Pubnews: Hardik Pandya is out against Knight Riders due to illness, replaced by skipper Rashid Khan. Gujarat Titans suffered a setback in their match against Kolkata Knight Riders as their star player and captain, Hardik Pandya, was unable to play due to illness. Pandya has not been in good form in this year’s Indian Premier League (IPL) and has failed to score big runs with the bat. In his absence, Rashid Khan took charge of the team and led them against Kolkata Knight Riders.

The IPL has introduced new rules this year where the captains can decide their starting eleven only after the toss. At the time of the toss, everyone was surprised to see Rashid Khan coming out instead of Pandya. This led to speculation about Pandya’s game, but Rashid Khan quickly put an end to it by announcing that Pandya was mildly ill, and the team management did not want to take any risks with him.

Gujarat Titans have won their first two matches in this year’s IPL under Pandya’s leadership, but his poor form with the bat has been a concern. The team management decided to rest him against Kolkata Knight Riders, and Vijay Shankar replaced him in the team.

At the toss, Rashid Khan said that the wicket looked fresh, and he would like to bat first. He expressed hope that his team could score big runs and defend them. He also said that as a team, they would try to play good cricket, and he would personally try to bat well.

Gujarat Titans won the IPL for the first time last year under Pandya’s leadership, and the team started this year’s IPL with a victory. However, with Pandya out of the team, it remains to be seen whether they can continue their winning streak.

In conclusion, Hardik Pandya’s absence due to illness was a big blow to Gujarat Titans in their match against Kolkata Knight Riders. Rashid Khan took charge of the team in his absence, and they will need to continue to perform well to maintain their winning streak in this year’s IPL.