IPL 2025: Why is Wanindu Hasaranga not playing in GT vs RR Match 23?

On Wednesday, April 9, the Gujarat Titans and Rajasthan Royals will play Match 23 of the current Indian Premier League at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium.

GT vs RR, Match 23 – Toss Update

Sanju Samson won the toss and sent in the hosts to bat first. The RR skipper elaborated on his decision to be based on the conditions. He attributed the presence of dew for RR to be fielding first. Samson also praised the pitch and shared that he was pleased to get over the line in the past couple of games.

Wanindu Hasaranga replaces Fazalhaq Farooqi; Same XI for GT

From the previous game, RR made one change to their starting lineup. Fazalhaq Farooqi will replace the Sri Lankan all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga, who will be left out for personal reasons, according to Samson.

In his first and third games this season, Hasaranga bowled fairly well and took four wickets in the match before the previous one. On the other side, Shubman Gill revealed that they will be using the same team.

GT vs RR, Match 23 – What did the captains say?

Sanju Samson (Rajasthan Royals)

We would like to bowl first here because of the conditions. There is going to be dew here. Each and every game in the IPL is important, we are grateful of the last two games and take the momentum forward. It is great to be back. It is a very new team, new guys in the squad, we retained six guys but it is still a new team, we took time to gel together and know our roles. The wicket looks really good and will stay true. Hasaranga misses out due to personal reasons, Farooqi comes in.

Shubman Gill (Gujarat Titans)

I would have bowled first as well. 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 on how many games we have won. 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. No changes for us.

GT vs RR, Match 23 – Playing XIs

Gujarat Titans:: Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (c), Jos Buttler (wk), Sherfane Rutherford, Shahrukh Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Arshad Khan, Rashid Khan, Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna

Impact Substitutes: Washington Sundar, Nishant Sindhu, Anuj Rawat, Mahipal Lomror, Arshad Khan

Rajasthan Royals:: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson (wk/c), Nitish Rana, Riyan Parag, Shimron Hetmyer, Dhruv Jurel, Jofra Archer, Maheesh Theekshana, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Sandeep Sharma, Tushar Deshpande

Impact Substitutes: Kunal Singh Rathore, Shubham Dubey, Yudhvir Singh Charak, Kumar Kartikeya, Akash Madhwal