IPL 2025: Arshad Khan Steps in for Rabada as GT Opts to Bowl First Against RCB
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Synopsis
On April 2, during IPL 2025, Gujarat Titans won the toss and chose to bowl first against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Uncapped Arshad Khan replaces Kagiso Rabada. This match marks RCB's first home game and GT's first away game. Pitch conditions are expected to favor good bounce.
Key Takeaways
- Arshad Khan replaces Kagiso Rabada for Gujarat Titans.
- The toss was won by GT, opting to bowl first.
- This is RCB's first home game of the season.
- The match is being played at M Chinnaswamy Stadium.
- Pitch number six is utilized, offering good bounce.
Bengaluru, April 2 (NationPress) Uncapped fast-bowling all-rounder Arshad Khan has replaced fast bowler Kagiso Rabada as Gujarat Titans won the toss and decided to bowl first against an unchanged Royal Challengers Bengaluru in match 14 of IPL 2025 at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Wednesday.
This matchup marks RCB's first home game and GT's first away game of the season, with both teams vying for a top spot. After winning the toss, GT's captain mentioned that Rabada is unavailable due to personal reasons, allowing Arshad to join the playing eleven.
“The pitch looks promising. We have noticed the conditions remain consistent. Our focus is on minimizing unforced errors across all aspects of the game as we aim to enhance our performance,” he expressed.
RCB's captain, Rajat Patidar, received an enthusiastic reception from the crowd, stating he would have chosen to bowl first as well, given the fresh pitch conditions. “It’s solid and won’t vary much. The contributions from all players boost my confidence as a captain. We truly appreciate the unwavering support from our fans,” he remarked.
The match utilizes pitch number six, which was not used last year. According to the pitch report from broadcasters, the surface appears dry yet stable, offering good bounce. The square boundaries measure 68m and 61m, while the straight boundary stands at 73m.
Playing XIs
Gujarat Titans: Shubman Gill (captain), B Sai Sudharsan, Jos Buttler (wk), Shahrukh Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Arshad Khan, Rashid Khan, R Sai Kishore, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, and Ishant Sharma.
Substitutes: Sherfane Rutherford, Glenn Phillips, Anuj Rawat, Mahipal Lomror, and Washington Sundar.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Phil Salt, Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar (captain), Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, and Yash Dayal.
Substitutes: Suyash Sharma, Rasikh Dar, Manoj Bhandage, Jacob Bethell, and Swapnil Singh.
