RCB is in an unfamiliar position --- It is at the top.
After two games, which it won convincingly, the Bengaluru franchise has found something that it always struggled for in the IPL --- the early momentum.
After wins at Kolkata and Chennai --- the latter one coming after 17 years of barren run there --- RCB will play its tonight encounter in its home turf against the Gujarat Titans. At the Chinnaswamy stadium, with delirious fans backing it, RCB should be a tough nut to crack.
The 2022 IPL champion, for its part, has had a patchy start to this season. It won its first encounter against MI rather easily. But against PBKS, which notched an impressive 243, GT, despite a valiant effort, fell short by 11 runs.
The Chinnaswamy Stadium, known for its batting-friendly pitch and short boundaries, has always been a fortress for RCB. And all eyes will, as ever, be on Virat Kohli, who remains the backbone of the team. The new captain Rajat Patidhar has not only led impressively, but has also batted with spunk. Devdutt Padikkal, on a comeback to the RCB colours, is also in good nick. The bowling unit, the usual bugbear of RCB, is for a change in fine fettle. Josh Hazelwood and Krunal Pandy have been particularly impressive.
For GT, its batting, with Said Sudarshan in fine form, is firing. But he may have hampered his hamstring in the last match. If he isn't fit, Anuj Rawat is pencilled in to take his place. There is also Jos Buttler, captain Shubman Gill, Sherfane Rutherford. The bowling has been inconsistent. The spearhead Rashid Khan has gone for a few in the two matches so far. Tamil Nadu left-armer Sai Kishore has looked assured.
Mohd Siraj, an RCB veteran, and Prasidh Krishna, a Karnataka product, in GT uniform playing in Bengaluru can heighten passions in the stand.
All in all, a riveting encounter on cards with RCB holding the edge.
The teams (likely): RCB: Virat Kohli, Phil Salt, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar (capt), Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yash Dayal, Josh Hazlewood, Suyash Sharma/Rasikh Dar
GT: Shubman Gill (captain), Sai Sudharsan/Anuj Rawat, Jos Buttler (wk), Sherfane Rutherford, Shahrukh Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Kagiso Rabada, R Sai Kishore, Mohd Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Ishant Sharma