In the IPL, a lot can change quickly. The Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Gujarat Titans faced up at the Chinnaswamy Stadium during a completely different set of circumstances this time last year. The Titans were champions and in the postseason already. A victory would have put RCB in the final four for the fourth time in a row, but as it turned out, home was not the best place for them to be.
Now fast forward to this Saturday’s match between the eighth and tenth-placed clubs. Even if neither team’s qualification fire has been extinguished, success moving forward will depend on a number of factors, including form. With two straight victories and a more defined game plan that involves front-loading its overseas hitters and all-rounders, RCB is in a slightly better position in that regard. After spending much of the season on the points-table floor, Faf du Plessis’ team will rise off it with a third straight victory and a double against the Titans.
Gujarat, meanwhile, is looking for a change in leadership. They don’t lose many wickets and are the lowest scoring side in the PowerPlays, so it appears that they haven’t fully utilized Rashid Khan’s depth at No. 8. When Shubman Gill responded to a century from Virat Kohli with an equally impressive hundred of his own, the conclusion of this match last year was seen by some as a historic shifting of the guard in Indian cricket. One year later, the Titans captain has no spot in a World Cup team because the established players are holding their own.
In the match between these two teams last Sunday in Ahmedabad, Gill’s 19-ball 16 felt like a particularly low point in a mediocre season for the star captain and batter, with his decline reflecting that of his team. But the team’s management is adamantly in his favor and thinks that being captain would finally bring out the best in him. It’s interesting to note that, despite his strong IPL 2023 season, his current total of 320 runs is just 55 runs below where he was at this point. Form is as unpredictable as the weather. Furthermore, as Bengaluru has demonstrated over the past two days, a lot may change quickly.
When: May 4, 19.30 IST, Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs. Gujarat Titans, IPL 2024
Where: Bengaluru’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium
What to anticipate: The last time SRH and RCB scored 549 runs at this location was over 20 days ago. The’refreshed’ Chinnaswamy Stadium pitch may herald a return to the IPL 2024 norm following a run of matches with marginally lower scores. In the last two days of darkness, Bengaluru exulted after months of intense summer heat. On match day, there is no chance of a rain-related interruption.
2-2 GT, Head to Head. In the rematch last week in Ahmedabad, the Royal Challengers convincingly chased down 200 with four overs remaining. The pursuing team has prevailed in each of the last four meetings between these teams.
Collective Eye:
Bengaluru Royal Challengers
Availability/Injuries: Glenn Maxwell is still eligible for selection after making a full recovery in the previous match.
Strategies & Pairings:
David Miller has been removed from the game twice by Mohammed Siraj, who has also given up just 10 runs in 14 balls pitched at the left-hander. The RCB man presently has the advantage over the devastating Titans finisher, and they are expected to square up in the death overs.
The Royals are probably going to go with an all-Indian bowling attack and use both of their international all-round players. Having bowled well on his home field, Vijaykumar Vyshak could be brought on as an impact replacement to give more bowling cushion.
The probable starting eleven are: Dinesh Karthik (wk), Will Jacks, Rajat Patidar, Glenn Maxwell, Karn Sharma, Mohammed Siraj, Yash Dayal, and Virat Kohli. [Impact Subs: Vijaykumar Vyshak and Mahipal Lomror]
Gujarat Titans
Availability/Injuries:
Strategies & Matchups: Spencer Johnson’s left arm angle can be helpful when facing an RCB top-order that leans heavily to the right. He may also be deployed to counter the returning Rajat Patidar, who is only managing a meagre 127.12 against faster bowlers despite striking spin at 225. In seven innings, the quicks have also removed Patidar six times, two of those wickets coming from left-armers.
Wriddhiman Saha had a lengthy net session the night before the game, but GT may want to consider replacing the seasoned ‘keeper with Matthew Wade. Should GT contemplate making such a change, they might sit international all-rounder Omarzai in favor of Vijay Shankar, who excelled in this particular game in 2023. Given that GT has a sufficient number of spinners, they may also consider replacing Johnson with their third spinner, Noor Ahmad, given that teams at this venue tend to favor pace (31 wickets at 10.47 ER) over spin (11 wickets at 9.25 ER).
Shabman Gill (c), Wriddhiman Saha/Matthew Wade (wk), Sai Sudharsan, Azmatullah Omarzai/Vijay Shankar, Rashid Khan, Rahul Tewatia, R. Sai Kishore, Sandeep Warrier, Noor Ahmad/Spencer Johnson, Mohit Sharma [Impact Sub: Darshan Nalkande] are the probable starting eleven.
Were you aware?
- Virat Kohli has scored 58(53), 73(53), 101(61), and 70(44) in four games against GT.
- Rajat Patidar is the fastest batter against wrist spin since his debut in 2021 (SR: 219).
- After ten games, Rashid Khan has taken just eight wickets, which is his lowest IPL total to date. At this point, he had eighteen last year.
What they expressed:
“It’s definitely something I’m adapting to. I started doing it in November last year in the Caribbean for England. It’s obviously different. The hardest thing I found is coming in outside the PowerPlay. You get a few to have a look at, you get a few easy boundaries and get yourself rolling. But outside the PowerPlay, you have to make the play yourself and it’s harder to be 17-18 off 10 balls. So I think it’s more of a mental thing… It’s about what I can do best to help the team’s chances from this position. It’s something I’m getting better at.” – Will Jacks, on his new position as No. 3 Mostly as an opener in other competitions.
