Rajasthan Royals Face Gujarat Titans Without Wanindu Hasaranga
In a highly anticipated clash at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, Rajasthan Royals (RR) will be taking on Gujarat Titans (GT) in Match 23 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. With RR captain Sanju Samson winning the toss and opting to bowl first, the team will unfortunately be without their star leg-spin all-rounder, Wanindu Hasaranga, who is unavailable due to personal reasons. Left-arm pacer Fazalhaq Farooqi has been named as his replacement. This match holds significant importance as both teams aim to climb the points table. Currently, GT holds the second spot, while RR is in seventh place. A victory for RR would propel them into a competitive six-point group.
Strategic Decisions and Team Updates
Sanju Samson emphasized the importance of the match, noting the conditions that favor bowling first due to the presence of dew. “Bowling first here because of the conditions. There is going to be dew here. Each and every game in the IPL is important,” said Samson. He also shared his optimism about the team’s recent performances, adding, “We are grateful for the wins in the last two games and take the momentum forward. It is great to be back. It is a very new team, with new guys in the squad; we retained six guys. But it is a new team, and we took time to gel together. The wicket looks really good.”
Additionally, RR will welcome back Tushar Deshpande, who missed the previous match against Punjab Kings due to a niggle, adding strength to their bowling lineup.
Gujarat Titans’ Consistent Approach
On the other side, Gujarat Titans’ skipper Shubman Gill expressed his contentment with the current team setup, opting for an unchanged playing eleven. “Looking at the past few matches, dew has come in during the second innings, but we have batted first here. We are taking it one game at a time and not keeping track of how many games we have won,” Gill stated. He also praised the top-order batsmen, saying, “If the top 3 or 4 are doing the job, then I am happy with that. We have had a really good home run, and hopefully, nothing changes for us. Support from the fans has always been tremendous.”
Playing Conditions and Pitch Analysis
The match will take place on pitch number seven, known for its red-soil surface, which is expected to provide ample pace and bounce for the bowlers. The stadium features varied boundary lengths, with one square boundary at 60 meters, another at 71 meters, and the straight boundary at 73 meters, which could influence the strategic approach of both teams.
Team Lineups
Gujarat Titans: B. Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (capt), Jos Buttler (wk), Sherfane Rutherford, Shahrukh Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, R. Sai Kishore, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, and Ishant Sharma.
Impact Substitutes: Washington Sundar, Nishant Sindhu, Anuj Rawat, Mahipal Lomror, and Arshad Khan.
Rajasthan Royals: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson (capt & wk), Nitish Rana, Riyan Parag, Shimron Hetmyer, Dhruv Jurel, Jofra Archer, Maheesh Theekshana, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Sandeep Sharma, and Tushar Deshpande.
Impact Substitutes: Kunal Singh Rathore, Shubham Dubey, Yudhvir Singh Charak, Kumar Kartikeya Singh, and Akash Madhwal.
This encounter promises to be an exciting contest, with both teams eager to secure a win and gain momentum in the IPL 2025. Fans can expect a thrilling display of cricket with strategic plays and key performances from both sides.