Gujarat Titans v Rajasthan Royals: 2022 IPL final preview

The Cricketer takes a look at the next fixture in the 2022 Indian Premier League season

What's the match?

Gujarat Titans take on Rajasthan Royals in the final of the 2022 Indian Premier League. Gujarat Titans are hunting for their maiden IPL crown while Rajasthan are searching for a first title since 2008.

When is it taking place?

The match will be played Sunday, May 29 with play starting at 7.30pm local time (3pm GMT).

Where is the match being played?

The game will be held at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

Who's got the form?

Gujarat Titans have been the standout side in the 2022 IPL, winning 10 of their 14 group matches before defeating Rajasthan Royals by seven wickets to advance to the final at the first time of asking.

The Titans have three players among the top-10 run-scorers, with Shubman Gill (438 runs), David Miller (449 runs) and Hardik Pandya (453 runs) all passing 400 runs. The latter pair, in particular, have been excellent. With the ball, Mohammed Shami has picked up 19 wickets while Rashid Khan has 18 to his name and, crucially, an economy of just 6.73.

Rajasthan Royals also enjoyed a solid ground stage, winning nine of their 14 matches, but had to go the long way round to reach the final after losing to Gujarat Titans in the Eliminator 1. Fortunately, Jos Buttler was on fire in their crucial match with RCB, blasting 106 runs from 60 balls to see his side to a seven-wicket win.

Buttler is the runaway Orange Cap, scoring 824 runs - four centuries, four half-centuries - at a strike rate of 151.47. With the ball, Yuzvendra Chahal has taken 26 wickets and requires just one scalp in Ahmedabad to move clear of Wanindu Hasaranga in the Purple Cap standings. Prasidh Krishna has chipped in with 18 wickets.

^{Jos Buttler}

What's the key match-up?

This match will likely be decided by the performances of Jos Buttler, Hardik Pandya, and David Miller.

Buttler began his tournament with three half-centuries and three centuries in nine innings before fading towards the back end of the group stage. But he's right back in form at a crucial time for Rajasthan, scoring back-to-back knocks of 89 (against Gujarat) and 106 not out.

Pandya and Miller, meanwhile, have both scored 400-plus runs and boast strikes rates in excess of 130. And both players have brought their best against Rajasthan.

When the two sides met in the group stage, Pandya top-scored for his side with 87 not out off 52 while Miller contributed a monster 31 runs off 14 balls at No.6. In the Eliminator, they shared a match-winning fourth-wicket stand of 106 runs from 61 balls, with Pandya scoring 40 (27) and Miller scoring 68 (38).

Rajasthan are yet to dismiss either player in the 2022 IPL but must find a way to in the final, otherwise the pressure will really be on Buttler with the bat.

Head-to-head record 

Matches played: 2

Gujarat Titans wins: 2

Rajasthan Royals wins: 0

What's the weather forecast?

A warm day is expected in Ahmedabad, athough some afternoon rain could make the conditions tricky and the toss crucial.

What are the squads?

Gujarat Titans: Hardik Pandya, Shubman Gill, Rashid Khan, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Mohammad Shami, Lockie Ferguson, Abhinav Sadarangani, Rahul Tewatia, Noor Ahmad, R Sai Kishore, Dominic Drakes, Jayant Yadav, Viijay Shankar, Darshan Nalkande, Yash Dayal, Alzarri Joseph, Prandeep Sangwan, David Miller, Wriddhiman Saha, Matthew Wade, Gurkeerat Singh, Varun Aaron

Rajasthan Royals: Sanju Samson, Jos Buttler, Yashasvi Jaiswal, R Ashwin, Trent Boult, Shimron Hetmyer, Devdutt Padikkal, Prasidh Krishna, Yuzvendra Chahal, Riyan Parag, KC Cariappa, Navdeep Saini, Obed McCoy, Anunay Singh, Kuldeep Sen, Karun Nair, Dhruv Jurel, Tejas Baroka, Kuldip Yadav, Shubham Garhwal, Jimmy Neesham, Nathan Coulter-Nile (injured/replaced by Corbin Bosch), Rassie van der Dussen, Daryl Mitchell

^{Shubman Gill is one of three Gujarat batters in the top ten run-scorers}

What are the possible starting XIs?

Gujarat Titans: Wriddhiman Saha, Shubman Gill, Matthew Wade, Hardik Pandya, David Miller, Rahul Tewetia, Rashid Khan, R Sai Kishore, Alzarri Joseph, Yash Dayal, Mohammed Shami

Rajasthan Royals: Yashavi Jaiswal, Jos Buttler, Sanju Samson, Devdutt Padikkal, Ravichandran Ashwin, Shimron Hetmyer, Riyan Parag, Trent Boult, Prasidh Krishna, Yuzvendra Chahal, Obed McCoy

What are the odds?

Gujarat Titans are the favourites to win this clash, with odds of 10/11. Rajasthan Royals are available at 1/1.

What's the prediction?

Head says Gujarat, heart says Royals. Based on head to head and the form of Pandya and Miller, Gujarat will win.

Where can I watch the game?

In the UK, Sky Sports have exclusive rights to this year's tournament, with matches available on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Cricket.

Fans in India can watch all of the action on Star Sports.

Elsewhere in the world, viewers in Australia can watch the IPL on Fox Sports while in New Zealand, Sky Sport will provide coverage.

Willow TV and Flow Sports will broadcast the tournament in the United States and the Caribbean, respectively.

Fans in MENA can catch the action on beIN Sports while in South Africa, SuperSport have the rights.

The IPL can also be streamed on Disney+ and Hotstar in certain areas.