Picking a combined GT-RCB playing 11 for IPL 2024 ft. Virat Kohli, Rashid KhanÂ
Gujarat Titans (GT) are all set to square off against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the 45th match of the 17th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Notably, both teams are languishing at the bottom half of the points table.
Gujarat have won just four out of their nine matches so far while RCB have won just a couple out of their nine games and are on the verge of elimination. Royal Challengers kept their slim hopes alive after winning their previous game against the Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Meanwhile, the Titans have been nowhere close to their menacing best and while Hardik Pandya's inclusion might not have benefitted the Mumbai Indians, it has certainly affected the combination of the Gujarat Titans, with Shubman Gill struggling to marshal his troops.
It's high time that the Titans start winning games or else it could be too little too late for them. Bengaluru still have a mathematical chance of qualifying through to the playoffs but the possibility is pretty low, especially with the way they have performed in the competition.
With the GT-RCB match still a few hours away, let us have a look at a possible combined XI from both teams ahead of their clash:
Openers- Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli
Gujarat Titans skipper Shubman Gill hasn't been in the best of forms but he is still one of the finest batters from both teams. Despite not being in the best of touch, he has scored 304 runs in nine games at a strike rate of 146.15. Gill has scored a couple of half-centuries so far. A supreme timer of the ball, he will look to lead from the front against RCB.
Meanwhile, Virat Kohli is currently the leading run-scorer in the competition with 430 runs to his name in nine games. He has scored three fifties and a century and has been a prolific run scorer despite RCB languishing at the bottom of the points table. His strike rate has been a concern, but his ability to score runs under pressure is next to none.
# Batters and all-rounders- Sai Sudharsan, Rajat Patidar, David Miller, Cameron Green, Rahul Tewatia and Rashid Khan
One of the budding young talents, Sai Sudharsan has been a revelation in the last couple of years. Even in this edition, he has gone about his business with a calm demeanor, having scored 334 runs in nine games. Despite not being a brute striker of the ball, Sudharsan scores at a very good clip.
The start of the season coincided with the loss of form for Rajat Patidar who couldn't score many runs during the Test series against England. However as the tournament progressed, Patidar was back to his brutal best, smashing the opposition bowlers to all corners of the park. He has scored 211 runs so far with three half-centuries to his name.
One of the modern T20 greats, David Miller will walk into most of the playing XIs in the tournament. The southpaw was at his sublime best against the Delhi Capitals, scoring a 23-ball 55. A powerful striker of the ball, Miller can decimate any bowling attack on his day.
Australian cricketer Cameron Green had a tough start to his RCB career. He couldn't quite fit into the playing XI and was not able to perform his new role as a finisher and bowling in the middle overs. However Green was back to his best against SRH when he scored a crucial 37 and also took a a couple of wickets.
Rahul Tewatia might not have made a significant impact in this competition but he is one of those very few players who can win a game from hapless situations. He can soak pressure and keep hitting the ball under immense pressure.
Rashid Khan is arguably one of the greatest spinners to have played in this format. The opposition batters have got a hold of him in the current edition but he still poses a serious threat to any batting line-up. Rashid is also a serious striker of the ball and provides the much-needed balance in the team.
# Bowlers- Noor Ahmad, Yash Dayal, Mohammed Siraj
Left-arm wrist spinners are rare commodities in the game and Noor Ahmad has certainly made a mark for himself with his guile and deception. In tandem with Rashid Khan, Noor has formed the core of the GT bowling attack. He has picked six wickets in the competition so far and will be hoping to make an impact against RCB.
Yash Dayal has been one of the very few bowlers from RCB who have managed to hit the right lengths consistently and is their leading wicket-taker so far with eight wickets to his name. He has swung the new ball and has been effective with the old ball as well.
Mohammed Siraj has had a far from an ideal competition so far but given his skills and ability to produce match-winning performances, he will walk into this XI. With the pitches offering little to no respite for the bowlers, Siraj has leaked runs in the powerplay and also in the death.
However, he was back at his best against Hyderabad. While he didn't pick a wicket, his tight bowling was instrumental in RCB applying the pressure.