RCB's bright beginning faces the Chinnaswamy challenge

RCB's return to Chinnaswamy poses a familiar challenge - can they shake off their home-ground woes? Despite a strong start to IPL 2025 with two away wins, their struggles at home remain a concern. With a sub-50% win record in Bengaluru, they've looked to address this through smart auction buys, particularly in the bowling department

"I think everybody knows what to expect from a surface here in Bangalore. It's a good wicket, we know it's a pretty short boundary, we know the ball carries and flies, so they're typically high scoring games... We've recruited a team that we think is pretty powerful, we hope we can exploit those batting conditions. And we think we've got a bowling attack that's particularly skilful and that can deal with the challenge of bowling here. Attacking here, but also defending here," explained Mo Bobat, the RCB team director.

Having won two games away, RCB are at the top of the points table but as the numbers suggest, they could be in for a ticky challenge on their homecoming where they'd be waiting to see if their judgement pre-season bears fruit.

What would ease their nerves is the good form shown by almost all their players over the two games, additionally showcasing a role clarity that is working towards making them a stronger collective. Phil Salt's firepower in the powerplay along with spin-hitters in the middle and a powerful finisher in Tim David, RCB's batting line-up has clicked well so far, as has their bowling unit which will have their task cut out against an in-form Gujarat Titans top order.

The visiting team has been heavily dependent on their top three so far but, like RCB, have most fronts covered, on paper at least. A well-rounded bowling unit adds to their strengths although they'd be waiting for more of their players to hit form and play to potential.

When: Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Gujarat Titans, Match 14, April 2, 19.30 IST

Where: M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru

What to expect? There has been forecast for some rain around in Bengaluru. How that would affect the playing conditions and influence the decision at the toss is awaited. The ground has seen some assistance for seamers across formats in recent times.

Head to head: RCB 3 - 2 GT

Team News:

Royal Challengers Bengaluru

Injuries/Availability: There are no reported concerns.

Tactics and match-ups: They'd have little reason to change a winning combination that also gives them plenty of balance. Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar against Gujarat's strong top-order will be a match-up to watch out for. While Hazlewood's hard lengths have worked well in the IPL so far, he could face his stiffest challenge against the likes of Gill, Buttler and Sudharsan who have a positive record against these lengths. However, Bhuvneshwar has a good record against them dismissing Buttler seven times and Gill thrice.

Probable XII: Virat Kohli, Phil Salt, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar (c), Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Yash Dayal, Suyash Sharma

Gujarat Titans

Tactics and match-ups: The batting has been shored by the top three that has contributed in both games, allowing them to cross 200 in the first and nearly get there again in the next game. On the bowling front, their spinners could face a stiff challenge on an unforgiving ground against some in-form batters. Rashid Khan and R Sai Kishore against the likes of Rajat Patidar, who is amongst the best spin-hitters going around, could be an action-packed match-up.

Probable XII: Shubman Gill (c), Jos Buttler (wk), Sai Sudharsan, Shahrukh Khan, Sherfane Rutherford, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Kagiso Rabada, R Sai Kishore, Mohammad Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Ishant Sharma

Did you know?

- Kohli's 3456 runs at Chinnaswamy is the most by a player at a venue in T20 cricket. He also has a good record against Gujarat Titans hitting three fifties and one hundred in five innings

- Sai Sudharsan has five fifty-plus scores in his last six innings in the IPL

What they said?

"There is a lot of planning that goes in before we get out on the pitch. But the advantage of having somebody like Gill right there is that you can go up to him and ask him, what do you think is a better line length to be bowling on this pitch? What would you do? So it's nice to have Gill and every other experienced player around. There's Jos that's keeping, there's Siraj, there's KG. Everybody has played a lot of cricket. Ishant Sharma also came in the last game..And as a team, if you can discuss, have the communication going, it really helps. And Shubman is a guy that I've known for quite some time now. And it's really easy for any of us to go approach him and get his feedback." - Prasidh Krishna on working with Shubman Gill, the captain.

"I think it's been pretty good. The main thing you want to see from any leader or captain is typically that they continue to let their personality come across. And I think he's done that really well. We don't want him to become a captain and be anybody else. We want him to be himself. So very calm, inwardly and outwardly. He rarely, if ever, takes a backward step. And we've seen that with his batting, particularly in the day at CSK. Every time we lost a wicket, he continued to throw punches, which was really good. And he seems to have coped with all the other stuff that comes with captaincy really well as well in some busy times. So at the minute I think he's been excellent. He's done everything I hoped and expected him to be. We know it's early days. There's a lot of cricket left to be played. And when we get through the busy part of the schedule and the fixtures come thick and fast. And no doubt we'll have some challenges at some point in the season. That'll be a time where we've really got to be there to support him. But at the minute he's been very impressive." - Mo Bobat, RCB Team Director, on new captain Rajat Patidar.