'Youngest Titan in The House': GT Celebrate as Matthew Wade Welcomes Third Child

Matthew Wade is the latest entry in the list of cricketers to be blessed with a child in 2024. The Aussie batter is set to feature in the upcoming IPL 2024, where he will be representing the Gujarat Titans. Amid the preparations for the T20 extravaganza, Wade and his wife revealed on Instagram that the couple welcomed a third child into their family.

Being parents to two girls, the duo was blessed with a boy this time. In their post, the couple wrote, “Our family and hearts are complete. Duke Matthew Hubert Wade. 3.31 kgs of squish”. The warm family photograph was also shared by his franchise GT who wrote on X, “Congratulations to the Wade family! We have the youngest Titan in the house!”

Matthew Wade is set to miss two of GT’s opening games in the IPL 2024 which commences on March 22. The Australian batter decided that he would be representing the Tasmania side for the Sheffield Shield final. That match will be played from March 21 to March 24. Wade has already informed the Indian franchise about his plans to join the camp later. The Aussie batter also announced that this would be the last red-ball match of his First-Class cricket career. However, the Aussie batter added that he would be available for selection in white-ball formats.

Matthew Wade has played only two IPL seasons in his career. He made his debut in 2011 where he played just three games and scored 22 runs. His second stint in the Indian franchise league came more than a decade later in 2022. In that edition, Matthew Wade played around 10 games, while scoring 157 runs.

As for GT, the 2022 IPL winners will play with a new captain this season. With Hardik Pandya’s departure to Mumbai Indians, Shubman Gill will be taking charge of GT for the 2024 season. The young cricketer surely realises the pressure that lays upon his shoulders knowing that the franchise made back-to-back finals under the captaincy of Pandya. GT fans will be excited to see the changes Gill would be bringing to his squad in their philosophy and approach. The primary problem that lies in front of him is the absence of last year’s purple cap winner Mohammad Shami. The Indian speedster is currently in his recovery phase having undergone a heel surgery last month.

GT will be playing their IPL 2024 opener against their former skipper Hardik Pandya-led Mumbai Indians. The match will be played on March 24, Sunday at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.