The 24th match of the ongoing IPL 2024 will feature a clash between Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Gujarat Titans (GT) at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur, on Wednesday, April 10. Rajasthan Royals have been in impeccable form in the tournament so far, winning every game that they have played.
Rajasthan Royals will clash with Gujarat Titans at their home ground, Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur on Wednesday. Rajasthan Royals will aim to maintain their unbeaten streak as they go up against the inconsistent Gujarat Titans in the upcoming match. With 2 wins out of 5 games this season, Gujarat Titans are striving to regain their winning momentum after their loss to Lucknow Super Giants by 33 runs.
Facing Rajasthan Royals, who have emerged as a formidable force this season, Gujarat is determined to bounce back and reclaim their winning form.
RR vs GT: Team Previews
Rajasthan Royals
Rajasthan Royals are playing with renewed confidence after impressive victories against Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore, winning by 6 wickets each. Their earlier wins against Lucknow Super Giants and Delhi Capitals have added to their momentum. Led by Trent Boult and Nandre Burger, Rajasthan Royals’ pace bowling is formidable, supported by experienced spinners Ashwin and Chahal.
Despite their bowling strength, their batting lineup, including inform players like Riyan Parag and Sanju Samson, is equally impressive. Jos Buttler’s recent century has boosted their morale, leading them to their best run since the IPL’s inception in 2008. Another victory against Gujarat Titans would edge them closer to a playoff spot.
Gujarat Titans
Gujarat Titans have had a slow start to this season’s IPL, particularly feeling the absence of Hardik Pandya, which has sometimes affected their confidence compared to previous seasons. Despite the leadership of Shubman Gill, supported by Rashid Khan, they seem to lack something crucial. However, as they face the formidable Rajasthan Royals, Gill and his team will aim to make a strong statement with a victory at the RR den.
Mohit Sharma, Rashid Khan, Umesh Yadav, Omarzai, and Noor Ahmad form the backbone of Gujarat’s bowling attack, with Mohit Sharma being the standout performer so far. However, their batting hasn’t quite reached its peak, with Gill, despite being the top scorer with 183 runs from 5 innings, not quite reaching his 2023 form since taking over the captaincy.
RR vs GT Head To Head Record
The Rajasthan Royals have had a near-perfect season with dominant performances in the batting and bowling departments. The unbeaten Rajasthan Royals have been the most in-form team with four consecutive wins. Currently, with eight points and a net run rate of +1.120, they are at the top of the points table.
On the other hand, Gujarat Titans has lost two straight games ahead of this fixture. In the last match they were defeated by Lucknow Super Giants by 33 runs. So far, they have played five games, with two wins and three losses. With four points and a net run rate of -0.797, they are in the seventh position in the points table.
Rajasthan Royals and Gujarat Titans have faced each other four times in IPL contests; Gujarat Titans dominated by winning four matches against RR, while Rajasthan Royals managed to win only one fixture against GT.
RR vs GT: Jaipur Pitch Report
In RR vs RCB clash, Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis noted that the pitch at Jaipur made batting difficult in the first innings. However, conditions improved as the match progressed, especially under the lights. This trend was also evident in the RR vs DC game, where the pitch seemed a bit sticky. It’s likely that we’ll see similar conditions in the upcoming RR vs GT clash. Advantage for teams batting second, so the toss might come crucial.
Jaipur has been one of the most high-scoring venues this season, with scores of 180 breached in four of the six innings. The ball has come on rather well, but there could be some help for the spinners. It is expected to be a hot afternoon, with the temperatures falling to around 27 to 30 degrees in the evening.
The surface at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur is preferred by the batters. The ball is known to come on the bat with a good bounce; opting to bowl first and chasing the target in the second innings could prove to be an optimal decision, courtesy of the expected dew to come in.
Jaipur wasn’t quite a fortress for the Royals last season as they lost four out of five home matches there. But they have rebuilt that fort in 2024, having registered three wins so far and will be confident of a fourth. They defended 193 and 185, and chased down a target of 184 as well, with all three being comfortable victories.
Big Picture: Can Rashid stop Royals from making it 5/5?
The only unbeaten side in the competition, Rajasthan Royals have both batting and bowling going right for them. But can Rashid Khan pose a threat to the table toppers’ unbeaten streak? It’s been a difficult start to the season for the leg spinner, with five wickets in five games at an average of 34.6 and economy of 8.65. But, he does have a stellar record against the Royals.
Jos Buttler has never hit a four or six off him in the IPL and has fallen to him three times in eight innings, averaging just 10.00 and striking at only 63.82. Riyan Parag averages 5.07 against Rashid, falling to him twice in 13 deliveries. He has also dismissed Shimron Hetmyer three times in nine innings, and Yashaswi Jaiswal once in two. R Ashwin, who has batted up the order a couple of times this season, has an average of just 3.00 and has lost his wicket three times against Rashid in the IPL.
