RCB vs GT:: Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) are all set to play their first home game of IPL 2025 tonight (April 2) against Gujarat Titans (GT) at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. The Women’s Premier League (WPL) ended a few weeks ago, but the ongoing heat and dryness have left the pitch looking drier than usual.
RCB’s Strong Start to the Season
RCB has had a dream start to the season, winning their first two games. The last time they managed this was back in 2014 and 2021. This time, though, they’ll be looking to carry that momentum forward, especially at home, where their record hasn’t always been great. But last year’s performance at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, where they won three of their last six home games, should give them confidence.
GT’s Challenges: Who Should Open with Gill?
For Gujarat Titans, the big question is their batting order. With David Miller no longer in the squad and Rahul Tewatia not in peak hitting form, they could end up relying too much on their top order. One way to fix this? Pair Jos Buttler with Shubman Gill at the top to maximize powerplay runs.
Their bowling attack, however, is looking sharp. Prasidh Krishna, who has played a lot of cricket in Karnataka, will be familiar with the conditions, and Mohammed Siraj knows this ground like the back of his hand after playing here for RCB for seven years. Add Rashid Khan and Kagiso Rabada to the mix, and GT has a bowling unit that can challenge any team.
Pitch Report: A Batting Paradise?
RCB’s Director of Cricket, Mo Bobat, expects the surface to be a “typical Bengaluru pitch,” meaning lots of runs. However, it’s worth noting that during the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 knockouts and WPL matches here, no team crossed the 200-run mark. This suggests that spinners might have a role to play, especially in the middle overs.
RCB vs GT: Head-to-Head Record
- Matches Played: 5
- RCB Wins: 3
- GT Wins: 2
- Last Match Result: RCB won by 9 wickets (2024)
While RCB has the overall advantage, their record at home against GT is shaky. Out of three games at this venue, they’ve won just one. GT, on the other hand, chased down 197 here in 2023 and won their first match at Chinnaswamy in 2022.
Probable Playing XIs : RCB vs GT
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)
Batting: Virat Kohli, Phil Salt, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar (c), Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Tim David
All-rounders: Krunal Pandya
Bowlers: Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Yash Dayal
Impact Player: Suyash Sharma
Gujarat Titans (GT)
Batting: Shubman Gill (c), Jos Buttler (wk), Sai Sudharsan, Shahrukh Khan, Sherfane Rutherford
All-rounders: Rahul Tewatia
Bowlers: Rashid Khan, Kagiso Rabada, R Sai Kishore, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna
Impact Player: Ishant Sharma
Weather & Conditions in Bengaluru Tonight
Expect a warm evening with temperatures between 26-29°C. Humidity levels could go up to 61%, which might make fielding tricky in the second innings. Dew hasn’t been a big factor in recent games, but if it appears tonight, it could influence the bowling plans, especially for spinners.
Who Will Win?
RCB is riding high on confidence, but GT has the firepower to upset them, especially if their bowling clicks. The home crowd will back RCB all the way, but can they handle the pressure?
Who do you think will win tonight? Drop your predictions in the comments!
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