Ahmedabad: Gujarat Titans will aim to consolidate their position in the top two and extend their supremacy over Rajasthan Royals when the two sides clash at the Narendra Modi Stadium here on Wednesday in a high-stakes IPL 2025 encounter, with captain Shubman Gill eyeing a personal milestone at a venue where he has been near-invincible.
With five wins in six previous meetings between the sides, including a playoff triumph, Gujarat have established a psychological edge over Rajasthan. Adding to RR's concerns is the imperious form of Gill at this venue. The stylish right-hander has amassed 1024 runs in just 20 innings here, averaging 60.23 at a strike rate of 160.25, numbers that underscore his comfort at the world’s largest cricket stadium.
Gujarat come into the fixture on the back of a three wins with Gill looking in sublime touch, and with consistent support from Sai Sudharsan, Washington Sundar and aggressive batsmen like Sherfane Rutherford, Gujarat's batting looks balanced and potent.
In the bowling department, left-arm spinner Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore has been a revelation with his accuracy and control, while Mohammed Siraj's pace has added an edge in the Powerplay. Gujarat's attack is expected to pose a stern test to a RR lineup that has blown hot and cold this season.
Rajasthan, meanwhile, arrested a two-match losing streak with a gritty win over Chennai Super Kings and Punjab Kings. Yashasvi Jaiswal's return to form and the maturity of Riyan Parag in the middle order are positives, but the inconsistency of their bowling attack remains a concern. Maheesh Theekshana and Jofra Archer will be crucial if RR are to contain a free-flowing GT lineup.
The pitch at Ahmedabad is expected to be true and batting-friendly, but the evening dew may yet again tilt the balance towards the chasing side.
Gill, who is on the cusp of completing 3500 IPL runs, will be eager to mark the occasion with another authoritative knock at what has become his fortress. For Sanju Samson's team, breaking the Ahmedabad jinx will be crucial to arrest Gujarat's dominance and revive their charge.
The stage is set for a clash rich in narrative of dominance, redemption, and the weight of expectations under the floodlights of Narendra Modi Stadium.
Gujarat Titans Predicted Playing XI: Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (c), Jos Buttler (wk), Shahrukh Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Washington Sundar, Rashid Khan, Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Ishant Sharma/ Arshad Khan Impact Player: Sherfane Rutherford.
