Not MS Dhoni's CSK! Ravi Shastri Picks This Team As Favourites To Win IPL 2023 Title

Rajasthan Royals will host table-toppers Gujarat Titans in their next reverse fixture of IPL 2023 at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium on Friday. Having suffered defeats in their previous games, both teams will be eager to return to winning ways. The finalists of IPL 2022 have carried their form to this season and looked like the team to beat this year as well. RR - who are being led by Sanju Samson - and Hardik Pandya's GT look front-runners in the playoffs race. It will be the final game before IPL 2023 witnesses the rivalry week.

Former India cricketer Ravi Shastri has backed Gujarat Titans as the title favourites in the IPL 2023 due to the balance this team has and the way it is performing collectively as a unit.

Speaking on Star Sports' Cricket Live, Ravi Shastri said, "Looking at the current form and team standings, I believe that Gujarat will win the trophy. There is consistency and flexibility in this team and there are seven-eight players who are performing consistently. The players in this Gujarat side complement each other."

Shastri - the former India head coach - has also praised the way Sanju Samson is leading RR and seems mighty impressed with the way the wicketkeeper-batter is handling his spin troika of R Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal and Adam Zampa in IPL 2023.

Speaking on Star Sports' Cricket Live, Ravi Shastri said, "Sanju Samson has matured as a captain. He uses his spinners very well. Only a good captain can play with three spinners and use them smartly."

Earlier on Thursday, Kolkata Knight Riders defeated Sunrisers Hyderabad in yet another nail-biting last-over thriller in IPL.

With 9 runs required from the final over, Sunrisers Hyderabad's lower-order batters failed to overhaul it due to a sensational bowling