Bangalore and Gujarat will lock horns at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on May 19. A lot is at stake for the Faf du Plessis-led side in this game. A win is a must to keep them alive for the playoffs race. On the other hand, the Indian T20 League debutants are assured of a top-of-the-table finish after the league stages get over this weekend.
Team News
Bangalore:Â The Red Army not just needs to win but win by a huge margin to get ahead of Delhi in the playoffs race for a while. Their Net Run Rate is extremely poor (-0.323) thanks to their huge loss against Hyderabad early in the tournament. The first instinct of the team would be to win the game and if the opportunity arrives, register a big win. Either of the scenarios will keep Delhi on its toes. Talking about the team, they would need Mohammed Siraj to perform to his potential. The pacer has had a forgettable season so far. Apart from him, players such as Virat Kohli, Faf du Plessis, and Glenn Maxwell also need to perform to their potential in this do-or-die game.
Key Players:Â
Dinesh Karthik:Â The right-hander has been the savior of the team on a lot of occasions this season. He has amassed 285 runs in 13 games averaging 57 and striking at 192.56. Karthik, with all his experience, will be handy in this crunch fixture.
Wanindu Hasaranga:Â The all-rounder is the second-highest wicket-taker in the competition with 23 scalps. He has been the strike bowler in the middle overs and key to controlling the flow of runs. He will be a key player for the team in the next game.
Probable XI:Â Virat Kohli, Faf du Plessis (c), Rajat Patidar, Glenn Maxwell, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Mahipal Lomror, Shahbaz Ahmed, Wanindu Hasaranga, Harshal Patel, Mohammed Siraj, Josh Hazlewood
Team News
Gujarat:Â They are sitting comfortably at the top of the points table with 20 points. None of the other teams can get past them as the next best is Rajasthan, with 16 to their name. They have the luxury to rest some of the big players to keep them fresh for the Qualifier One in Kolkata. They can try out Rahmanullah Gurbaz in place of Matthew Wade. Also they can rest Mohammed Shami and bring in Darshan Nalkande. Also, they can have a look at Dominic Drakes, the all-rounder from the West Indies, in place of fellow Caribbean Alzarri Joseph.
Key Players:Â
Wriddhiman Saha:Â Since Saha came in as an opener, Gujarat’s batting has flourished. The reason for the same is that Saha has given consistent starts and laid a platform for the likes of David Miller to end on a high. He has scored 281 runs in eight games, averaging 40.14. He has been one underrated performer for the team. However, he has already proved his worth for the team.
Rashid Khan:Â The leg-spinner hasn’t had a great season with the ball this season. However, he has been economical which has proved vital for the team. He recently took a four-for against Lucknow and would like to repeat his performance in the coming game.
Probable XI:Â Shubman Gill, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Rahmanullah Gurbaz/Matthew Wade, Hardik Pandya (c), David Miller, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Dominic Drakes/Alzarri Joseph, Darshan Nalkande/Mohammed Shami, Sai Kishore, Yash Dayal.
Match Details
Venue: Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
Time:Â 07:30 PM IST
Live Telecast:Â Star Sports Network and Disney+Hotstar
Pitch Report:Â The last game at the venue between Mumbai and Hyderabad saw teams scoring more than 380 runs combined. However, with another game to be played, it seems difficult to prepare another flat deck for the curators. The pitch might get slow and batters might have to work hard for runs.
