GT have already qualified for playoffs (AP Photo)
In the final league match of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 season, the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and defending champions Gujarat Titans will lock horns at the Chinnaswamy Stadium on Sunday evening.
This match holds importance for RCB, as their playoff qualification depends on it, with a win potentially guaranteeing them a top-4 finish.
Gujarat, on the other hand, have already qualified for the playoffs and will play Qualifier 1 in Chennai on Tuesday by topping the points table with 18 points.
Regardless of the outcome, we are in for a cracker of a contest, with both teams having won 1 game against each other in the last season.
However, before the action gets underway, let's take a look at the predicted playing XI for each franchise.
Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB)
Openers
Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis
Virat Kohli's return to form is concerning for opponents, which generally spells doom for bowlers. Kohli slammed his maiden IPL 2023 century, announcing his intentions clear for the coming matches.
Faf du Plessis worked as a perfect foil to Kohli's belligerence, providing calm and composure. Du Plessis is leading the overall batting list with 702 runs and will be eager to continue his form.
Middle-Order
Glenn Maxwell, Mahipal Lomror, Anuj Rawat, Shahbaz Ahmed, Michael Bracewell
Glenn Maxwell has been one of the most consistent batters for RCB this season, with 389. The explosive all-rounder has been a game-changer for the side. Both youngsters Mahipal Lomror and Anuj Rawat have shown glimpses of their talents, and have been backed by the management at the expense of Dinesh Karthik.
Shahbaz Ahmed and Micheal Bracewell add depth to the batting while adding value as bowlers.
Bowlers
Wayne Parnell, Harshal Patel, Karn Sharma, Mohammed Siraj
Mohammed Siraj as the leader of the bowling unit has not failed one bit, picking 17 wickets, and a miserly economy. Wayne Parnell provides a different angle, with his left-arm bowling, that has surprised opponents.
Karn Sharma had a rare failure in the last match, which is acceptable given the law of averages. Harshal Patel has been a mixed bag for RCB this time around, leaking runs on many occasions.
Predicted XI for RCB
Virat Kohli, Faf du Plessis (c), Glenn Maxwell, Mahipal Lomror, Anuj Rawat (wk), Shahbaz Ahmed, Michael Bracewell, Wayne Parnell, Harshal Patel, Karn Sharma, and Mohammed Siraj
Impact Players
Dinesh Karthik, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Himanshu Sharma, Suyash Prabhudessai, Kedar Jadhav
Gujarat Titans (GT)
Openers
Shubman Gill and Wriddhiman Saha (wk)
Shubman Gill has been on a run-making spree this season and shows no signs of stopping. The sound-opener registered is maiden IPL ton against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and will look to add more to his tally.
Meanwhile, Wriddhiman Saha has found himself in a sudden slump, after having a good start to the season. Saha's aggressive hitting at the top forms a large part of GT's strategy.
Middle-Order
Sai Sudharsan, Hardik Pandya, David Miller, Dasun Shanaka, Rahul Tewatia
GT's dark horse this season, Sai Sudharsan provided balance to a power-heavy line-up. Sudharsan has been able to complement players around him, who are known for playing flashy shots.
Hardik Pandya has blown hot and cold, but under pressure brings out his best.
Lately, the likes of David Miller, and Rahul Tewatia have dipped in form, which could prove dangerous heading into playoffs. Another worry is Dasun Shanaka, who has been fairly untested.
Bowlers
Mohit Sharma, Rashid Khan, Mohammed Shami, Alzarri Joseph
Mohammed Shami is leading the wicket-taking list, holding the purple cap with 23 scalps. Shami has proven to be devastating with the new ball, while Mohit Sharma has proven his worth with the semi-old ball.
Sharma has time and again, showcased his value in bowling utilising his full experience.
Rashid Khan continues to grab headlines and is joint wicket-taker with Shami. It will be interesting if GT ropes in Alzarri Joseph in place of Noor Ahmad, who suffered a blow against SRH, and keep his fit for qualifier 1.
Predicted XI for GT
Shubman Gill, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Sai Sudharsan, Hardik Pandya (c), David Miller, Dasun Shanaka, Rahul Tewatia, Mohit Sharma, Rashid Khan, Mohammed Shami, and Alzarri Joseph
Impact Players
Yash Dayal, Srikar Bharat, Darshan Nalkande, Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore, Shivam Mavi
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