TACTICAL PREVIEW
Follow UsIt has been an interesting couple of fixtures in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. On April 25 (Thursday), bottom-placed Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) pipped Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) after posting JUST 206 in Hyderabad to win by a comprehensive margin. The following day saw Punjab Kings (PBKS), who were just one spot above RCB, decimate Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in a world record T20 run chase. In a way, both RCB and PBKS put a dent in two title contenders to show there aren’t really any favourites in the IPL.
On April 28 (Sunday), RCB will be up against a Gujarat Titans (GT) unit, who have not been anywhere close to the consistency they showed in the last two seasons. Shubman Gill has had it tough in his first season as captain, and they go into this match with their campaign hanging in the balance.
If Faf du Plessis' men can put on an all-round show like they did against the dangerous SRH side, it could prove to be a tough fixture for the Titans, who are seeking some sort of momentum, having not won back-to-back games even once this season.
GT vs RCB Head-to-Head
Overall - Games 3 | GT 2 | RCB 1
NOTE: This is the first match between the two sides in Ahmedabad.
Ground details
In IPL 2024, the pacers have picked up 71.4% of the wickets at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, and they have done so at an average of 21.6 and strike rate of 15, which are far better than the spinners for whom the corresponding numbers are 32.6 and 24.8, respectively.
However, the spinners have the edge when it comes to keeping the runs down, having conceded 7.9 an over, compared to the fast bowlers, who have an economy rate of 8.6. The average first innings score here this season has been 155.
Out of the four games in Ahmedabad this season, thrice the captain winning the toss has decided to bowl. The only time the captain opted to bat first was a day game, just like this one between GT and RCB. The chasing team have won three of the four matches in IPL 2024 so far.
Weather forecast
There is absolutely no chance of showers in Ahmedabad on Sunday. The temperature at the start of the match will be 39°C, but it will drop to 37°C as the game progresses.
Things to watch out for
Sai Sudharsan – GT’s saving grace
Amidst a poor season with the bat for GT, Sai Sudharsan has stood tall for them. GT have the lowest run rate (8.4), the lowest average runs per wicket (23.2) and the second lowest balls per wicket (16.6) ratio in IPL 2024 so far. Moreover, they have the worst run rate in the powerplay (8) and middle overs (7.4), while at the death, they are the second worst (10.9) after Lucknow Super Giants (10.8).
Sai Sudharsan, however, finally converted his good starts into a superb fifty in the previous match against Delhi Capitals (DC), scoring 65 off just 39 deliveries.
However, fast bowlers have been his nemesis this season, having dismissed him eight out of nine times. Anything below the 6m length and below has led to his undoing more often than not.
Patidar steps up – Can he keep it going?
Rajat Patidar has stepped up his game in the last four innings, in which he has slammed as many as three fifties, striking at 218.
Once he gets past 10 deliveries, the right-handed batter has grown in confidence and made life difficult for the bowlers.
RCB finally have someone other than Virat Kohli and Dinesh Karthik, who can ship in with valuable runs in the middle order at a brisk pace.
Probable XIs
Gujarat Titans: Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Shubman Gill (c), David Miller, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rahul Tewatia, Shahrukh Khan, Rashid Khan, Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore, Noor Ahmad, Mohit Sharma, Sandeep Warrier; Sai Sudharsan/Darshan Nalkande (IP)
Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Virat Kohli, Faf du Plessis (c), Will Jacks, Rajat Patidar, Cameron Green, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Mahipal Lomror, Karn Sharma, Lockie Ferguson, Mohammed Siraj, Yash Dayal; Anuj Rawat/Vijaykumar Vyshak (IP)
Telecast and streaming details
The match will be live on Star Sports Network and live-streamed on Jio Cinema. The game will start at 3:30 PM, with the toss happening at 3 PM.
Play Asli Fantasy on Cricket.com. Download the App Now.
