7pm: Toss coming up… RCB have won the toss and will bowl first. Faf says it’s pleasing to see the shift in the last few matches after playing catch-ups. “We are going with the same team.”
Gill: Important for us to deliver our best. I feel apart from bowling and batting, our fielding hasn’t be up to par at crucial moments. We are going to be a better team from today. Captaincy has been fun. Josh Little comes in.
6.50pm: For more analysis, stats, colour and insights follow Sreshth Shah’s Live report.
Lila bhandari: “Namaskara from Kathmandu, Nepal. RCB is in good touch since last 2 matches. Winning today’s match would be very exciting and RCB gonna win this match. “
He also tells me that Josh Little had a long net session last evening, and is having a close look at the run-up and the pitch. Signs of things to come?
Ashish Pant says hello from the Chinnaswamy: “Both teams had a slight taste of the Bengaluru traffic with the team busses stuck in traffic close to the venue. It rained for a couple of hours in Bengaluru last evening. No such threats today, though it does feel unusually humid. Virat Kohli had a long net session on the eve of the game, with a specific focus on spinners. He did get out a number of times but also hit a few into the stands much to the delight of few spectators in. Coming to today, it is expected to be another packed crowd. Most of the stands are already full, and there is a huge queue outside waiting to get in. Spencer and Vyshak marked their run-ups.”
Tushar Verma: “Hello Srinidhi, whatever mathematical chanced you mentioned of RCB qualifying for playoffs, if anyhow they do qualify this from this position, it will be like a getting the trophy for us RCB fans. Yes, we live on such low expectations. It’s an enduring task to be an RCB fan, but we live on as always. And as always, we will come back the next year carrying the same endurance. “
That apart, it’s going to be Kohli vs Titans’ spinners the subplot (again) in Bengaluru. Spin has been Kohli’s nemesis in T20s for a few years now, but he scored an unbeaten 70 against one of the IPL’s best spin attacks in their last match to keep RCB’s hopes alive in the season. Abhimanyu Bose in his preview says with GT being a bowling-heavy team, they will need to revise their plans to end their losing streak.
6.30pm: Namaskara, everyone! Welcome to our live coverage of game 52 of the IPL, between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Gujarat Titans at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. Today’s big question is, are RCB still in the mix? Yes, they are on a two-match winning streak and have six points from 10 games. They are at the bottom of the points table. But 14 points could keep them in the mix but at this stage, even 12 gives them a mathematical chance.
On the other hand, Titans have lost two of their last three games and need to pull up their socks sooner than later if they are to go up the ladder. They have eight points from 10 games and occupy the eighth position. Titans are the only side in IPL 2024 to not win two games in a row and that has kept them in the second half of the table. Can they find a way to stop RCB from making it three wins in a row? I am Srinidhi Ramanujam and will be joined by Alan Gardner to bring you all the live action. Oh, and it’s good to be back on commentary.