GT vs RR: The wait is finally over. After 63 days and 73 matches, the grand finale of the 15th edition of the Indian Premier League is finally here. Two of the best teams from the season have qualified for this mega event and will lock horns on Sunday. The match will take place on May 29 at the Narendra Modi Stadium.
Gujarat Titans will square off against Rajasthan Royals at their home ground in front of over 1,20,000 people. So this will be a huge match, probably the biggest game so far this year. Both teams are eager to win this title and will head into the match with clear intent. So let’s check out the complete details of the match and possible XI.
GT vs RR, Final: Match Preview and Prediction
Gujarat Titans
Hardik Pandya and his team have played some of the best cricket in this season of the IPL. That is why they became the first team to qualify for the playoffs and then reached the final on their first attempt. But now, they will be facing RR for the third time this season. Although they have won their previous two games, this is a big match. So the tension is high and they need to hold their nerves.
On the other hand, despite beating RR twice, they can’t write them off after their performance against RCB in the Qualifier 2. But GT had a four-day break, which should have given them enough time to prepare. They just need to work on a few RR players that can change the game. GT is in form and will have the support of their home crowd.
Probably XI: Wriddhiman Saha (Wk), Shubman Gill, Matthew Wade, Hardik Pandya (C), David Miller, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore, Yash Dayal, Alzarri Joseph, Mohammed Shami
Rajasthan Royals
After the loss against GT in the first qualifier, not many were giving RR a chance against RCB. But the way they have performed, they just outplayed RCB in all the departments and registered a sounding victory. Now they are in the finals of the biggest T20 tournament against GT. RR haven’t beaten Gujarat so far, but they can surely do that now. One more good innings from Buttler can surely do that.
But the question is how much gas he has left in his tank. On the other hand, the RR bowlers did a tremendous job against RCB in restricting them to a below-par score. After a horrific match against GT, Prasidh Krishna bounced back beautifully and took three wickets. Obed McCoy also picked up three wickets. As a result, they appear to be more dangerous now.
Probably XI: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Jos Buttler, Sanju Samson (C & Wk), Devdutt Padikkal, Ravichandran Ashwin, Shimron Hetmyer, Riyan Parag, Trent Boult, Prasidh Krishna, Yuzvendra Chahal, Obed McCoy
GT vs RR, Final: Match, Pitch and Toss Update
The conditions at Narendra Modi Stadium are likely to assist both batsmen and bowlers. Rajasthan have already won their previous match against RCB at this venue. But, the toss becomes more crucial in a knockout game. The team winning the toss would like to bowl first to get an idea of the pitch. The average score here is 165.
GT vs RR: Head to Head
Both teams have played two games so far this season. But the results of both matches have come in favor of GT. They have won both matches comprehensively. The first match they won by 37 runs in the league stage. In the second match, they won by 7 wickets in the first qualifier.
IPL 2022: GT vs RR: Players to watch out for
Jos Buttler had a dream game against RCB in the last match. He proved why he is the best white-ball batsman going around. The English opener will look to play such an inning one more time to win it for his team. Buttler has scored 824 runs at an average of 58.85, including four centuries and four half-centuries.
Yuzvendra Chahal returned wicket-less in the last match and that is the reason that Hasaranga got the “Purple Cap.” But the veteran leg-spinner has one more game and certainly he will look to give his all. Chahal has taken 26 wickets so far at an economy of 7.92.
Wriddhiman Saha holds a key at the top. He has done it once when he scored a century while playing for Punjab in a knockout match. And there is so much going on with him off the field, so he has something to prove. Saha has scored 312 runs this season at an average of 34.66, including three half-centuries.
Rashid Khan will be the most important player for GT in the final. In a big match, you always want your star players to perform. Rashid is one of those, and we will see him doing many things in the game. The leg-spinner has taken 18 wickets this season at an impressive economy rate of 6.73.
IPL 2022: Playing 11 team of the match Prediction
Wicket-keeper: Wriddhiman Saha (GT), Jos Buttler (RR), Mathew Wade (GT), Sanju Samson (RR)
Batsmen: Shubman Gill (GT), Devdutt Padikkal (RR), Yashavi Jaiswal (RR)
All-rounder: Hardik Pandya (GT)
Bowlers: Yuzvendra Chahal (RR), Prasidh Krishna (RR), Rashid Khan (GT)
Tips: Jos Buttler will be the captain of the team. Hardik Pandya will be the vice-captain. RR are coming off a flying win over RCB and have played one match at this venue. That will give them some advantages. So we will back Rajasthan Royal to win the match. However, the team winning the toss might win the game as well.