RCB vs GT is the final fixture in the league stage of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 season. With one playoff spot up for grabs still, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) will be hoping to clinch it with a victory over the reigning champions, Gujarat Titans (GT). Two points would seal the playoff berth as Mumbai Indians have to pick up a big win over Sunrisers Hyderabad in Sunday’s opening match.
GT, meanwhile, has already sealed their place in Qualifier 1, where they will take on Chennai Super Kings. The defending champions, who could rest some of its leading players, might eliminate RCB and register a tenth win this season.
The IPL match 70 will be held at Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, on Sunday at 7:30 PM.
Royal Challengers Bangalore
RCB fans will be hoping that Faf du Plessis and Virat Kohli will resume from where the duo left off against Sunrisers Hyderabad. Virat Kohli made a hundred, while Du Plessis didn’t spare the bowlers in Hyderabad. With Chinnaswamy Stadium a batting track, Maxwell, too, will likely play a huge role. Will the RCB trio continue to torment the bowlers?
Mohammed Siraj will lead the RCB bowling lineup, including Wayne Parnell, Michael Bracewell, and Harshal Patel. Parnell has proved that he can make inroads in the powerplay. Meanwhile, Bracewell has grabbed two wickets in each of the last two games. Harshal Patel gives away the runs but can take wickets at crucial junctures of the game.
Gujarat Titans
GT is unlikely to field a full-strength squad as the franchise has already sealed a playoff spot and emerged as the league stage winners. However, the reigning champions still have a quality batting lineup – Shubman Gill, Wriddhiman Saha, Sai Sudarshan, Abhinav Manohar, Matthew Wade, etc. Skipper Hardik Pandya and David Miller are their pillars of strength.
The franchise still has quality players even if it rests the likes of Mohammed Shami and Rashid Khan. Alzarri Joseph or Odean Smith could feature instead of Shami, while spinner Jayant Yadav might get a game. Mohit Sharma and Noor Ahmad are other key bowlers in the star-studded GT bowling department.
RCB Vs GT Head-To-Head
RCB and GT have met twice in IPL, with both teams grabbing a win each. Virat Kohli grabbed the headlines the last time both teams met. The former RCB skipper struck 73 off 54 balls as he helped his side chase down 169 with eight balls to spare.
RCB Vs GT Last Two Meetings
RCB & GT IPL 2023 Stats
Top Run-scorer: Faf du Plessis – 702 runs (RCB); Shubman Gill – 576 runs (GT)
Most Wickets: Mohammed Siraj – 17 wickets (RCB); Mohammed Shami & Rashid Khan – 23 wickets (GT)
Most Sixes: Faf du Plessis – 36 sixes (RCB); Shubman Gill – 14 sixes (GT)
RCB Vs GT – Who Will Win?
RCB has three stalwarts – Du Plessis, Kohli, and Maxwell – who can win matches on their own. However, GT, too, has some fantastic game-changers. RCB needs two points more than the visitors, so the Bengaluru-based outfit could likely pick up the victory on Sunday evening.