The 45th match of IPL 2024 will happen today between Gujarat Titans and Royal Challengers Bengaluru at Narendra Modi Stadium. It is the first time that GT will host RCB for a game at the world’s largest cricket stadium.
RCB played a few matches on this ground in the 2021 and 2022 seasons of the IPL, but they have never played a fixture against GT here. GT have struggled to win matches on home turf this year. They beat MI and SRH in March, but this month they lost to PBKS and DC.
RCB, on the other hand, recorded their first away win of the IPL 2024 season in their previous outing against SRH at Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium. The Bengaluru-based franchise will aim to continue their winning momentum in Ahmedabad today.
Ahead of the clash between GT and RCB, here are three player battles which could decide the winner of this IPL 2024 match.
#1 Rashid Khan vs Virat Kohli
Rashid Khan and Virat Kohli have been the best players for their respective sides this season. Khan and Kohli have clashed multiple times in the IPL before, with the leg-spinner dismissing the star batter twice.
However, when GT took on RCB last year, Kohli took 16 runs off 12 deliveries from Khan without being dismissed. Out of those 12 balls, only one was a dot delivery.
RCB fans will hope for a similar performance from their opening batter today, while GT fans will expect Khan to get rid of Kohli just like Mayank Markande did for SRH in Bengaluru.
#2 Wriddhiman Saha vs Mohammed Siraj
Gujarat Titans opener Wriddhiman Saha had a forgettable outing in the last match at Narendra Modi Stadium. Playing against the Delhi Capitals, Saha looked completely out of touch as Mukesh Kumar dismissed him for a 10-ball two.
Saha, however, bounced back with an impressive knock against the same opponent in Delhi just a few days ago. RCB’s Mohammed Siraj will try to ensure that the veteran wicketkeeper’s poor run at the world’s largest cricket stadium continues in IPL 2024.
Siraj would have a decent idea of the conditions in Ahmedabad, having represented India in two World Cup matches at the venue last year.
#3 Noor Ahmad vs Rajat Patidar
Noor Ahmad was the pick of the bowlers for the Gujarat Titans in their match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru last year. The left-arm wrist spinner returned with figures of 2/39, dismissing Faf du Plessis and Mahipal Lomror.
Rajat Patidar was not a part of the RCB playing XI for the match against GT in IPL 2023. The right-handed batter has an excellent record against spin. In the last match against SRH, he smacked four back-to-back sixes off leg-spinner Mayank Markande’s bowling.
RCB’s supporters will expect a similar showing from Patidar tonight. He has never faced Noor before, so it will be interesting to see who wins this battle in IPL 2024.
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