In three matches played between Rajasthan Royals and Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League, Hardik Pandya's Gujarat have emerged victorious on all occasions. And the Royals would want to change that piece of history by beating the Titans when the two teams meet in Ahmedabad on Sunday.
Who can forget the Titans' seven-wicket victory in the final of IPL 2022, which was their debut season, with Pandya's side making the contest against Rajasthan a one-sided affair, winning with 11 balls to spare.
The Titans' victories in the league phase too were an affirmation of the class and commitment of the team, which is currently placed third on the points table with six points -- same as Lucknow Super Giants and the Royals, with only net run rate (NRR) separating the sides.
While both the sides are equally matched on the batting and bowling fronts, the psychological edge the Titans enjoy by virtue of the three wins last year could play a huge role in the contest.
While on the other hand, Samson's side would be keen to break the jinx and show past results don't matter much.
With the core of the two sides almost the same, match-ups would have been well researched and the team that is able to withstand the pressure better at the gigantic Narendra Modi Stadium should emerge as the winner.
The Royals' top order has been one of the most devastating this season with the likes of Yashasvi Jaiswal, Jos Buttler and Sanju Samson helping the side to the highest average powerplay score of 66.8 among 10 teams in IPL 2023.
Besides, Buttler's powerplay strike rate of 196.6 is the best among batters, not to forget that he has scored a whopping 114 runs in those crucial six overs so far.
Also Jaiswal's 92 at a strike rate of 184 in the powerplay overs so far is something the Titan's won't take lightly.
With matches being won and lost on the basis of how teams fare in powerplays, another cracking start for Royals on Sunday could earn them their first win against the defending champions.
With the likes of Devdutt Padikkal, Ravichandran Ashwin, Shimron Hetmyer and West Indian all-rounder Jason Holder in the middle order, the Royals bat really deep.
On the bowling front too, the Royals have the second-best economy rate of 7.3 thus far, just behind Royal Challengers Bangalore (6.3).
With all three top spinners -- Adam Zampa, Ashwin and Yuzvendra Chahal -- pressed into service in the Royals' game against Chennai Super Kings, which the last year's runner-up side won by three runs, it remains to be seen what will be their bowling strategy against the Titans on Sunday.
The Royals have won two matches -- against SRH and Delhi Capitals -- by huge margins, while their win against CSK was a touch-and-go affair, thanks to Dhoni's last-over power-hitting.
They are now set to face the toughest test of the season, what with the Titans having the likes of skipper Pandya, destructive middle-order batter David Miller, Shubman Gill, Sai Sudarshan and their latest heroes -- all-rounder Vijay Shankar and Mohit Sharma in the ranks.
Shankar struck a 24-ball 63 against KKR at Ahmedabad, but it went in vain due to Rinku Singh's last-over brilliance, with the two-time champions winning by three wickets off the last ball bowled by Yash Dayal.
Titans' decision to replace Dayal with 34-year-old seamer Mohit worked wonders as his seam-up stuff delivered figures of 2/18 in four overs against Punjab Kings in Mohali.
(With agency inputs)
