Follow UsRoyal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) will take on Gujarat Titans (GT) in Match 67 of IPL 2022. Not only are Gujarat through to the playoffs, but they have also confirmed a spot in the top two. RCB, on the other, hand, will be playing a do-or-die game.
Ground Details and Team Combination
Wankhede has been an enigma this IPL season. The first innings scores have varied from 222 to a 97 all out a few days ago. Overall, the average run-rate here is 8.5, still the second-best in the season. One thing that is common here is help for seamers in the powerplay. The new ball has swung and bounced, bringing wickets at 22.1 balls apiece. It is the second-best best bowling strike-rate for pacers in the powerplay among the four venues.
Hence, the new ball bowlers should be picked. Mohammad Shami has been the most successful new ball bowler this season, snaffling 11 wickets in the powerplay at 17.9 runs per wicket in the powerplay. Six of these wickets have come at the Wankhede.
In the last three years, 61 percent of the games at Wankhede have been won by teams batting second. Spinners have had only 31 percent of the wickets. However, both sides have high-class spinners that cannot be ignored.
Team Suggestion
The team we've picked has a good mix of world-class batters and bowlers. But remember, while you could go for the above team, you also have the option of choosing your team from Cricket.com’s Fantasy Research Centre. You can use this tool to build your team with the help of algorithms. Then, based on your preferences, the platform will guide you through creating the ideal fantasy XI.
Captain Selection
Glenn Maxwell hasn’t had his best season with the bat but he has shown glimpses that he is in touch. At number four, he will be crucial to keep RCB ticking forward during the tricky middle-overs’ phase. But it is his role with the ball that has prompted us to suggest him as your captain. Maxwell has fed RCB with crucial breakthroughs this season. Given the number of left-handers in the Gujarat batting arsenal, we can expect the Australian to roll his arm over for at least two overs. Wankhede has also shown help for spinners which makes Mawell a valuable all-round option in this contest.
Our Criclytics Player Projection predicts Maxwell to score 17-25 runs and score 1-2 wickets in this match
X-Factors
Rajat Patidar has showcased excellent form since his return to the RCB XI. He has scored 163 runs while batting in the top-order, averaging 32.6. Patidar has been judicious against pace (average 44, strike rate 127.5) while showing great footwork to attack spin (average 25, strike-rate 141.5).
Our Criclytics Player Projection predicts Patidar to score 23-35 runs in this match
Rahul Tewatia is going through his best season with the bat. He hasn’t bowled much but the lower-order batter has won five games for Gujarat this year with the magic of his willow. His 215 runs in the season have come at a strike rate of 149.3. In the previous meeting between the two sides earlier this season, he smashed an unbeaten 43 off 25 balls to take Gujarat to a comfortable victory.
Our Criclytics Player Projection predicts Tewatia to score 15-23 runs and score 0-1 wickets in this match
Match-Ups
Rashid Khan has dismissed Dinesh Karthik twice without giving much away. Teams have kept a few overs of spin for Karthik and Gujarat may follow the same pattern. It was Rashid who got the better of Karthik in the previous game between the two sides.
Probable XIs
Royal Challengers Bangalore: Faf du Plessis (c), Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, Glenn Maxwell, Mahipal Lomror, Shahbaz Ahmed, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Harshal Patel, Wanindu Hasaranga, Josh Hazlewood, Mohammad Siraj
Gujarat Titans: Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Shubman Gill, Matthew Wade, Hardik Pandya (c), David Miller, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Alzarri Joseph, R Sai Kishore, Mohammad Shami, Yash Dayal