The unbeaten Rajasthan Royals, led by Sanju Samson, are all set to lock horns against the Shubman Gill-led Gujarat Titans in the 24th match of the Indian Premier League on Wednesday at Jaipur’s iconic Sawai Mansingh Stadium.
This encounter marks the second consecutive home game for the Royals and a second consecutive away game for the Titans with the visitors eager to clinch a victory in the upcoming showdown. However, they find themselves in a less than stellar form compared to the hosts, who are currently exhibiting scintillating performances on the field.
Sitting comfortably atop the points table, the Samson-captained side has emerged victorious in all four of their games thus far. In contrast, the winners of the IPL 2022 find themselves struggling in the middle of the table, currently occupying the 7th spot with two wins and three losses from their five matches played.
What has happened so far?
Rajasthan Royals commenced their campaign with a thrilling clash against Lucknow Super Giants where RR’s captain delivered a fantastic knock securing a 20-run victory.
In their subsequent match against Delhi Capitals, the table-toppers successfully defended a total of 186 runs, holding their opponents 12 runs short of the target. The squad then embarked on their first away game against Mumbai Indians, where they convincingly outplayed the hosts with a six-wicket triumph.
In their recent home encounter against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Jos Buttler’s sensational performance left Bengaluru reeling, resulting in a resounding six-wicket victory.
Conversely, the runners-up of last season, GT, despite playing an additional match compared to the Royals, have only managed two wins out of their five outings in the ongoing tournament. While they began with a nail-biting victory against Mumbai Indians, they faced a setback against hosts Chennai Super Kings, succumbing to a 63-run defeat.
While it seemed that the Titans had found their stride after a convincing seven-wicket victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad, consecutive defeats to Punjab Kings and LSG by three wickets and 33 runs respectively, have put the Gill-led franchise on the back foot.
Head to Head Record
The head-to-head record between the neighbouring teams has overwhelmingly favored the Ahmedabad-based franchise. Out of the five matches they’ve played, the Titans have emerged victorious four times, with only one win credited to RR.
Their encounters include the IPL 2022 Final where GT triumphed to claim their maiden title in their inaugural season.
Key Players
Against Gujarat Titans, Buttler has a strike rate of over 150
Jos Buttler (Rajasthan Royals): Jos Buttler, the seasoned opening batter for Rajasthan Royals, showcased a resurgence in form during the previous match, a much-needed boost after lacklustre performances earlier in the season. In his milestone 100th IPL appearance, Buttler’s unbeaten century, crafted from 58 balls, steered his team to victory against RCB.
Furthermore, the Englishman has a promising track record against Gujarat, amassing 190 runs across five innings at an average of 38, complemented by two half-centuries. His overall IPL statistics speak volumes, with 3358 runs from 99 innings, maintaining an average of 38.16 and a blistering strike rate of 147.8.
Sai Sudharsan (Gujarat Titans): Sai Sudharsan has emerged as a consistent performer for his side, currently ranking as the IPL 2024’s second-highest run-scorer with 191 runs from five innings, averaging 38.20 with a strike rate approaching 130.
While he has consistently contributed scores of 30-plus, Sudharsan aims to convert these starts into substantial innings, alongside his team’s aspirations for a healthy strike rate in the forthcoming match. As a pivotal figure in Gujarat’s lineup, Sudharsan’s ability to anchor innings positions him as a key player to watch.
Team News from Both Camps
Unfortunately, both teams are grappling with injuries to some of their key players. On the home front, the Royals are eagerly awaiting the return of Sandeep Sharma, who has been absent from their last two matches against MI and RCB.
As for the Ashish Nehra-coached side, they have three key players nursing injuries: Wriddhiman Saha, David Miller, and Azmatullah Omarzai missed the last match against LSG with Miller also sitting out the match against Punjab due to a niggle.
Saha’s absence was due to a back spasm, while Omarzai sustained a side strain, compelling them to skip these crucial clashes.
Predicted XIs
Rajasthan Royals: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Jos Buttler, Sanju Samson © (wk), Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, Shimron Hetmyer, Ravichandran Ashwin, Trent Boult, Avesh Khan, Nandre Burger, Yuzvendra Chahal
Gujarat Titans: Shubman Gill ©, Sai Sudharsan, Kane Williamson, Sharath BR (wk), Vijay Shankar, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Darshan Nalkande, Noor Ahmad, Spencer Johnson, Mohit Sharma
Prediction
Despite Yashasvi Jaiswal’s concerning form, overcoming this formidable Pink-Jersey side will prove to be an arduous task, as they boast a well-rounded lineup brimming with confidence from their recent performances.
Nevertheless, the visitors could hand RR their inaugural defeat of the season if they can muster a respectable total on the board in the absence of a few of their key players.