Indian T20 League 2022: Qualifier 1- Gujarat vs Rajasthan: Preview, Probable XIs, Pitch Reports, Match Details and Updates
Hardik Pandya-Sanju Samson (Image Source: BCCI/IPL)
The Indian T20 League 2022 has reached the business end with the playoffs starting on 24th May, Tuesday. From this match, the tournament also moves out from the state of Maharashtra. The Qualifier 1 of the Indian T20 League 2022 will be taking place at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Before the start of the match let us take a look at the important details of the encounter.
Team News:
Gujarat: Gujarat has been phenomenal in the league stage of the Indian T20 League 2022. They became the first team to qualify for the playoffs. Hardik Pandya’s side has won 10 of their 14 matches and finished the group stages at the top of the points table with 20 points under their belt. Finishing the league stage at the top of the table they will get two shots at qualifying for the finals. Gujarat will hope that they continue their winning momentum and become the first to reserve a spot in the finals.
Probable XI: Wriddhiman Saha (WK), Shubman Gill, Matthew Wade (O), Hardik Pandya (C), David Miller (O), Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan (O), Mohammed Shami, R Sai Kishore, Lockie Ferguson (O), Yash Dayal.
Key Players:
Hardik Pandya: Hardik Pandya has been a very important cog in the Gujarat batting. In the league stage, he has scored 413 runs in 14 matches at an average of 41.3 and a strike rate of 131.53. The team will hope that he provides dynamism and solidity to the middle order of the team.
David Miller: Miller has scored 381 runs in the tournament at an average of 54.43 and a strike rate of 136.07. Coming in at the lower middle order he has helped his team with some important cameos and pulled off some impossible heists for the team.
Rashid Khan: Rashid Khan has evolved as a true all-rounder for Gujarat in the league stages. He has been equally efficient with the bat and the ball. The team management will hope that he keeps up his brilliant exploits in the important stage of the tournament.
Rajasthan: Rajasthan’s ride in the tournament has seen its ups and downs in the league stages of the tournament. However, they managed to keep their nerves and win some important matches to qualify for the playoffs with 18 points in their 14 matches. They finished in the second spot in the points table and hence they will be getting two shots to qualify for the finals.
Probable XI: Jos Buttler (O), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson (C)(WK), Devdutt Padikkal, Shimron Hetmyer(O), Riyan Parag, Ravichandran Ashwin, Obed McCoy (O), Yuzvendra Chahal, Trent Boult (O).
Key Players:
Jos Buttler: Jos Buttler has been the most prolific run-scorer for Rajasthan in the tournament. He has scored 629 runs in the tournament at an average of 48.38 and a strike rate of 146.96. But in the last few matches, Buttler has lost a bit of his golden touch. The team will hope that he soon revives his form and scores at the business end of the tournament.
Yuzvendra Chahal: In the 14 matches Chahal has picked up 26 matches. He is the highest wicket-taker in the league stages of the tournament. Rajasthan will be largely depending on Chahal to provide them with important breakthroughs in the business end of the tournament.
Ravichandran Ashwin: Ashwin, the bowler is a known entity in the cricketing world. But in ITL 2022, we have seen Ashwin, the batter and he has been more than handy in the lower middle-order of the team. The team will be hoping that he continues with his brilliant exploits in the playoffs and the finals if they make it.
Previous Encounters: The two teams have faced once during the league stages. In that match, Gujarat emerged victorious by 37 runs.
Weather Report: The weather will be a major concern. The threat of rain is impending over Qualifier 1 of the tournament. There has been heavy rain in the last few days in Kolkata and the forecast is the same for the important match day.
Pitch Report: The traditionally spin favorable pitch of Eden Gardens has provided help for the fast bowler in the last few years. The pitch is also a fresh one and will be in use for the first time in this tournament. Thus, a sporty wicket with a decent pace and bounce can be expected in the match.
Match Details:
Date: May 24, 2022
Venue: Eden Gardens, Kolkata
Time: 7:30 PM
Broadcasting Details: Star Sports network for Television, Disney+ Hotstar for online streaming.
