नवीनतम
IPL: GT face red-hot RCB in crucial mid-season clash
NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: 2022 IPL champions Gujarat Titans will be aiming to find consistency when they host a confident Royal Challengers Bengaluru in their next Indian Premier League (IPL) clash at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Thursday.
At the halfway mark of the tournament, Gujarat Titans have had a mixed campaign so far, winning four and losing four of their eight matches. They currently sit exactly in the middle of the 10-team points table and will be looking to build momentum in the second half of the season.
In contrast, defending champions RCB have been one of the most consistent sides this year, winning six out of eight games to be placed at the second spot. Their strong run has been driven by an effective bowling attack, especially with the new ball. Bhuvneshwar Kumar has been impressive with his swing, while Josh Hazlewood has consistently troubled batters with his disciplined lengths outside off stump.
In the middle overs, Krunal Pandya has added further control with his variations, making it difficult for opposition batters to score freely.
For Gujarat, much of the batting responsibility has rested on their top order. Sai Sudharsan, captain Shubman Gill and Jos Buttler have contributed the bulk of the runs. Washington Sundar has also shown promise in the middle order, but the finishing role remains an area of concern, with Shahrukh Khan and Rahul Tewatia yet to make a significant impact. The inclusion of Jason Holder in the middle order is expected to add more balance and depth to the side.
The two teams recently met in Bengaluru, where RCB chased down a target of 206 comfortably with seven balls to spare. Gujarat will also be concerned about their home form, having lost two of their three matches at the Narendra Modi Stadium.
While Bengaluru appear to have the edge going into the contest, they too will look to improve in certain areas. Jacob Bethell, who has featured in the last two games due to Phil Salt’s injury, is yet to make a big impact. The young batter, who showed promise during the T20 World Cup, will be eager to deliver alongside Virat Kohli.
Fresh from a dominant victory over Delhi Capitals, RCB head into the match high on confidence. Captain Rajat Patidar emphasised the importance of staying focused.
“It’s very important to follow your routines because you know it's still a long way to go, but I think we are just taking one game at a time. And the positive is, as I mentioned last game also, that different players coming up and doing it for the team, I think that's a good sign for us,” he said.
Historically, the two teams have faced each other seven times in the IPL, with RCB leading 4-3. The contests have generally been close, with both sides posting competitive totals.
The pitch at the Narendra Modi Stadium is expected to favour batters, offering good bounce and carry. At the same time, bowlers can find assistance, especially early on with the new ball, while spinners may come into play as the match progresses. Hard-length bowling has also proven effective on this surface.
In the previous game at the venue, Mumbai Indians showed how to adapt to the conditions. After a slow start, they finished strongly with the bat and then bowled out Gujarat for just 100, using disciplined hard lengths. Spinners such as Mitchell Santner, AM Ghazanfar and Rashid Khan also made effective use of the surface.
Squads:
Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Rajat Patidar (captain), Virat Kohli, Tim David, Jacob Bethell, Romario Shepherd, Josh Hazlewood, Nuwan Thushara, Devdutt Padikkal, Jitesh Sharma, Krunal Pandya, Rasikh Dar, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jordan Cox, Suyash Sharma, Venkatesh Iyer, Swapnil Singh, Jacob Duffy, Kanishk Chouhan, Abhinandan Singh, Mangesh Yadav, Phil Salt, Satvik Deswal, Vicky Ostwal, Vihaan Malhotra.
Gujarat Titans: Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (c), Shahrukh Khan, Anuj Rawat, Jos Buttler, Kumar Kushagra, Tom Banton, Glenn Phillips, Jason Holder, Nishant Sindhu, Rahul Tewatia, Washington Sundar, Sai Kishore, Jayant Yadav, Arshad Khan, Shahrukh Khan, Manav Suthar, Rashid Khan, Mohammed Siraj, Kagiso Rabada, Prasidh Krishna.
