The Dubai Capitals - owned by the GMR Group - take on Gulf Giants in match eight of the International League T20 (ILT20) 2023 at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Thursday, January 19.

The teams met earlier in match five, with the Giants securing a six-wicket win over the Capitals.

Despite the defeat, the likes of Robin Uthappa (79), Rovman Powell (38) and Mujeeb Ur Rahman (2/36) were the top performers and they will have an opportunity to help the Dubai Capitals win the reverse fixture against the Gulf Giants.

The Giants, meanwhile, have two wins in two ILT20 games and are aiming for a third straight victory on the trot.

Here are some talking points:

Uthappa continues his batting renaissance

Although retired from cricket in India, Uthappa shows no signs of slowing down with the bat.

The top-order batter has amassed 122 runs in two games, including a 46-ball 79, laced with 10 fours and two sixes.

Averaging 61 runs per game as of now, Uthappa will be poised to help Dubai Capitals return to winning ways and make it two wins in three games.

Rehan Ahmed, the all-round star

Rehan Ahmed was one of the key factors in the Gulf Giants winning the reverse fixture against Dubai Capitals. The English bowling-allrounder first claimed three wickets for 28 runs, with his victims being Rovman Powell (38), Dasun Shanaka and Ravi Bopara (both scored two runs), before hitting 28 runs in 17 balls.

If anything, the Capitals players will need to be wary of his abilities to turn things around in the Giants' favour in the middle overs - be with the bat and ball.

Fielding, a mutual concern

The previous match between the teams saw both sides notch 180-plus scores, but players' misfielding is a debatable concern.

Dropped catches, letting go of boundaries and misthrows attracted a lot of flak from commentators, audience and captains alike, making it something both teams reflect upon ahead of the upcoming match.

With the likes of Robin Uthappa and James Vince in form with the bat, Dubai Capitals nor Gulf Giants will look to relive ghosts of the previous encounter.