GT vs RR, the first qualifier of Tata IPL 2022, is scheduled to be played at Eden Gardens Stadium in Kolkata from 7:30 PM IST onwards on 24th May 2022. The match will mark the beginning of the IPL 2022 playoffs. The winner of the game will directly advance to the final, while the loser will have another chance in the second qualifier against the winner of the eliminator between LSG and RCB.
Head to Head Battle:
Gujarat Titans and Rajasthan Royals have faced each other only once in IPL so far. In that game, Gujarat defeated Rajasthan comfortably by 37 runs. Hardik Pandya, the GT skipper, played a phenomenal knock of 87 runs in the clash.
Group Stage Route:
Gujarat Titans were the table-toppers at the group stage as they won 10 matches out of their 14 games. On the other hand, RR won 9 of its 14 T20s in the tournament.
Predicted Playing XIs:
GT: Wriddhiman Saha, Shubman Gill, Matthew Wade (wk), Hardik Pandya (c), David Miller, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore, Lockie Ferguson, Yash Dayal, Mohammed Shami
RR: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Jos Buttler, Sanju Samson (c & wk), Devdutt Padikkal, Shimron Hetmyer, Riyan Parag, Ravichandran Ashwin, Trent Boult, Prasidh Krishna, Yuzvendra Chahal, Obed McCoy
Battles to Watch Out for:
Jos Buttler vs Mohammed Shami: Buttler is the highest run-getter in the ongoing tournament. RR will bank on him to provide them with a sturdy start. On the other hand, Mohammed Shami will be tasked with casting Buttler during the powerplay to ensure GT’s dominance in the game.
Hardik Pandya vs Yuzi Chahal: While Buttler is the orange cap holder, Chahal has been the highest wicket-taker in the tournament. Pandya will look to target the middle-overs where Gujarat have slightly struggled during the group stage. Samson will expect Chahal to remove the opposition captain.
GT vs RR Best Fantasy XI:
Wriddhiman Saha (c), Jos Buttler, Hardik Pandya, Sanju Samson (vc), Shimron Hetmyer, Rahul Tewatia, Ravichandran Ashwin, Rashid Khan, Trent Boult, Mohammed Shami, Yuzvendra Chahal
Predicted Star Batter:
Wriddhiman Saha has come as a refreshing option for Gujarat Titans. He has been phenomenal during the powerplay. He is expected to make an impact with his powerful knock in the first qualifier.
Predicted Star Bowler:
Trent Boult went for more than 40 runs in the last group stage game for RR. However, it will be foolish to count this legend out as he has a habit of making great comebacks. We expect him to bounce back hard against the Gujarat Titans.
GT vs RR Predicted Winner:
Rajasthan Royals are the favourites to win the game. They will likely cause an upset by defeating the table-toppers in the first qualifier.
Where to Stream:
Star Sports will broadcast the match live on its channels on Indian television, and Disney+ Hotstar will stream the clash live on its platform.
Also Read: IPL 2022, RR VS CSK: Ashwin takes RR to the first qualifier