IPL 2023: Match 48 RR vs GT Preview, Playing XI, Live Streaming Details & Updates

Gujarat Tiants (Photo Source: Twitter/GT)

The 48th match of the ongoing IPL 2023 will see the finalists of last year take on each other at the Sawai Mansigh Stadium in Jaipur on May 5. Ahead of that, the home side has a lot of problems to deal with, as it has managed to win only one out of its last four matches in the league.

Gujarat, meanwhile, will be far more relaxed, despite losing their last game at the hands of Delhi Capitals since they are currently at the top of the IPL points table.

However, their batting unit didn’t fire against the David Warner-led side and the skipper Hardik Pandya took all the blame on himself as despite scoring a half-century and staying not out till the end, the 29-year-old couldn’t help GT win their seventh match in the league.

Meanwhile, even though Wriddhiman Saha has been terrific behind the stumps, his numbers with the bat are concerning at the moment. However, GT are likely to back him. On the other hand, Shubman Gill and Vijay Shankar will have to be more consistent in order to help Titans defend their title this season.

When it comes to the bowlers, Mohammed Shami has been terrific, to say the least. The ace pacer has picked up 17 wickets in nine matches so far and with that, he is currently leading the IPL Purple Cap race. Along with him, Irish pacer Joshua Little has done really well while young Afghan spinner Noor Ahmad has definitely been one of the finds of the season.

Coming to Rajasthan, their form with the bat is a bit of a concern at the moment. Jos Buttler’s consistency has been a major issue while their problem with the number four spot is yet to get sorted. However, youngster Yashasvi Jaiswal is in terrific form at the moment and that’s a massive plus point for them. Dhruv Jurel too is playing an exceptional brand of cricket and thus, there are some positives for them at the moment.

With the ball, Sandeep Sharma has done well so far while Ravichandran Ashwin has proved to be economical. Yuzvendra Chahal meanwhile has picked up only two wickets in the last five matches as the leg-spinner has also proved to be expensive at times.

Pitch and Conditions

The surface at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium will favour the batters. Anything above 200 will be a good total at this venue and the captain winning the toss would elect to bat first as the pitch might get on the slower side towards the fag end of the match. However, in case there’s a possibility of rain, bowling first will be ideal.

Probable Playing XI for RR vs GT

Rajasthan Royals

Despite losing their last match, RR are unlikely to make any changes to their squad, especially when the youngsters are delivering time and again. The only logical change would be to bring in Joe Root in place of Jason Holder to strengthen their batting unit but that would weaken their bowling unit, which already has a pacer short.

RR’s Predicted XI- Yashasvi Jaiswal, Jos Buttler, Devdutt Padikkal, Sanju Samson (wk/c), Shimron Hetmyer, Dhruv Jurel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Jason Holder, Adam Zampa, Sandeep Sharma, Yuzvendra Chahal

Gujarat Titans

GT doesn’t like to make many changes to its squad and it’s very likely that they will field the same playing XI again that played the last match. The team management will just hope to see the openers click like in the initial matches.

GT’s Predicted XI- Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Shubman Gil, Hardik Pandya (c), Vijay Shankar, David Miller, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, Mohammed Shami, Mohit Sharma, Joshua Little

RR vs GT Head-to-head

Played – 4 Rajasthan Royals -1