Royal Challengers Bangalore v Gujarat Titans IPL Tips: King Kohli to deliver big win

Click here Royal Challengers Bangalore v Gujarat Titans odds
Friday 24 April,15.00
TV: Sky Sports

Royal Challengers Bangalore v Gujarat Titans IPL team news

Bangalore are smarting after a surprise defeat - and poor performance - against Delhi last time. They failed to build on a reasonable total at the death with Jitesh Sharma and Romario Shepherd going cheaply.

It did expose a weakness although how often Tim David and Shepherd will go in quick succession and Jitesh will strike at 70 is a key point. Shepherd isn't really contributing with bat or ball. The latter is not his fault.

There is increasing focus on RCB not using Jacob Bethell. With Shepherd not bowling it may be time to add extra quality with the bat.

Possible XI: Kohli, Salt, Patidar, Paddikal (sub Rasikh), David, jitesh, Shepherd, Krunal, Kumar, Suyash, Hazlewood

Gujarat's three-game winning sequence was ended with a horrible batting performance against MI. They were bang in the game at the break in Ahmedabad, chasing only 200 for victory. But they never got going.

It further exposed worries about their batting. Washington Sundar, Rahul Tewatia and Shahrukh Khan may not be up to this level when elite hitting is required just to keep pace. Moving Glenn Phillips ahead of Sundar to bat No 4 would be smart.

Jason Holder for Kagiso Rabada would also improve death hitting. Otherwise there is no-one sitting on the bench who might be able to make a big difference.

Possible XI: Sai, Gill, Buttler, Sundar, Phillips, Tewatia (sub Prasidh), Shahrukh, Rashid, Rabada, Ashok, Siraj

Royal Challengers Bangalore v Gujarat Titans IPL pitch report

There have been 21 night matches played at the Chinnaswamy in IPL in the last three years. The trend is for runs with an average RPO of a few ticks below ten. Delhi's surprise win after restricting RCB to 175 hinted at a burgeoning trend for the chaser to do well. RCB's poor effort brought back the first-innings overs hit rate on 190 or more to an close to a 11/102.11 vhance. The par line will be set above 200. The hit rate for 200 or more is nine from 21. Sportsbook go over 201.5 first-innings runs at 5/61.84.

There will be an expectation that RCB batters return to form. But do be aware that the GT attack is currently the third most economical in the tournament. And they're probably better than the No 2 team LSG which get help from a poor home wicket.

Royal Challengers Bangalore v Gujarat Titans  IPL match prediction

Bangalore are 1.684/6 to recover with a win. Man for man they are superior to Gujarat. If they had drifted to bigger than 1.705/7 for this contest (and there's a small chance they might still) then we would be all over it.

Of course that could well happen early on in the powerplay with Gujarat batting first. They will be eagerly supported in a chase of more than 200 one suspects although do consider that the market will reflect their expertise in that area. You won't get odds-against if going after 200-210. Therefore the 6/17.00 that both teams score 210 or more and RCB win is a tempter.

The one area of concern for RCB is that they have been a little pricey with the ball. But that fear is reduced because this is not a crack GT batting unit.

Royal Challengers Bangalore v Gujarat Titans IPL player bets

Virat Kohli, as one would expect, is effortlessly among the top rungetters in the tournament. His unfussy technique and fine eye mean he should continue to keep notching decent scores. He has been a bit of a Bismarck, however, on the top bat markets. He has recorded one win so far in six. That is a far cry from the two-year win rate of 40% that he started the tournament with.

He should start picking up wins again. Indeed, we're happy to go further this time and back him for top match runscorer at 7/24.50. It's a price which is out of line with how often he wins. Kohli has batted six times against GT, making 50 four times. This includes an unbeaten ton on this ground. Rashid Khan was in the line-up that day and, although he is the only bowler to survive, Kohli will be well aware of fond memories.

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