IPL 2022: Qualifier 1 – GT vs RR Preview – One step away from the final

The in-form Gujarat Titans will be locking horns with a resurgent Rajasthan Royals in Qualifier 1 of IPL 2022 at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata on May 24. The winner advances through to the finals while the loser gets another chance to qualify for the summit clash when they face the winner of the Eliminator in Qualifier 2.

While GT became the first side to make the playoffs of IPL 2022, RR booked their Qualifier 1 berth courtesy of an R Ashwin special where he scored an unbeaten 23-ball 40. By the virtue of this impressive win, the Royals pushed the Lucknow Super Giants to the third spot in the points table.

The Titans, on the other hand, will be heading into this clash on the back of an eight-wicket defeat against the Royal Challengers Bangalore who eventually became the fourth team to make the playoffs. The Hardik Pandya-led side have sealed a last four berth in their maiden appearance and would now wish to make the occasion even more special by qualifying for the decider.

They would be hoping from their top-order and the bowlers to come out all guns blazing for this all-important match after a wake-up call from RCB in their last league fixture. Meanwhile, there’s a thunderstorm alert in Kolkata and rain is expected to play a spoilsport in this contest. Should that happen, GT will advance to the finals since they are the table-toppers.

Gujarat Titans vs Rajasthan Royals Qualifier 1 Predicted XI

Gujarat Titans

It would be interesting to see whether the Gujarat Titans would finally give a chance to Afghan sensation Rahmanullah Gurbaz over an underfire Matthew Wade.

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

Rajasthan Royals

The Rajasthan Royals will not be interested in making any. They would be hoping for a stupendous performance from Jos Buttler in this crucial encounter.

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