Follow UsGujarat Titans are touching distance of becoming the first side to make it to the playoffs of the ten-team IPL 2022. But up first against them are Royal Challengers Bangalore, a side which through the course of the tournament have seen several ups and downs.
At one point, they led the table but now after miserable results, find themselves in a real tricky situation. After Delhi’s win over Kolkata, the focus would be on RCB to up the ante.
Ground Details
Gujarat and Bangalore clash at the Brabourne Stadium, one of the relatively high-scoring venue in the competition. Only 40% of the games have been won by sides batting first, which yet again means that winning skipper is most likely to chase. However, it is a day encounter, which might just put the two captains – Hardik Pandya and Faf du Plessis – in a dilemma.
At the venue, the pacers have done more damage with the ball, picking up 75 wickets (62%) in comparison to the spinners who have only scalped 46 times (38%). With plenty of pacers between the two sides, it is wise for you to put your trust in the pacers to come up with the goods.
The average first innings total at the venue has been 175, and three out of the last five encounters have been won by sides chasing. Rajasthan Royals and Lucknow Super Giants are the only two sides in the recent clashes to have won a match here defending a total.
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Captain Selection
When Hardik Pandya was made Gujarat’s skipper, there were several raised eyebrows. But eight games into the season for Gujarat, Pandya has not just led the side ably but also has put the strong foot forward with the bat in hand.
Gujarat’s skipper is only behind Jos Buttler and KL Rahul in the list of top run-scorers in IPL 2022, with 305 runs, averaging a mighty 61 and a steady strike-rate of 137.39. While he might walk into this encounter on the back of a dismal show against SRH, previous scores of 67, 87*, 50* should be enough to seal the deal.
Criclytics predicts Hardik to score 16-24 runs and pick up 0-1 wicket against RCB.
X-Factors
It would be next to foolish to look past Gujarat’s new-ball bowler Mohammed Shami for an X-factor player. Shami has put his hand up for the franchise and put on some stellar performance, including the last game where he was on point. The pacer also features in the top ten wicket-takers this season, with 13 wickets. Against a struggling top-order in the form of RCB, it would be the perfect occasion for the pacer to cause a wreck.
Criclytics predicts Shami to pick 2-3 wickets against RCB.
Glenn Maxwell is due for some runs. Across the last two games, the right-hander has just scored 12 runs, including a duck against the Royals earlier in Pune. Prior to that, however, Maxwell was indeed RCB’s Big Show in the middle-order, with scores of 23, 55 and 26 against LSG, DC and CSK. Against Gujarat’s strong bowling unit, the focus would be on the Australian all-rounder to put his hands up in RCB middle-order.
Criclytics predicts Maxwell to score 16-24 runs and pick 0-1 wicket against GT.
Here are Top-ten Criclytics Suggestions:
Probable XIs:
Royal Challengers Bangalore: Faf du Plessis (c), Rajat Patidar/Mahipal Lomror, Virat Kohli, Glenn Maxwell, Suyash Prabhudessai, Shahbaz Ahmed, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Harshal Patel, Wanindu Hasaranga, Josh Hazlewood, Mohammad Siraj
Gujarat Titans: Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Shubman Gill, Hardik Pandya (c), Abhinav Manohar, David Miller, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Alzarri Joseph, Lockie Ferguson, Yash Dayal, Mohammed Shami