Gujarat Titans (GT) find themselves at a bit of a crossroads as they prepare to host Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in Ahmedabad. Just a week after being outplayed in Bengaluru, the pressure will definitely be on Shubman Gill’s GT. RCB are flying, their batting looks unstoppable, and their bowling just recently bundled a team at 75. For GT, they need to win at home and avoid losing four points (in total) to RCB.
With the table tightly packed in the middle, a win here keeps Gujarat firmly in the playoff race. A loss, though, risks them slipping into that crowded zone where too many teams are fighting for too few spots. Their top order has done the heavy lifting so far, but the lack of support from the middle order has been GT’s perpetual problem.
Gill-Sudharsan-Buttler are still good but…
A lot of Gujarat’s hopes rest on their top three. Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan and Jos Buttler have together contributed nearly 70 percent of the team’s runs this season. That is both a strength and a concern. If they fire, GT look like a top side. If they don’t, things fall apart quickly.
Sudharsan, though, is coming in with serious momentum. After a quiet start, he has bounced back with scores of 100 (came against RCB) and 87 in his last two innings, striking at over 150. Gill, meanwhile, loves batting at this venue.
GT openers at Narendra Modi Stadium
| Player | M | Runs | Average | Strike Rate | 100s/50s | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shubman Gill | 28 | 1383 | 57.62 | 164.64 | 4/6 | 129 |
| Sai Sudharsan | 24 | 1177 | 53.50 | 159.05 | 2/7 | 103 |
Jos Buttler is another key piece. He enjoys batting against RCB and has over 600 runs against them at a strike rate touching 160. If GT are to match RCB’s firepower, Buttler will have to play a big role in the middle overs.
But beyond that, the middle order still feels non-existent. They tried Glenn Phillips but it didn’t work. Shahrukh Khan, Washington Sundar and Rahul Tewatia have not quite nailed their roles. Tewatia’s usage, in particular, has been confusing. He has faced just 42 balls all season and has not bowled a single over. The introduction of Jason Holder in the last two games has added some balance, both with bat and ball, but it is still a work in progress.
Prasidh Krishna to come back for GT
GT’s bowling attack has the names, but the returns have been mixed. Rashid Khan, usually their biggest weapon, has had a dip. Over his last five games, he has gone at an economy of 10 and picked up just three wickets. Against an RCB side that attacks spin aggressively, GT will need Rashid at his best. That said, he still holds a positive match-up. Devdutt Padikkal has struggled against him, getting out four times in seven innings.
Rashid Khan vs Kohli, Padikkal
| Batter | Innings | Runs | Balls | SR | Wickets | Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Devdutt Padikkal | 7 | 36 | 36 | 100.00 | 4 | 9.00 |
| Virat Kohli | 11 | 128 | 95 | 134.73 | 3 | 42.66 |
The pace attack could see a key change. Prasidh Krishna, who missed the last game, is likely to return in place of Arshad Khan. His record at this venue is strong, and GT missed his control.
Prasidh Krishna at Narendra Modi Stadium
- Matches: 14
- Wickets: 23
- Average: 20.2
- Economy: 8.55
- Best: 4/41
Alongside him, Kagiso Rabada has now finally found his old self. After taking just four wickets in his first four outings, Rabada has 9 scalps in last four games and is in the top five list for Purple Cap tally. He has also had some success against Kohli in the past, dismissing him four times.
Predicted GT Playing XI vs RCB
| S. No. | Player | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sai Sudharsan | Opener |
| 2 | Shubman Gill (c) | Opener |
| 3 | Jos Buttler (wk) ✈️ | Top-order batter |
| 4 | Shahrukh Khan | Middle-order batter |
| 5 | Washington Sundar | All-rounder |
| 6 | Jason Holder ✈️ | All-rounder |
| 7 | Rahul Tewatia | Finisher |
| 8 | Rashid Khan ✈️ | Spinner |
| 9 | Kagiso Rabada ✈️ | Fast bowler |
| 10 | Mohammed Siraj | Fast bowler |
| 11 | Prasidh Krishna | Fast bowler |
| Impact Sub | Manav Suthar | Spinner |
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