RR vs GT, IPL 2023: Top 3 players to watch out for

In match 48 of the IPL 2023, Rajasthan Royals (RR) will clash with the table-toppers Gujarat Titans (GT) at the Sawai Mansingh Indoor Stadium, Jaipur. Despite losing to Delhi Capitals (DC) by five runs in their previous match at the Narendra Modi Stadium, GT are holding the first spot on the points table. While the Royals are placed in the fourth position after their loss to Mumbai Indians (MI).

With the stiff competition shaping up in the IPL 2023 points table, RR will look to give their best in their upcoming match against GT to consolidate themselves to qualify for the next round. Earlier, GT and RR locked horns in Ahmedabad, and the latter emerged victorious with three wickets in hand. This time, both sides will vie against each other in Jaipur and they will now rely on their respective best performers to clinch the game.

Here are the top three players to watch out for in the RR vs GT match

3. Jos Buttler

Jos Buttler’s bat has remained quiet in the last three games, and now the opening batter will look to be among the runs in the upcoming matches. Thus far, the 2022 IPL Orange Cap winner has amassed 289 runs with three half-centuries in nine matches at a strike rate of 138.94. His last impactful knock (52 off 36) came against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on April 12, 2023, at the Chepauk Stadium in Chennai.

In his last meeting with GT in Ahmedabad, he failed against Mohammed Shami and fell cheaply on a duck while following a target of 178. The wicketkeeper batter’s struggle against spinners is becoming a notable fact in the competition as he gave his wicket to Ravindra Jadeja and Piyush Chawla in the matches against CSK and MI, respectively.  

His batting numbers will be vital for the Royals to win the contest in Jaipur as he reinforces the team with his solid opening batting. Noting his potential and power-hitting skills, the RR team management will expect him to come heavily on GT’s formidable bowling attack.

2. Mohammed Shami

Mohammed Shami is looking at his best in the ongoing tournament. Picking up 17 wickets in nine matches at an economy of 7.05, he is the joint-leading wicket-taker in the competition, along with CSK’s Tushar Deshpande. In the previous two matches, he exuded confidence with his superb bowling performances.

Against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Titans claimed a convincing seven-wicket triumph and he contributed 3/33 bowling figures to his team. While in his side’s five-run loss against Capitals, he produced fire with the ball against the DC batting line-up and racked up 4/11 figures in his extraordinary four-over spell.

The veteran will be expected to spearhead GT’s pace attack from the front against Rajasthan. In his previous encounter with RR, he cheered up his team with his exceptional bowling performance (3/25 in four overs). Riding on the pacer’s brilliant form, GT will strive to be the best against the Royals.

1. Yashasvi Jaiswal

Yashasvi Jaiswal has come out as the most efficient servant for RR in the ongoing IPL 2023 edition, thus far. Scoring 428 runs in nine matches at a jaw-dropping strike rate of 159.70, he is holding the second position on the list of top run-getters in the competition. In recent matches, Buttler failed to be dominating but Jaiswal looked positive and scored big runs for the team.

In the last two matches, Jaiswal bagged the Player of the Match award twice for his superb batting. At the Sawai Mansingh Indoor Stadium, the youngster played a match-winning 77 off 43 to help his team thump the quality CSK by a comfortable margin of 32 runs. After delivering a heartening batting show against CSK, the left-handed batter showcased his best side against MI as well.

This time, he conducted brutal carnage against the MI bowling unit and scored his maiden IPL century. Notching up 124 off 62, he helped his team to put up 212/7 on the board, but his efforts went in vain as Mumbai won the game by six wickets in the last-over thriller.