Bengaluru, April 1 — As Royal Challengers Bengaluru gear up for their much-anticipated homecoming at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, their hopes of maintaining momentum in IPL 2025 rest heavily on the shoulders of their disciplined bowling unit. They face Gujarat Titans in what promises to be a high-octane clash on Wednesday.
Their controlled spells up front will be vital in neutralizing Gujarat's in-form openers — captain Shubman Gill and B. Sai Sudharsan — who have formed a solid top-order pairing.
Hazlewood’s ability to hit hard lengths and extract bounce, coupled with Bhuvneshwar’s precision and swing with the new ball, makes them a formidable threat. Yash Dayal, the crafty left-arm pacer, has also impressed in a supporting role.
RCB’s spin department, manned by Krunal Pandya and Suyash Sharma, will need to elevate their performance to counter Gujarat’s aggressive middle order.
The Titans’ pace attack, led by Kagiso Rabada and Mohammed Siraj — both former RCB players — will aim to dent the hosts early. Rabada, in particular, has a strong T20 record against Kohli, dismissing him four times in 14 inningsand restricting him to a strike-rate of 113.
RCB's Bowling Duo Holds the Key
Despite not grabbing headlines with extravagant figures, RCB’s pace spearheads Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar have emerged as their most reliable assets this season. Hazlewood has been exceptionally economical, conceding just 5.37 runs per over, while Bhuvneshwar, returning to action against Chennai Super Kings, kept it tight with an economy of 6.6.Their controlled spells up front will be vital in neutralizing Gujarat's in-form openers — captain Shubman Gill and B. Sai Sudharsan — who have formed a solid top-order pairing.
Hazlewood’s ability to hit hard lengths and extract bounce, coupled with Bhuvneshwar’s precision and swing with the new ball, makes them a formidable threat. Yash Dayal, the crafty left-arm pacer, has also impressed in a supporting role.
Challenges at the Batting-Friendly Chinnaswamy
However, the traditionally batting-friendly Chinnaswamy surface — notorious for its short boundaries and quick outfield — poses a unique challenge. The stadium has already witnessed three 260-plus scores this season, signaling a testing ground for any bowling unit.RCB’s spin department, manned by Krunal Pandya and Suyash Sharma, will need to elevate their performance to counter Gujarat’s aggressive middle order.
GT's Spin Strength and Pace Firepower
On the other hand, Gujarat Titans boast a potent spin attack featuring Rashid Khan and R. Sai Kishore, who will be tasked with containing RCB’s top-order batters, including Virat Kohli, Phil Salt, Devdutt Padikkal, and skipper Rajat Patidar — all of whom have displayed comfort against spin.The Titans’ pace attack, led by Kagiso Rabada and Mohammed Siraj — both former RCB players — will aim to dent the hosts early. Rabada, in particular, has a strong T20 record against Kohli, dismissing him four times in 14 inningsand restricting him to a strike-rate of 113.
Kohli and Salt in Form
RCB’s top-order duo of Kohli and Salt have been in sync, putting together partnerships of 95 and 45 in their last two outings. Their familiarity with the Chinnaswamy surface could make them even more dangerous if Gujarat fail to strike early.Match Outlook
The contest will likely hinge on which bowling unit adapts better to the batting-heavy conditions. With light showers forecasted, the weather could also play a role in the outcome.Match Details:
- Venue: M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
- Date: Wednesday, April 3
- Time: 7:30 PM IST
Squads:
Gujarat Titans:
Shubman Gill (C), Jos Buttler, B. Sai Sudharsan, Shahrukh Khan, Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Nishant Sindhu, Mahipal Lomror, Kumar Kushagra, Anuj Rawat, Manav Suthar, Washington Sundar, Gerald Coetzee, Mohmmad Arshad Khan, Gurnoor Singh Brar, Sherfane Rutherford, R. Sai Kishore, Ishant Sharma, Jayant Yadav, Glenn Phillips, Kareem Janat, Kulwant Khejroliya.Royal Challengers Bengaluru:
Rajat Patidar (C), Virat Kohli, Swastik Chikara, Devdutt Padikkal, Jitesh Sharma, Philip Salt, Manoj Bhandage, Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Liam Livingstone, Romario Shepherd, Jacob Bethell, Swapnil Singh, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Nuwan Thushara, Lungi Ngidi, Yash Dayal, Rasikh Dar Salam, Suyash Sharma, Mohit Rathee, Abhinandan Singh.
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