IPL 2024, GT vs RCB Preview: Gujarat Giants seek redemption against resurgent Royal Challengers Bengaluru

NEW DELHI: Gujarat Giants are bracing for a crucial encounter against a resurgent Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the Indian Premier League on Sunday.

Currently positioned seventh on the table with eight points from nine matches, the Giants are eager to ascend above the cluster, where teams like Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Capitals also stand with the same tally.

The key focus for the Giants lies in revitalizing their pace bowling department, which has struggled to make an impact so far in the tournament. Bowlers like Mohit Sharma, Umesh Yadav, and Sandeep Warrier have leaked runs consistently, posing a major concern for the team. Additionally, their spinners, led by Rashid Khan, have been steady but are yet to produce match-winning performances.

Facing RCB 's rejuvenated middle-order, spearheaded by Rajat Patidar and Cameron Green, will be a daunting challenge for the Giants' bowlers. Patidar's recent displays against quality spinners highlight his batting prowess, while Green's explosive cameo against Sunrisers Hyderabad showcased his potential to accelerate the innings.

On the batting front, Giants' batters like Sai Sudharsan and skipper Shubman Gill have shown promise, but the middle-order needs to step up to provide substantial support. Players like David Miller, Shahrukh Khan, Vijay Shankar, and Rahul Tewatia have shown glimpses of form but need to convert it into consistent performances.

RCB's bowling, led by Mohammed Siraj and Yash Dayal, displayed discipline and variation in their previous match, stifling the SRH batting lineup effectively. With Karn Sharma and Cameron Green providing crucial breakthroughs, RCB's bowling unit appears formidable.

As the Giants aim for redemption, they must produce an improved performance against RCB's potent lineup and capitalize on their strengths to secure a vital victory in the IPL.

Teams (from):

RCB: Faf du Plessis (c), Glenn Maxwell, Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, Anuj Rawat, Dinesh Karthik , Suyash Prabhudessai, Will Jacks, Mahipal Lomror, Karn Sharma, Manoj Bhandage, Mayank Dagar, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Akash Deep, Mohammed Siraj, Reece Topley, Himanshu Sharma, Rajan Kumar, Cameron Green, Alzarri Joseph, Yash Dayal, Tom Curran, Lockie Ferguson, Swapnil Singh, Saurav Chauhan.

GT: Shubman Gill (c), David Miller, Matthew Wade, Wriddhiman Saha, Kane Williamson, Abhinav Manohar, B. Sai Sudharsan, Darshan Nalkande, Vijay Shankar, Jayant Yadav, Rahul Tewatia, Noor Ahmad, Sai Kishore, Rashid Khan, Joshua Little, Mohit Sharma, Azmatullah Omarzai, Umesh Yadav, Shahrukh Khan, Sushant Mishra, Kartik Tyagi, Manav Suthar, Spencer Johnson, Sandeep Warrier, BR Sharath.

Match starts at 3.30 PM IST.

(With inputs from PTI)