RCB vs GT Prediction: Phil can rub Salt into the wounds

Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Gujarat Titans are two teams that will be hoping to force themselves into the Indian Premier play-off places, but they are both bidding to respond to defeats in Friday’s showdown from the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. Royal Challengers suffered a six-wicket defeat at home to Delhi Capitals when last in action on Saturday, failing to defend their total of 175, but they had recorded comfortable wins over Lucknow Super Giants and Mumbai Indians prior to that.

The Titans, meanwhile, saw their three-match winning streak come to an end at home to Mumbai Indians on Monday, suffering a heavy 99-run defeat as they were bowled all out for just 100. RCB currently sit fourth with four wins from their opening six games, so occupy a play-off place, and will be looking to strengthen their position in front of home support. Read on for my RCB vs GT predictions.

RCB vs GT Odds

RCB are 8/13 to make the most of home advantage and bolster their top-four hopes, with the Titans 5/4 to make it four wins in their last five matches.

Kohli heads the betting to top Royal Challengers' runscoring at 9/4, with Gujarat skipper Gill 11/5 to lead the scoring for the visitors.

Team News

Royal Challengers rely heavily on openers Phil Salt and Virat Kohli to get them off to a strong start, with Tim David and Romario Shepherd providing plenty of power in the middle order.

Australian ace Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar will be looking to damage with the ball for RCB.

The Titans have shown flashes of brilliance, but have struggled for consistency and will be relying on captain Shubman Gill and wicket-keeper Jos Buttler to step up.

Prasidh Krishna, Kagiso Rabada and Rashid Khan help form a seriously strong bowling line-up for the visitors.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru to win @ 4/6

The pitch at the iconic Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru is considered to be a batters paradise, so winning the toss could prove all-important.

With the short boundaries, it has been a challenging venue for the bowlers over the years and RCB may hold the aces with explosive openers Salt and Kohli looking to make a strong start.

They put on an opening stand of 52 runs in defeat to the Capitals last time out and at least one of them tends to deliver.

With captain Rajat Patidar and David also in attendance, this is a ferocious batting line-up when things click and they have won three of their opening four home games.

Top Home Team Batter - Phil Salt @ 7/2

King Kohli is favourite to top the batting for Royal Challengers, but he may be upstaged by his fellow opener Salt, who only has one way of going.

Salt attempts to hit boundaries from ball one and this is a pitch that favours his ultra-aggressive style.

The England batter can be difficult to stop once he gets going and recent performances suggest he is about to click into top gear, having made scores of 46, 78 and 63 in three of his last five IPL innings. 

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