Chandigarh: The Rajasthan Royals arrive for Qualifier 2 with significant momentum, bolstered by the recent standout performance of teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. His explosive innings against Sunrisers Hyderabad has drawn attention to the Royals ahead of their upcoming match against Gujarat Titans in Mullanpur.
Despite the short turnaround between matches, Rajasthan appears rejuvenated rather than fatigued. Their success in the Eliminator was notably attributed to aggressive batting at the top, particularly from Sooryavanshi and Dhruv Jurel, which effectively disrupted Hyderabad’s rhythm. The Royals will seek to replicate that explosive start in their next knockout game, aiming to exert pressure on Gujarat.
For Gujarat, the challenge is not solely tactical but also psychological. Their recent defeat to Royal Challengers Bengaluru exposed certain vulnerabilities that have been uncommon this season. The Titans’ bowling attack struggled to maintain control in the latter half of the innings, allowing RCB to accelerate their score beyond reach. Bouncing back from such a setback in a playoff format, where there is little time for recovery, presents an additional challenge.
Further compounding Gujarat’s worries was their batting performance in Dharamsala. Key players Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan, and Jos Buttler—who have anchored their batting efforts throughout the season—were all dismissed during the Powerplay, leaving the team in a precarious position at 51/5 within six overs. This type of collapse is unusual, considering the team’s generally consistent performance in previous matches.
Concerns have reemerged about Gujarat’s reliance on their usual winning strategy, which includes strong starts from the opening batsmen alongside early breakthroughs from bowlers like Kagiso Rabada and Mohammed Siraj. Control from spinners Rashid Khan and Jason Holder has also been critical to their victories throughout the season.
