Gujarat Titans (GT) will be locking horns with Rajasthan Royals (RR) in match 23 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday, April 16. Both Gujarat and Rajasthan are off to an impressive start this season and have three wins from four outings. With a net run rate of 1.588. RR is placed at the top of the points table, while GT occupies the third sport with a net run rate of 0.341.
Under the captaincy of GT, Hardik Pandya registered a crucial six-wicket victory over Punjab Kings (PBKS) in their last match, successfully chasing down a tricky 154-run total. Rajasthan also emerged victorious in their previous outing, eking out a narrow three-run win over Chennai Super Kings (CSK). It is worth noting that both GT and RR squared off thrice last season, including the IPL 2022 final.
ALSO READ: Match 23 (GT vs RR) – Playing XI And Fantasy XI Predictions
Gujarat managed to beat Rajasthan on all three occasions and the latter are still searching for their maiden win against Hardik Pandya and his men. Given the wonderful start of both teams, the upcoming clash promises to be an enthralling one for the viewers. Here’s a look at three match-ups that could have a major impact on the GT vs RR game:
#3 Shubman Gill vs Trent Boult
Shumban Gill has amassed 183 runs in four outings, he is the leading run-scorer for his team in IPL 2023. The talented youngster was instrumental in Gujarat’s win over Punjab, amassing 67 runs off 49 balls. Gill is expected to play a crucial role in the forthcoming encounter as well. However, he will face an imposing challenge while facing Trent Boult. The veteran bowler will be coming back for the game against GT. Boult has shone with the ball, and Gill will be tasked with negating the seasoned bowler, especially with the new ball.
#2 Mohammed Shami vs Jos Buttler
Mohammed Shami has bagged seven wickets in IPL 2023. His ability to swing the ball both ways at impressive speed makes him a force to be reckoned with. The senior seamer will be GT’s best bet against Jos Buttler, who has been in fantastic form. Buttler has crossed the 50-run mark thrice in four games and has aggregated 204 runs so far. If Shami gets the wicket of Buttler early, it will give Gujarat a major advantage. However, if Buttler survives the new-ball burst, he could take the GT bowlers to the cleaners, given his ability to convert his start into a big knock.
#1 Rashid Khan vs Sanju Samson
Sanju Samson has been performing well against spin lately. However, he has often been dismissed by the spinners on a few occasions. The keeper-batter has been out to spinners twice in four games in IPL 2023. Leg spinner Rashid Khan could emerge as Hardik Pandya’s trump card against Samson. The crafty spinner has been in terrific form this season, bagging nine scalps from four games, including a hat-trick against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). Samson is expected to try to put Rashid under pressure by playing positive cricket. However, the champion bowler could trouble the Rajasthan skipper, as he has plenty of tricks up his sleeve.
