IPL 2022 Playoffs, Qualifier 1 : Gujarat Titans vs Rajasthan Royals

Qualifier 1 will see a clash between Gujarat Titans and Rajasthan Royals. The advantage of finishing the group stage in the top 2 is that the team winning Qualifier 1 will reach the finals directly. In contrast, the losing side will get another chance to make it to the finals through Qualifier 2. 

The newly added franchise Gujarat Titans took everyone to surprise with their consistent performances. They showcased their ability to bounce back in the match whenever they looked to be struggling or on the back foot. Hardik Pandya's first stint as skipper did not take much time to grab selectors' attention. He, as skipper, made a significant impact by leading his time from the front. Gujarat Titans have a pretty stable team, with little scope for changes in their batting unit. However, they might get Alzarri Joseph instead of Lockie Ferguson, who leaked a few runs in the previous game. 

On the other hand, Rajasthan Royals formed a quality squad of great strength which helped them finish second in the points table. Yuzvendra Chahal and Ravichandran Ashwin have dominated the spin department this season. Apart from quality spin, Ashwin has displayed his prowess as a power-hitter by coming to bat up the order. Rajasthan Royals are teams that have made very few and rare changes in their playing XI. They are most likely to stick with the same combination of players in this match. 

Pitch Report

Qualifier 1 will take place at the pitch of Eden Garden, Kolkata. The surface here has been favourable for batters in the early game but assists spinners a lot as the game progresses. Both the teams have top-class spinners, which will make it a battle to watch. The team batting second here has sixty per cent winning chances and thus may look to chase. 

Players to watch out for

Batters: David Miller and Shimron Hetmyer

Both will look to flex their batting muscle for their teams. David Miller is a left-handed batter who has smashed 381 runs in 14 innings at an average of 54.43 and a strike rate of 136.07. Shimron Hetmyer is a left-handed power-hitter of the Rajasthan Royals. He hit 29 in the last head-to-head against Gujarat Titans. He can again come in handy to be a power-hitter.

All-rounders: Hardik Pandya and Ravichandran Ashwin

Hardik Pandya is a right-handed batter and right-arm medium-fast bowler for GT. He piled 87 runs and one wicket in the previous match against RR and would look forward to contributing in similar ways. Ravichandran Ashwin is also a right-handed batter and right-arm off-break bowler for Rajasthan Royals and will look to contribute similarly to the previous match. 

Bowlers: Rashid Khan and Yuzvendra Chahal

Rashid Khan is yet to deliver entirely in the form of a wicket-taking bowler for GT. He's an economical bowler and plays quickfire cameo down the order. He will look to bring his best game in the playoffs. Yuzvendra Chahal is the highest wicket-taker this IPL season, having taken 26 wickets in 14 runs at an economy of 7.68. He will play a crucial role in getting breakthroughs for his team. 

Stats to keep an eye on

• Gujarat Titans have successfully chased down targets six times out of seven. The only instance where they missed out was when Daniel Sams defended nine off the final over for Mumbai Indians.
• Gujarat Titans' run rate of 11.6 between overs 16-20 in a chase is the highest this season. 
• Rajasthan Royals are the only team with three batters (Jos Buttler, Sanju Samson, Shimron Hetmyer) to have hit 20 plus sixes this season.
• Sanju Samson's eight wins after losing tosses are the most for a captain in a season.

The game should be no less than a cracker with two quality sides going head-to-head in the first qualifier. Gujarat Titans had a clinical win over Rajasthan Royals in their previous match. Will Gujarat Titans replicate their victory, or Rajasthan Royals play an avenged game?