Match overview
Gujarat Titans beat Sunrisers Hyderabad by 7 wickets at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on 31 March 2024. Sunrisers won the toss, elected to bat, and posted 162/8. The target of 163 never looked like troubling GT. They reached it for the loss of just 3 wickets, with their death overs (overs 16-20) producing 54 runs at minimal cost. MM Sharma won Player of the Match honours. The result extended Gujarat Titans' head-to-head dominance over SRH to 5 wins from 6 meetings.
Sunrisers' innings was anchored by a decent powerplay: 56 for 1 from the first six overs is a competent platform. The problems arrived in the middle phase, where they managed 66 runs but lost 4 wickets across overs 7-15. A total of 162 left them 44 runs short of Narendra Modi Stadium's average first-innings score of 206 across 95 T20 matches. In a format where venue par matters, that shortfall gave GT a chase they could approach with patience.
GT's innings mirrored a similar structure but with considerably fewer collapses. They picked up 52 for 1 in the powerplay, 62 for 1 through the middle, and finished with 54 from the death overs for just 1 wicket. Three wickets across 20 overs in a successful chase represents tight, professional batting.
Venue and conditions
Narendra Modi Stadium is one of the largest cricket grounds in the world, with T20 matches here producing an average first-innings score of 206 across 95 fixtures. The average powerplay contribution is 43 runs, which makes SRH's 56-run powerplay above par. Average death-overs output is 38 runs per innings; Gujarat Titans' 54 in this match was well ahead of that.
The toss dynamic at this ground leans towards fielding: 60% of toss winners here have chosen to bowl first. SRH's decision to bat was therefore against the grain of recent practice at the venue, even if the instinct to set a total is understandable. The chase success rate of 53% reflects a modest but meaningful structural advantage for teams batting second, particularly when dew starts to appear in evening matches.
The pitch at Narendra Modi Stadium generally offers pace and carry in the first innings, with conditions tending to ease as an evening match progresses. Spin bowlers have historically found turn and variable bounce here, particularly in the middle overs, making wicket-taking in that phase as important as run restriction.
How to watch
IPL matches are broadcast in the UK on Sky Sports Cricket. Live streaming is available through Sky Go for existing subscribers, and day passes can be purchased via NOW TV for those without a full Sky subscription. Most IPL evening fixtures in India begin around 19:30 IST, which translates to 14:00 or 15:00 UK time depending on the time of year and daylight saving, so afternoon viewing is typical for UK audiences.
Highlights and post-match clips are generally available through the official IPL app and social media channels shortly after each fixture concludes.
Recent form
Sunrisers Hyderabad came into this match with a mixed record: a win against Mumbai Indians followed by a loss to Kolkata Knight Riders in their two most recent 2024 outings. Their 2023 form was poor, with three consecutive losses to Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bangalore, and Gujarat Titans. A side that loses to GT in their last meeting at this venue will find those echoes hard to shake.
Gujarat Titans' recent record showed similar inconsistency. They lost to Chennai Super Kings before beating Mumbai Indians ahead of this fixture. Their 2023 results were split, with wins over Mumbai Indians bookending losses to Chennai on two separate occasions. Neither side came in on a sustained run of form, which made head-to-head history and venue conditions the more reliable guide. On both counts, GT had the stronger case, and the match played out accordingly. The two sides will meet again in the 2025 IPL season, with GT having already added another win to their tally from that campaign.
