The hectic run of matches in the Indian Premier League has come to an end and on Tuesday we are back to a single game on the day. It is a big game for the two sides involved as the Gujarat Lions host the Royal Challengers Bangalore in a battle of the bottom two in the current table.
Both sides have one win in the tournament to date. Gujarat have played one less match than the Bangalore outfit but both have dreadful net run rates so the loser of this one really will have their work cut out to make it into the playoffs.
Gujarat Lions
In fairness to the Gujarat Lions after taking two absolute annihilations they have bounced back with a win and a narrow defeat in which they went down fighting so they have recovered from the shock of those opening two matches. The issues they have had from the start are still in place but at least there is some fight from them.
I don’t actually think it is going to take a huge amount to get the Gujarat Lions going in the right direction. They need to be strong with their team selection but they know whichever combination they use with the bat they will be good so if they can just get a settled attack going they could yet make a run for it.
Royal Challengers Bangalore
When the season began last year’s beaten finalists were expected to win the tournament. They were the favourites going into the campaign and the side everyone was talking about as they had seemingly addressed their bowling issue in the auction and with that missing piece in the jigsaw the garden was to be rosy.
It hasn’t worked out that way. What people forgot to mention is that an aging batting line up hasn’t been given cover and when senior players are out of form they have nothing to fall back on and in truth one win in five is about right for their season so far. They were lucky to win that one too it has to be said.
Team News
The Gujarat camp have confessed that Dwayne Bravo is back in training now but this match is expected to come too soon for him. Aaron Finch is back in the squad and could come back into the side. Dwayne Smith or Jason Roy look most likely to go.
Royal Challengers Bangalore have used a different opening pairing in every match so far this season and you wouldn’t be too surprised if that trend continued here. Tymal Mills is expected to be fit to play if selected.
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Betting
I’ve a hunch that the Gujarat Lions might end up winning this match but there is no way I am parting with my money on them until I know for sure that they are batting second. They have shown time and again that they can’t restrict sides and even though Bangalore are in a right slump they won’t bat terribly forever.
I don’t see a situation where this match isn’t high scoring. The two matches on this ground so far this season have seen 183/4 play 184/0 and 171/8 play 172/3. Three times this season Gujarat have scored more than 170 so they have no issues with the bat but they have conceded 184/0, 171/8, 177/4 and 140/1 in 15.3 overs which was going to be another 180+ score if it needed to be.
Bangalore are similar. They can’t restrict sides whatever they do so this just looks like a high scoring match to me. When they met here last year Bangalore’s 180/2 was chased down in the final over and I expect something similar here. Over 345.5 total runs looks the way to play this one.
I’m also going to take a chance on Dinesh Karthik to top score for the home side. He has put together three solid scores in this tournament so far with a couple of 40s which on another day would have top scored. He creamed it everywhere in Mumbai at the weekend and if nobody above him does the job he will be a leading runner at 7/1.
Tips
WON – Back Over 345.5 runs for a 4/10 stake at 2.00 with Bet365
Back it here:
Back D.Karthik Top Gujarat Lions Batsman for a 1/10 stake at 8.00 with Betfred
Back him here:
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