“Romario Shepherd won’t play” - Ravichandran Ashwin predicts Jacob Bethell's inclusion in the RCB XI vs GT

Former Indian cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin made a bold prediction regarding potential lineup changes for defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). Ahead of their IPL clash against Gujarat Titans (GT), the veteran off-spinner stated that all-rounder Romario Shepherd could be left out of the playing XI.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru will host Gujarat Titans in Match 34 at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Friday, April 24. The home side, led by Rajat Patidar, is currently third on the 10-team points table with eight points from four wins. Gujarat Titans, led by Shubman Gill, are in seventh place after three defeats.

I Have a Feeling That Romario Shepherd Won’t Play - Ravichandran Ashwin

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ravichandran Ashwin opened up about Romario Shepherd’s recent performances. The veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin stated that the defending champions have enough bench strength to replace the West Indian all-rounder with either Jacob Duffy or Jacob Bethell.

"I have a feeling that Romario Shepherd won't play. I have a feeling that they will go with Jacob Duffy, or a batter like Jacob Bethell. But RCB are looking quite strong, they have the batting, the bowling looks strong," Ravichandran Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.

"I want to see how Rashid Khan bowls in this game, because the last two games have been slightly under Rashid's standard. But in this game, RCB look very strong. So, I will go with RCB to win," the former Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin added while previewing the upcoming match.

Also Read: RCB vs GT Dream11 Prediction Today Match, Dream11 Team Today, Fantasy Cricket Tips, Playing XI, Pitch Report, Injury Update- IPL 2026, Match 34

Romario Shepherd Struggles to Deliver for Royal Challengers Bengaluru

Romario Shepherd is under scrutiny after a disappointing performance against Delhi Capitals (DC). In the recent narrow defeat, the West Indian all-rounder conceded 17 runs in just five deliveries in the crucial final over and scored only one run off four balls with the bat.

In the ongoing tournament, Shepherd has failed to replicate his form from the previous season. He has scored just 39 runs in four innings at an average of 19.50. His bowling has also been a concern, with only three wickets and a high economy rate of 15.11.

Due to these underwhelming returns, the team management may consider changes to their overseas combination. So far, Royal Challengers Bengaluru have regularly fielded Phil Salt, Tim David, Romario Shepherd, along with either Jacob Duffy or Josh Hazlewood, without fully utilizing other bench options.

Jacob Bethell in Line for Opportunity After RCB Batting Collapse

English batter Jacob Bethell is still waiting for his first appearance of the season after being benched for the first six matches. Adding Bethell to the middle order could bring much-needed stability after the recent batting collapse against Delhi Capitals at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.

Alternatively, fast bowler Jacob Duffy is another strong option for the home side. Duffy has already taken six wickets in three matches while filling in for Josh Hazlewood earlier this season. Playing both pacers together could strengthen the attack against Gujarat Titans.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru will look to bounce back after Delhi Capitals chased down 176 despite a strong spell from Bhuvneshwar Kumar. However, they face a tough challenge, having lost two of their last three matches against Shubman Gill’s side at this venue.

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