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*GT VS RR PREVIEW*
*BUILD UP:*
Let’s put our hands together for the summit clash, the tussle between the giants and the royals here at the biggest stadium of the world, in Ahmedabad. If last year’s final wasn’t enough to judge the magnitude of this game, then viewers have another opportunity up their sleeves to take the feel of what is expected to be a blockbuster game.
*CAN THE NEW BALL SUPREMACY OF GT MAKE THE ROYALS FEEL POWERLESS?:*
IPL has been a witness to loads of successful opening partnerships but this one, where an England giant joins hands with a raw but extremely skilled Indian, has to be the most overwhelming one. We have seen them grow together and put bowling groups under the pump straightway but this time, the challenge is stiff. They will be up against one of the best power play bowlers in Shami, who holds the aces against them. If RR are able to keep this threat aside, it should hold the strength to give them the edge for the rest of the game.
*WILL THE WIZARD ACCEPT THE CHALLENGE?:*
Rashid Khan, famous for his wizardry and the extraordinary consistency to pick the right wickets at the most important junctions, has a task to fulfill. Against a star studded batting lineup of the Royals, he is someone who has in him to burn them down to ashes, to successfully trigger a collapse. Boasting of a fabulous record vs Sanju,Buttler and Hemtyer, Rashid is the MVP heading into this night fixture.
*ROYALS PROBABLE XI:*
Jos Buttler, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson(c)(wk), Riyan Parag, Shimron Hetmyer, Jason Holdar, Dhruv Jagel, Ravi Ashwin, Trent Boult, Sandeep Sharma, Yuzi Chahal
With Boult up and running again, he should find a place in the XI right away, replacing the much talented Kuldeep Sen.
With Sandeep Sharma,Holder and Boult forming as a pace attack for RR, a little swing on offer should open the floodgates for RR to steam in and dominate.
Keep an eye on Chahal, the leading wicket taker of this year as the bigger boundary dimensions here at the Modi stadium should suffice well for him and his bag of tricks.
*GT PROBABLE XI:*
Wriddhiman Saha(wk), Shubman Gill, Sai Sudarshan, Hardik Pandya(c), Vijay Shankar, David Miller, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Alzarri Joseph, Mohammad Shami, Joshua Little
Have been a huge admirer of the batting prowess of Gill and banking on him to deliver again. Though he would need to be vary of the challenge that comes his way from the swing of Boult.
The pitch is likely to have some bounce in it, which makes the role of Alzarri Joseph all the more crucial and integral to the team’s success. Cracking the code to the nature of the pitch would be the way forward.
In his home ground, as the skipper, and against a team that they faced the most times last year, Hardik has an opportunity in front of him to turn his below average looking season uptil now into a blockbuster one, starting from today.
*MY PREDICTIONS FOR THE GAME-*
*FOR GT:*
Highest run getter- Shubman Gill/Hardik Pandya
Highest wicket taker- Alzarri joseph/Rashid Khan
*FOR RR:*
Highest run getter- Jos Buttler/Sanju Samson
Highest wicket taker- Trent Boult/Yuzi Chahal
*FOR THE GAME:*
GT to win another game and solidify their position on the points table.