Holders GT eye wiggle room at the top

"We've found ways to win," quipped David Miller in the press conference on Thursday (May 4) while talking about managing the expectations that come with being the defending champions. Those five words perhaps sum up their title run of last season when nobody gave them a chance of starting life in the IPL with glory. This year too stars have aligned for them as they sit atop the points table despite arriving in Jaipur on the back of a botched up chase. A win will give them a three-point lead at the top - gold dust in a season like this that will keep them away from having to partake in a five or even six-way fight for the playoffs.

Rajasthan Royals, who have already beaten GT once this season, have the chance to usurp them to the top spot, adding to the narrative of arguably the most competitive season of IPL. To put it in context, RR's win will take them to the top but only two points will separate them and PBKS at sixth.

What also adds spice to Friday's fixture is the fact that these are two smartly-built squads that didn't just fight it out for the title last season but also began seamlessly this year - four wins in first five for RR; three in five for GT. Along the way, imperfections in both their squads have been exposed, that they can each exploit in Jaipur. RR have shown a tendency to slow down in the middle-overs, where GT can get aggressive from both ends with the spin of Rashid Khan and Noor Ahmed. GT's issues are more on an individual level, Saha's effectiveness in the PowerPlay dipping and Hardik Pandya's batting stocks being at an all-time low.

Both teams, however, with six (GT) and five (RR) wins, and excellent NRRs have enough going for them to nullify the issues that have crept up over the course of a tough season that also involves continuous travel across the country for the first time since 2019. Friday's game could be a great starting point for both to achieve that.

When: Rajasthan Royals vs Gujarat Titans, May 5 2023, 7.30 PM IST

Where: Sawai Mansingh stadium, Jaipur

What to expect: Two matches have happened at this venue so far, with polar opposite conditions. When the surface was slow and sluggish, RR struggled, Buttler scored at less than a 100 strike rate and LSG defended 154/7 against the hosts. When the ball flew off the deck and off the bat, Yashasvi Jaiswal smashed 77 off 43 and RR made 202/5 in a 32-run win over CSK. Both teams have had recent trouble on slow pitches and will hope the one they play on has plenty of runs on it.

Head-to-head: GT beat RR in all the three games they faced them last season - including the final - but RR have already pulled one back this year with a victory in Ahmedabad.

Team Watch

Rajasthan Royals

Injury/Unavailability: No new niggles reported

Tactics & Match-ups: Trent Boult has had the wood over GT's struggling opener Wriddhiman Saha, dismissing him thrice in 24 balls and giving away just 22 runs.

Probable XI: Jos Buttler, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Devdutt Padikkal, Sanju Samson, Shimron Hetmyer, Dhruv Jurel, Jason Holder, R Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, Trent Boult, Sandeep Sharma

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