Indian T20 League 2022: Qualifier 1- Gujarat vs Rajasthan: Preview, Match Details, Pitch Conditions and Updates

The qualifier 1 match of the Indian T20 League is scheduled to be played between Gujarat and Rajasthan at Eden Gardens Stadium on Tuesday. Both teams dished out consistent performances to help themselves occupy two spots on the points table. Gujarat started their campaign with a string of wins.

Advertisment

However, in their last five matches, they lost three games. On the other hand, Rajasthan also lost two games in their last five but are coming into this game on the back of two consecutive wins.

Team News:

Gujarat:

Advertisment

Looking at their squad prior to the start of the season, not a lot of experts expected them to reach the playoffs, let alone finish at the number one position. Gujarat lost their last game but are unlikely to make a change in their playing XI. The likes of Mathew Wade, Sai Kishore and Lockie Ferguson are expected to hold on to their places in the playing XI.

Players to watch out for:

1. Hardik Pandya

Advertisment

Hardik Pandya is the most important batter in Gujarat’s batting unit. He has batted exceedingly well throughout the season and the team would want him to play a couple more match-winning knocks with the bat. Hardik scored 62 runs in 47 balls in the last match and is currently the highest run-getter for the side.

2. Wriddhiman Saha

Wriddhiman Saha’s form has been a major boost for the team. Saha has consistently given the team rollicking starts. He has been in stellar form and will be the man to watch out for. In just 9 matches, he has managed to score 312 runs at 124.80.

3. Mohammed Shami

The Indian fast bowler has been outstanding this season for Gujarat. He has 18 wickets in 14 matches at an economy of under 7. Mohammed Shami’s opening spell is going to be extremely crucial to the team. It will be interesting to see how he fares with the ball against Rajasthan.

Probable Playing XI:

Wriddhiman Saha, Shubman Gill, Matthew Wade (wk), Hardik Pandya (c), David Miller, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore, Lockie Ferguson, Yash Dayal, Mohammed Shami

Rajasthan:

Rajasthan managed to compile an outstanding squad at the Mega Auction. It also reaped rewards as Rajasthan finished second on the table after the league stage. They are a number of match-winners in the team but batting is a bit of a concern.

Players to watch out for:

1. Jos Buttler

Jos Buttler’s recent form doesn’t inspire a lot of confidence. Despite being the highest run-getter in the competition, he hasn’t played any impactful knocks in the last few games. However, there is no denying the fact that he is a big match-winner and will be one of the most important batters for the highly anticipated clash.

2. Sanju Samson

Despite not being at his best, Samson has managed to score close to 400 runs at a strike rate of 147. He too will be vital to the team’s fortunes. Samson hasn’t been able to play those big match-winning knocks this season. He hasn’t been included in the T20 squad against South Africa either. That should serve as an extra motivation for him to produce match-winning knocks in the rest of the games.

3. Yuzvendra Chahal

Yuzvendra Chahal has enjoyed the best season with the ball in his Indian T20 League 2022. He has bowled smartly and always tried to go for wickets, which has helped the team massively. Chahal is the highest wicket-taker this season. He has 26 wickets in 14 matches at an economy of under 8.

Probable Playing XI:

Yashasvi Jaiswal, Jos Buttler, Sanju Samson (c & wk), Devdutt Padikkal, Shimron Hetmyer, Riyan Parag, Ravichandran Ashwin, Trent Boult, Prasidh Krishna, Yuzvendra Chahal, Obed McCoy

Match Details:

Match: Gujarat vs Rajasthan– Qualifier 1

Date and Time: Tuesday, May 24, 7:30 PM IST

Venue: Eden Gardens, Kolkata

Live Streaming: Disney+Hotstar

Pitch Report:

The Qualifier 1 game is scheduled to be played between Gujarat and Rajasthan at Eden Gardens Stadium in Kolkata. The pitch at Eden Gardens is considered as a batting paradise. Batters love to play here.

Over the years, we have seen some outstanding knocks being played here and one can expect a high-scoring contest on Tuesday. Spinners can come into play in the middle overs. With dew in mind, both teams would look to bowl first upon winning the toss.