The 19th edition of the Tata Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 has got off to a great start. Three games have already been played in the tournament, with the fourth game between Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Gujarat Titans (GT) on Tuesday, March 31.
Punjab Kings finished as IPL runners-up after losing to Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), and were eliminated from the GT competition after losing to Mumbai Indians (MI) in the eliminator. The last time the two sides met, it was a high-scoring thriller. In this article, we will predict the playing eleven for both the sides.
Punjab Kings Playing XI vs Gujarat Titans-Match 4, IPL 2026:
Opener: Prabhsimran Singh, Priyansh Arya
Two flamboyant opening batsmen, Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya have performed sensationally in IPL 2025 and given PBKS a blazing start. These two will once again be important for the franchise to provide a blazing start in the power play. Priyansh Arya was the main aggressor between the two and also scored a century in the last season.
Middle-order batsmen and all-rounders: Shreyas Iyer (captain), Nehal Wadhera, Marcus Stoinis, Azmatullah Omarzai, Shashank Singh.
Shreyas Iyer scored the most runs in the middle overs for Punjab Kings. As the captain took command and led the team from the front, his bat scored more than 600 runs in the tournament. He would like to repeat the same this season also.
Nehal Wadhera and Marcus Stoinis will have to step up and score runs in the middle overs and Shashank Singh will be given the responsibility to finish the game.
Bowler: Marco Johnson, Arshdeep Singh, Vishal Vijaykumar, Yuzvendra Chahal
The two left-arm fast bowlers, Marco Johnson and Arshdeep Singh, will have to bowl well in the death overs for Punjab Kings along with taking quick wickets with the new ball. Yuzi Chahal will be important in the middle overs as there will be some spin on the Mullanpur pitch.
Playing XI of Punjab Kings: Prabhsimran Singh, Priyansh Arya, Shreyas Iyer (captain), Nehal Wadhera, Marcus Stoinis, Azmatullah Umrazai, Shashank Singh, Marco Jansen, Arshdeep Singh, Vishak Vijaykumar, Yuzvendra Chahal. Effect: Xavier Bartlett/Mushir Khan.
Gujarat Titans Playing XI vs Punjab Kings – Match 4, IPL 2026:
Opener: Shubman Gill (Captain), Sai Sudarshan
The opening pair of Shubman Gill and Sai Sudarshan scored the most runs in the first wicket partnership in the last season of IPL. The pair scored 839 runs in 12 innings and performed brilliantly throughout the season.
They would like to give GT a similar start to their campaign. Both the youngsters also made the biggest partnership for the first wicket in IPL history by scoring 205 runs against Delhi Capitals.
Middle-order batsmen and all-rounders: Jos Buttler, Glenn Phillips, Shahrukh Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Washington Sundar
The responsibility of Jos Buttler and Glenn Phillips will be huge as both the batsmen will have to score runs in the middle overs and manage the innings if both the openers get out early. Since GT does not have the best middle-order batsmen except these two, they have also let go of Sherfane Rutherford, who had surprisingly scored for the team.
Bowler: Rashid Khan, Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna
Rashid Khan has been struggling with form in recent times; However, the Mullanpur pitch may help him get back into form, and he will look to take wickets in the middle overs. The pace trio of Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna will try to take wickets. The Purple Cap holder last season was; Since then his form has been bad.
Gujarat Titans: Shubman Gill (captain), Sai Sudarshan, Jos Buttler, Glenn Phillips, Shahrukh Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Washington Sundar, Rashid Khan, Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna. Effect: Nishant Sindhu/Ashok Sharma.
Also read: Jitesh Sharma opens up on secret relationship with PBKS owner ahead of IPL 2026
