Gujarat Titans and Royal Challengers Bengaluru are at two extremities when it comes to approaching a T20 game. RCB, having adapted to the new batting requirements of T20 cricket, are packed with batting firepower throughout the line-up. The arrangement of their batting order won them the Indian Premier League last season, where they looked equally adept at setting targets and chasing games.
At RCB, the No. 8 batter is Krunal Pandya, who is an adept ball striker in T20 cricket and capable of finishing games. In sharp contrast, GT’s No. 8 is Rashid Khan. While an adept ball striker himself, you would not put your money on Rashid finishing games.
That difference is reflected in the rest of the middle order as well. RCB are power-packed with Jitesh Sharma, Tim David and Romario Shepherd, ready to go hammer and tongs if the top order does not provide the desired outcome on a given day.
On GT’s side are Shahrukh Khan, Rahul Tewatia and Jason Holder, who have been criticised for their batting this season.
While the contrasts are steep, the similarities between the two sides are quite apparent as well. RCB have relied on their masters of swing in the powerplay. Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood have been their go-to men. Ask Delhi Capitals, they were blown out of the water just days after registering one of the highest scores in the tournament this season.
Similarly, Gujarat have relied on Kagiso Rabada and Mohammed Siraj, who have bowled some terrific spells this season.
BLOWN AWAY IN BENGALURU
But Gujarat’s bowling can only do so much. In their first encounter against RCB this season, played at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, GT lost despite their opener Sai Sudharsan scoring a century. Sudharsan got the plaudits from select sections of experts, but in reality, a century at a strike rate of 172 did more harm than good to Gujarat.
Sudharsan anchored the innings for GT, while others struggled to score. The left-hander played nearly half the balls in 20 overs, but barely attacked in his last 15 balls. The result: GT scored 205 runs at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.
In response, RCB went hammer and tongs from the very start of their chase. Devdutt Padikkal, coming in at No. 3, started his innings by smashing a six. He got out trying to hit a six as well, having played less than half the balls that Sudharsan did.
There were anchors in the RCB innings as well. Kohli, dropped early in the game by Washington Sundar, ended up scoring 81 in just 44 balls, guiding the hosts to a successful chase in less than 17 overs.
And that is the gulf that the two sides have in this edition of the game.
Even with that kind of cricket, Gujarat have won four out of their eight matches. The teams that they have beaten this season are Lucknow Super Giants, Kolkata Knight Riders, Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Capitals.
Four teams that form the bottom half of the table. They would have lost against DC, but an epic brain fade from David Miller saved them from humiliation in that game.
Gujarat will need to pull up their socks and play the modern template if they are to stand a chance against RCB today.
GT vs RCB: TEAM NEWS
Gujarat are coming off a win against CSK, a victory that was set up by their incredible powerplay bowling. Kagiso Rabada ran riot in Chennai, setting the foundation for a big win at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. GT kept Prasidh Krishna out of that game, and it is likely that they will not tinker with that.
Captain Shubman Gill was slightly critical about the team’s failure to close games with the ball, and it will be interesting to see how they go about it in their home game.
For RCB, Phil Salt is expected to miss another match, with Jacob Bethell getting another shot at the opening spot. Bethell hit a couple of lofty shots against DC in the previous match, but his cameo was cut short by a sensational catch from T Natarajan in New Delhi.
GT vs RCB: PITCH CONDITIONS
The match is set to be played on the same pitch where RCB won the title last year. It is a red-soil dominant wicket, the kind of pitch where fast bowlers have done really well this season.
With two in-form attacks, this match could turn out to be a powerplay shootout between the two teams. On one side there is Rabada and Siraj, and on the other, Bhuvneshwar and Hazlewood, which should bring a fascinating edge to the game.
In the T20 World Cup 2026, the red-soil pitches in Ahmedabad produced great contests between bat and ball. A similar kind of game should be expected on Thursday.
GT vs RCB: PREDICTED PLAYING XIs
GT: Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (c), Jos Buttler (wk), Shahrukh Khan, Washington Sundar, Jason Holder, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj, Manav Suthar
Impact Sub: Arshad Khan
RCB: Virat Kohli, Jacob Bethell, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar (c), Jitesh Sharma (wk), Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Rasikh Salam Dar
Impact Sub: Suyash Sharma.
