Hello and welcome to Sportstar’s LIVE coverage of the IPL 2022 Qualifier 1 between Gujarat Titans and Rajasthan Royals from the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
14:51: It has stopped raining in Kolkata for now. It’s bright and sunny.
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GUJARAT TITANS – ROAD TO THE PLAYOFFS Beat Lucknow Super Giants by five wickets Beat Delhi Capitals by 14 runs Beat Punjab Kings by six wickets Lost to Sunrisers Hyderabad by eight wickets Beat Rajasthan Royals by 37 runs Beat Chennai Super Kings by three wickets Beat Kolkata Knight Riders by eight runs Beat Sunrisers Hyderabad by five wickets Beat Royal Challengers Bangalore by six wickets Lost to Punjab Kings by eight wickets Lost to Mumbai Indians by five runs Beat Lucknow Super Giants by 62 runs Beat Chennai Super Kings by seven wickets Lost to Royal Challengers Bangalore by eight wickets |
MATCH PREVIEW
As the Indian Premier League bandwagon returns to Kolkata after three years for this edition’s first two playoffs matches, the cricket-loving fans will hope that the rain forecast does not come true.
The Qualifier 1, between top-ranked new entrant Gujarat Titans and second-placed Rajasthan Royals – which won the inaugural title in 2008 – at the Eden Gardens here on Tuesday, is expected to be a keenly-contested one as the winner of the match will reach the final. The fact that Titans beat Royals in their only duel five week ago will have little significance as it happened well before the sides hit the reset button.
Ashish Nehra’s cricketing acumen and Hardik Pandya’s pro-active captaincy has built Titans as a formidable unit. Its key members have played their roles well.
While Shubman Gill and Wriddhiman Saha have accumulated crucial runs at the top, Hardik, who is the team’s highest run-scorer with 413 runs, and David Miller have contributed handsomely. Spinner Rashid Khan and pacer Mohammed Shami have taken 18 wickets apiece and Lockie Ferguson has helped in putting the opposition under pressure.
Others have revolved around the key players to enhance the formidability of Titans, which would follow the process that has given it success so far.
Right personnel
Coached by Kumar Sangakkara, the Royals have picked the right personnel and have used them well to reach the playoffs after four years.
Top run-getter Jos Buttler (629) and top wicket-taker Yuzvendra Chahal (26 wickets) have shouldered the bulk of the responsibility. Captain Sanju Samson and Devdutt Padikkal have chipped in when needed. Trent Boult, Prasidh Krishna and R. Ashwin have strengthened the bowling department.
While the Royals would like to pay tribute to their former captain and mentor Shane Warne by winning back the trophy, Titans would love to ensure a memorable finish by taking the champion’s tag. The first step towards that should be an exciting one.
WHERE AND WHEN TO WATCH GT VS RR, IPL 2022 QUALIFIER 1 LIVE?
| The IPL 2022 Qualifier 1 between Rajasthan Royals and Gujarat Titans will be aired LIVE on the Star Sports Network at 7:30 PM on Tuesday, May 24. The match will also be available for live streaming on Disney+Hotstar. |