Gujarat Lions and Royal Challengers Bangalore have an array of quality batsmen in their teams, so when these two teams clash in Rajkot on Friday, a high-scoring game is on the cards. With the pitch at Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot said to be batting-friendly, batsmen like Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers (both RCB) and Brendon McCullum, Suresh Raina (both GL), should be keen to bat in this IPL 2016 game.
With an incredible talent on show in their batting line-up, it is Gujarat Lions and RCB bowlers who will be under immense pressure to shine in Rajkot. The bowlers could prove to be the difference between a win and a loss in Rajkot.
One look at the bowling line-up reflects no big name for Gujarat Lions, but they have all-rounders like Ravindra Jadeja, Dwayne Bravo and James Faulkner, who can deliver with the ball as well. RCB, on the other hand, also look weak in the bowling department, but will depend on Shane Watson's experience and Kane Richardson's performance with a new ball.
Richardson is also well aware of their team's strength, which is their batting, and believes they are going to be even more formidable if the bowlers get into the act as well.
"I am pretty happy to be on their team and I am pretty lucky to be able to sit in the change room and watch them play. Once we get our fielding and bowling right we are going to be a scary team no matter where we play," Cricbizz quoted Richardson as saying.
The RCB have been too dependent on Kohli and De Villiers with the bat, as the duo have scored a major chunk of the RCB runs in IPL 2016. Hence there is a serious need for other batsmen like KL Rahul and Shane Watson to score runs as well if Kohli and De Villiers fail.
Gujarat Lions should primarily have a plan against Kohli and De Villiers as they can destroy any bowling attack, as has been witnessed in IPL 2016. Raina, who leads Gujarat Lions, should be aware of Kohli's weakness and try to exploit it in Rajkot, but the right-hander has been flawless in the competition so far. The challenge is daunting for Raina.
Though RCB have always bagged headlines with their star batsmen in their camp, Gujarat Lions have an equally dangerous batting line-up, and even more depth with all-rounders like Bravo, Jadeja and Faulkner.
However, it is their top order including Aaron Finch, McCullum and Raina who are going to hold the key. The trio has been impressive in IPL 2016 and will be keen to shine in front of their home crowd and win the game for their side.
Gujarat Lions will move up the IPL 2016 table if they manage to defeat RCB.
Gujarat Lions vs RCB IPL 2016 match – is scheduled to start at 4 p.m. IST (11:30 a.m. BST, 6:30 a.m. ET). Live TV coverage of the Gujarat Lions vs RCB IPL 2016 match will be on Sony Max, Sony Six/HD, Sony ESPN/HD. Online options are available onHotstar and Starsports.com.
Sky Sports 2 will broadcast the Gujarat Lions vs RCB IPL 2016 match live in the UK and Ireland, with the live stream options onWatch Sky Sports and Sky Go.
Viewers in the US can watch Gujarat Lions vs Royal Challengers Bangalore IPL 2016 match on ESPN, while the game can also be live streamed on Watch ESPN.Sportsnet and viewers in Canada can watch the Gujarat Lions vs RCB IPL 2016 match on Watch Sportsnet.
OSN Sports Cricket will show Gujarat Lions vs Royal Challengers Bangalore IPL 2016 match in the Middle East and North Africa, while all the action can also be watched via live streaming online on OSN Cricket Play.
Supersport and Supersport Live Video will broadcast Gujarat Lions vs Royal Challengers IPL 2016 match in South Africa.
Viewers from across the world, around 133 countries, can watch the IPL 2016 match live online on Cricketgateway.