That aside, both sides have struggled to maximize their powerplays. Royals have a run rate of 7.70 in the first six overs, while Titans have gone at 8.26. But while the Royals have flipped a switch after that, striking at over 10, the Titans have struggled. Their run rate of 8.23 after the powerplay is the worst among all teams.
Titans are seventh on the points table with a 2-3 record, and against the table-toppers, a stiff challenge naturally awaits. Another defeat would leave them languishing towards the bottom but a victory away from home will lift them into the mid-table logjam.
Team news and Impact Player strategy
Rajasthan Royals
Sandeep Sharma, who missed the last two games, “is on the recovery” and could be available for selection after the Titans game, according to assistant coach Trevor Penney. Royals have had Shubham Dubey coming in as an Impact Player for Yuzvendra Chahal in their last two matches and they could go down the same route. A fit Navdeep Saini is back from the NCA.
Gujarat Titans
David Miller is unlikely to be fit for the Royals clash, according to fast bowler Spencer Johnson but is close to full-match fitness. There was no clarity over Wriddhiman Saha’s availability, who missed the previous game with a back spasm. With Vijay Shankar out of form, Titans could bring in Shahrukh Khan or Abhinav Manohar to bulk up the middle order.
They could also think about Matthew Wade in place of Kane Williamson, who has looked sluggish in two games. Wade also provides a wicket-keeping option, especially if Saha remains unavailable. Mohit Sharma has consistently been Titans’ designated Impact swap.
In the spotlight: Yashaswi Jaiswal and Noor Ahmad
After the highs of IPL 2023 and the international success that followed, Yashaswi Jaiswal has had a forgettable start to IPL 2024. With scores of 24, 5, 10 and 0, he has failed to survive the powerplay this season and is a key reason behind Royals’ struggles up top. Against the Titans, Jaiswal has generally struggled: in four innings against them, he has scored just 40 runs at an average of 10.00 and a strike rate of 95.23.
Noor Ahmad has the best economy among all Titans bowlers – 7.16. While he has not always been among the wickets, he has kept the lines tight and not given the batters much to exploit. His wrong’un have dazzled and while Gill might expect a few more wickets from him, Noor has hit the right spots since he entered the XI. He could be key on a helpful Jaipur surface.
Vital Stats that matter RR vs GT.
- Buttler has a strike rate of 206.66 against Mohit but has fallen to him twice in three IPL innings.
- Samson has fallen to Rashid just once in 13 IPL innings and scored 111 runs off him in 96 balls.
- Gill has never been dismissed by R Ashwin in the IPL in seven innings and smashed him for 95 runs in 58 balls.
- Yuzvendra Chahal needs five wickets to become the first bowler in the IPL to reach 200 wickets.
- Titans have a 4-1 record over Royals in the IPL.
Probable Playing XIs:
Rajasthan Royals (RR):
Yashaswi Jaiswal, Jos Buttler, Sanju Samson(w/c), Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, Shimron Hetmyer, Ravichandran Ashwin, Trent Boult, Avesh Khan, Nandre Burger, Yuzvendra Chahal
Impact substitute – Shubham Dubey
Gujarat Titans (GT):
Shubman Gill(c), Sharath BR (w), Sai Sudarshan, Vijay Shankar, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, Umesh Yadav, Spencer Johnson, Darshan Nalkande, Mohit Sharma
Impact substitute – Azmatullah Omarzai
Fantasy XI of the Match : Sanju Samson, Jos Buttler, Dhruv Jurel, Shubman Gill, Riyan Parag, Rashid Khan, Azmatullah Omarzai, Trent Boult, Mohit Sharma, Yuzvendra Chahal, Nandre Burger.
RR vs GT Probable Best Players of the Match:
Probable Best Batter: Shubman Gill
Shubman Gill has looked in great touch so far in the ongoing 2024 edition of the mega event and would be eager to continue his good form with the bat in the upcoming game as well. His ability to play attacking shots without taking much risk makes him a real threat to the opposition, and Rajasthan would be aware of that.
Probable Best Bowler: Trent Boult
Ace RR pacer Trent Boult could be the best bowler in game 24 of the IPL 2024. With five wickets in four matches, Boult has been brilliant for the Royals, and Gujarat will be wary of the Kiwi pacer’s opening spell in the game.
RR vs GT Match Prediction.
Scenario 1
Rajasthan Royals win the toss and bowl
Power Play score – 50-60
First Innings Score – 165-175
Rajasthan Royals to win the match
Scenario 2
Gujarat Titans win the toss and bowl
Power Play Score – 50-60
First Innings Score – 190-200
Rajasthan Royals to win the match