Click here Royal Challengers Bangalore v Gujarat Titans odds
Tuesday 26 April,15.00
TV: Sky Sports
Royal Challengers Bangalore v Gujarat Titans IPL team news
Royal Challengers Bangalore have lost Jacob Bethell to a finger injury. Phil Salt might come back into the team.
There have been concerns expressed that Salt comes in cold after an injury. But he could hardly do worse than Bethell, who was a major disappointment. Bethell scored 96 runs at 13 with a strike rate of 124.
That's a record that suggests RCB have suddenly got stronger. They absolutely need someone alongside Kohli who can be destructive to dovetail with his more sedate style.
At the moment, though, Venkatesh Iyer has the gig. His 44 from 19 against Sunrisers last time out really deserves another go.
Possible XI: Venkatesh, Kohli, Patidar, Padikkal, Jitesh, David (sub Suyash), Krunal, Shepherd, B Kumar, Hazlewood, R
Gujarat are reliant on the top three in their batting. That's no bad thing because in Sai Sudharsan and Shubman Gill they have two of the most consistent run-getters in the tournament's history. Jos Buttler is having a good season, too, to banish concerns that he was on the wane.
They are not a team, however, which is blessed with a strong middle- to lower-order. But that is a choice. They could have decided to sacrifice Kagiso Rabada some time ago given their embarrassment of riches in the pace department for another overseas hitter in the form of Glenn Phillips.
It won't happen now. The main decision will be about whether to use more spin. Sai Kishore, who has been underused, waits in the wings. It's a chance he could be subbed in instead of Prasidh Krishna. Prasidh has been superb and has been unfortunate not to bowl more.
Possible XI: Sai, Gill, Buttler, Sundar, Tewatia (sub Prasidh), Nishant, Holder, Rashid, Rabada, Arshad, Siraj
Royal Challengers Bangalore v Gujarat Titans IPL pitch report
The run rates in night matches in Dharamsala in IPL make this one of the best batting tracks in the tournament. It stands at 9.99. That might be hiding its true nature, though, because it includes matches from 2010. It could, in fact, be the ultimate road.
Since 2024 there have been first-innings scores of 241, 236, 210 and 200. The score of 241 was by RCB in 2024. The others were by Punjab.
RCB are the more reliable batting team in terms of strike rate, ranked third against Gujarat who are seventh. Gujarat are the second-meanest bowling unit in terms of economy. The Gujarat total runs market at overs 192.5 may be considered cheap with the Sportsbook at 5/61.84.
Royal Challengers Bangalore v Gujarat Titans IPL match prediction
These are the two best sides in the tournament. But Bangalore are considered the favourites, probably due to their champion status. Sportsbook go 8/111.73 but the Exchange has this as a closer affair with 1.865/6 available.
It is true that there is little to choose between the sides. As stated Gujarat are slightly better with the ball and RCB better with the bat. And it is that strength which could not only prove decisive but provide the best betting opportunity.
Bangalore are 11/82.38 to win the match and hit the most sixes. This, as said before, is a related double given the relationship between winning and hitting most sixes. RCB are far more likely to be clearing the ropes. They have hit 143 to GT's 108 this season. That's an average of 10.2 versus 7.7. It's a whopping difference.
The powerplay could well decide the outcome. RCB will be confident of splitting Sai and gill early to try to get into the middle order. In Bhuv Kumar and Josh Hazlewood they have the best new-ball pair. They did suffer against SRH in defeat last time though. That's a blueprint for GT to follow.
Back RCB to win match and hit most 6s
Royal Challengers Bangalore v Gujarat Titans IPL player bets
Kohli has, statistically, at least one more top-bat win in him this tournament on three-season rates. It helps that he has ground form. In that 2024 match already mentioned he won the man of the match award busting 90. He is 21/103.10 for top RCB bat. If you're concerned about others trumping him with a big score, there is 6/42.50 available that Kohli hits a 50.