Royal Challengers Bangalore v Gujarat Titans IPL Final Tips: RCB set to go back-to-back

Click here Royal Challengers Bangalore v Gujarat Titans odds
Sunday 31 May,15.00
TV: Sky Sports

Royal Challengers Bangalore v Gujarat Titans IPL final team news

Royal Challengers Bangalore are the best team in the tournament. But they have managed to improve even in the death throes of the tournament. The injury to Jacob Bethell has proved to be a blessing.

Instead of Bethell they have been able to pair Virat Kohli in the opening role with Venkatesh Iyer. Venkatesh is the ying to Kohli's yang insofar as he is given absolute licence to hit.

Venkatesh was one of the original blasters at the top of the order before a move to the middle-order with Kolkata in a bid to nail an India spot. He has rediscovered his mojo after a couple of years in the wilderness and has struck at 184 for his 177 runs.

They are subbing out Jacob Duffy for Romario Shepherd bowling to batting. Their switch to an all-pace attack bar Krunal Pandya has much to do with Venkatesh as well. He can offer emergency spin if required. If it is a spinning wicket Suyash Sharma may be sub.

Possible XI: Venkatesh, Kohli, Patidar, Padikkal, Jitesh, David, Krunal, Shepherd (sub Duffy), B Kumar, Hazlewood, Rasikh

Gujarat outclassed Rajasthan Royals on Friday to book their final spot. After conceding 214 (they failed to keep Vaibhav Sooryavanshi quiet), they made no mistake in the chase.

Their strength was there for all to see with the bat as Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan set about the target. It was, in the end, a stroll after the pair put on 167. They got home with eight balls to spare.

They are also pace-focussed. Mohammad Siraj, Kagiso Rabada, Jason Holder and Prasidh Krishna keep coming. Rashid Khan provides four overs of spin with Washington Sundar on standby. They picked Sai Kishore for Royals but didn't even bowl him.

Rahul Tewatia will sub in when they bat with Siraj. They do lack batting power in the middle- to lower-order. This has been a consistent issue.

Possible XI: Sai, Gill, Buttler, Sundar, Tewatia (sub Siraj), Nishant, Holder, Rashid, Rabada, Prasidh, Kishore

Royal Challengers Bangalore v Gujarat Titans IPL final pitch report

Gujarat will be pleased that the final is played on their home ground of Ahmedabad. But they will not have control over the type of surface they get; black soil or red soil.

A red spoil pitch will favour the batters with fast and true consistent bounce. A black soil surface will aid spin bowlers, offering grip and low bounce. As it's a final there is the added complication of the potential for a mixed pitch of both soils.

It is fair to expect a fresh pitch with no game played there since May 21. A runfest is far from guaranteed, though. There have been only two scores of more than 200 in the seven games played.

In fact, it has been one for unders plays. Going under 180, for example, has won four times and they would have been cheap lays on the Betfair Exchange runs markets.

Royal Challengers Bangalore v Gujarat Titans IPL final prediction

Royal Challengers Bangalore are 4/51.80 for victory with the Sportsbook to become only the third team to win back-to-back titles (Chennai in 2011 and Mumbai in 2020 the others). There is 1.8810/11 available on the Betfair Exchange. That is a very good price indeed.

Bangalore, as stated, are the best team in the tournament. They had the best net run rate in the league stage and in terms of characteristics it is hard to spot a weakness.

They are ranked at No 2 for batting strike rate and No 4 for bowling economy. It is the mark of a truly crack unit to be able to excel in both disciplines. If we have learnt anything from this tournament it is that teams do not progress if they are one-dimensional. Punjab the ultimate example.

Gujarat are at No 6 for batting strike rate and No 3 for bowling. They have always been a bowling team. But there is a clear weakness with the bat. It's that lower-order powderpuff problem.

We saw in the qualifier what happens when Gujarat have an off day in the field. RCB smashed them for 254. The batting then wilted under pressure and were rolled for 162.

RCB could well be considered Gujarat's kryptonite because in new-ball pair Bhuv Kumar and Josh Hazlewood they have bowlers who severely test that top three of Gujarat, which is the greatest strength. Early wickets for RCB and this could be over quickly.

Royal Challengers Bangalore v Gujarat Titans IPL final player bets

It's Kohli time. Virat Kohli is due one more win on top bat on three-season win rates. Sportsbook offer 9/52.80 . Cometh the hour, cometh the man is a fitting line for Kohli in the biggest of games. His mentality is one to deliver on the big stage and it is also worth considering man of the match prices.

India remains enthral to the legend and with an RCB win likely a top-bat win and match gong could be considered closely related. He won the award in the first of three meetings between the sides this term. Sportsbook go 13/27.50.

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