Matthew Wade, an Australian wicketkeeper-batter, has decided to skip the Gujarat Titans’ IPL 2024 opening match in favour of the Sheffield Shield final. The Titans’ season opener against the Mumbai Indians is scheduled for March 24, but Tasmania is favoured to host the championship game between March 21 and 25 of this year.
Wade has little chance of playing in GT’s second game if the Shield final advances to the championship game on March 26 because they are slated to play the reigning champion Chennai Super Kings.
Tasmania head coach Jeff Vaughan revealed, “He’s spoken with his IPL franchise and they’re happy to allow him to stay here, which probably equates to him potentially missing their first game.” “We feel very fortunate to have someone of Matt’s ilk coming back into our group, and his experience and his performances at the back end of our season.”
Wade has been a member of the Titans roster since 2022, when they made their debut. Despite not being their gloveman, he was among the playing XI when they won the championship in 2022. They finished runners-up the previous season, and he was not allowed to play for them.