As the 2024 Indian Premier League season playoffs race intensifies, Gujarat Titans are gearing up to host Royal Challengers Bangaluru at the Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium on Sunday at 3:30 pm.
The Ahmedabad-based franchise enjoyed two successful seasons previously but is facing a rough patch in IPL 2024. For the first time in their history, they’ve failed to win more than 50% of their games at this stage of the league. With two losses and two wins in their last four games, they’ll be eager to return to winning ways and strengthen their position in the league standings.
With their second triumph in nine games, the Faf du Plessis-led side is determined to maintain their winning momentum. Breaking free from the chains of six consecutive defeats, they finally secured two valuable points. However, despite this recent victory, they still find themselves at the bottom of the points table due to a poor net run rate.
What has happened so far?
In the ongoing IPL season, Gujarat Titans are struggling with only four wins from nine games and a negative run rate. Both batting and bowling are inconsistent, with Hardik Pandya’s absence affecting GT’s middle order.
In their recent match against Delhi Capitals, they lost by only four runs, highlighting their death bowling concerns, conceding over 50 runs in the last two overs bowled by R Sai Kishore and Mohit Sharma.
Following their initial victory in the second match of the season, RCB notched their second win of the campaign against the formidable Sunrisers Hyderabad who have been in stellar form.
In a remarkable display of skill and determination, they successfully defended 206 run courtesy of contributions from Rajat Patidar, Virat Kohli, Karn Sharma, and Swapnil Singh proved pivotal in clinching the victory for them at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket stadium.
Head to Head Record
The budding rivalry between Gujarat Titans and Royal Challengers Bengaluru is still in its infancy, marked by just three encounters between the two teams. Among these encounters, RCB has emerged victorious only once, while GT has displayed their dominance by clinching two wins.
In their last meeting, the stage was set at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium for a high-stakes encounter, where Shubman Gill’s exceptional century steered his team to a thrilling victory breaking RCB fans’ hearts as their qualification hopes for IPL 2023 were dashed by GT.
Key Players
Rashid Khan has made vital contributions with both bat and ball for GT in IPL 2024
Rashid Khan (Gujarat Titans): Rashid Khan has undoubtedly emerged as the lynchpin for his team this season, showcasing his prowess with both the ball and the bat. Despite a sluggish start, he has managed to turn heads with his stellar performance, claiming an impressive eight wickets from nine games. His bowling has been nothing short of exemplary, boasting an average economy of 7.44 and a formidable strike rate of 25.50.
However, it’s not just his bowling that’s been turning heads; Rashid has also showcased his batting prowess when the team needed it most. His pivotal partnership with Rahul Tewatia in one of the games stands out as a testament to his all-round abilities. Accumulating over 80 runs in eight games, including three impactful scores of 20+, Rashid Khan has undoubtedly emerged as a key player in shaping his team’s fortunes.
Virat Kohli (Royal Challengers Bengaluru): In what has been a challenging season for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, there shines a solitary beacon of hope in the form of Virat Kohli. Amidst the team’s struggles, the right-handed maestro has stood tall, amassing an impressive tally of 400+ runs in the campaign.
His contributions have been nothing short of exemplary, exhibiting not just his skill but also his consistency as a batter. With a strike rate of 145.65 and an average of 61.5, Kohli’s performances have been instrumental in providing stability to the team’s batting lineup in the Indian Premier League 2024. Whether it’s setting a challenging total or chasing down a daunting target, Kohli’s presence at the crease instils confidence in the team.
Team News from Both Camps
The Titans have failed to nail down a stable combination on the field but David Miller’s return has strengthened the middle order. GT, known for assembling a strong bowling unit has been struggling to contain runs in the ongoing season of the cash-rich league.
RCB fielded the same playing XI in the win against SRH and Andy Flower would be aiming to continue the momentum by fielding the same players against GT.
Predicted XIs
Gujarat Titans: Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill ©, Matthew Wade (wk), David Miller, Vijay Shankar, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Mohit Sharma, Noor Ahmad, Darshan Nalkande, Umesh Yadav
Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Faf du Plessis ©, Virat Kohli, Will Jacks, Rajat Patidar, Cameron Green, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Mahipal Lomror, Karn Sharma, Mohammed Siraj, Lockie Ferguson, Yash Dayal
Prediction
As Royal Challengers Bengaluru face the end of their tournament journey, they aim to leave a lasting impact by clinching a victory against the formidable Gujarat Titans.
RCB’s determination to disrupt the dynamics of the tournament remains palpable as they need five wins from five matches to stand a chance of making it to the playoffs. However, the task is daunting as the Gujarat Titans boast a well-established and formidable lineup, setting the stage for a challenging clash.