Gujarat Titans head into their away encounter with Rajasthan Royals looking to keep the momentum going, with both teams set to meet at Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur on Saturday night. Led by Shubman Gill, GT have been in excellent form, winning three straight games and occupying fifth place with 12 points. Rajasthan Royals are also on 12 points, but they currently sit just below GT due to a less favourable net run rate. With a win offering a chance to break into the top two, the contest promises to be a high-stakes battle of form and execution.
Key takeaways
- Gujarat Titans will travel to Jaipur to face Rajasthan Royals at Sawai Mansingh Stadium on Saturday night.
- GT have won three consecutive matches and are placed fifth with 12 points, while RR are sixth with the same points but a lower net run rate.
- Aakash Chopra recommended bringing pacer Prasidh Krishna into the playing XI for this match.
- Chopra’s view was that Krishna could replace spinner Manav Suthar in the XI.
- Chopra also suggested Washington Sundar should be the option to handle the spin duties if Manav sits out.
Chopra’s suggested bowling reshuffle for GT
Ahead of the clash, former India batter Aakash Chopra weighed in on GT’s selection strategy, focusing on the balance of their bowling unit. He argued that Gujarat’s attack has several performers who are among the top wicket-takers, yet one of them was not being used in the current setup. In his assessment, Prasidh Krishna’s recent impact in the tournament made him a player that should not be left out.
Chopra stated that GT appear to be benefiting from the strength of their bowling, even though the team is playing away from home on this occasion. He pointed out that the side has tended to keep Prasidh out by choice, despite his standing among the leading wicket takers when he has been involved. In his words, the overall bowling group has been performing strongly, and the match-up should not force GT to exclude Prasidh from the XI.
Why replace Manav Suthar?
The former batter went a step further by suggesting that spinner Manav Suthar could make way for Prasidh Krishna. Chopra’s argument was built around role clarity: if the team wants to go with spin, it should be done through Washington Sundar rather than relying on Manav in this particular combination.
He also offered a projected bowling plan for GT’s middle overs. Chopra indicated that two left-handers could come into the equation early, followed by batters where Ravindra Jadeja and Shimron Hetmyer would be present in the mix. From there, he suggested GT could use off-spin in those phases, with Rashid Khan operating alongside the spin options.
Chopra summed up his recommendation with a straightforward selection message: play Prasidh Krishna instead of Manav Suthar, and if spin is required, assign that responsibility to Washington Sundar.
Recent usage and wicket numbers
Prasidh Krishna, in this context, is coming off a period where he has been left out of GT’s most recent match. Chopra noted that Krishna has taken 12 wickets across seven games in IPL 2026, and he sat out Gujarat Titans’ last outing against Punjab Kings.
Chopra then touched on Manav Suthar’s current season returns to underline why a change could be considered. He said that Manav has managed just two wickets in four matches this season, making him the weaker option in the immediate selection debate.
