Gujarat Titans (GT) They will take on Rajasthan Royals in Match 9 of the Indian Premier League 2026 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Saturday, April 4. Cricket fans are eagerly awaiting the contest, and Gujarat Titans have a strong home advantage over Rajasthan Royals.
After the win over Chennai Super Kings, Rajasthan Royals will enter this match with confidence. Meanwhile, Gujarat Titans will rely on their strong head-to-head record against the Royals. Both teams will be aiming to secure points at the start of the highly competitive IPL 2026 season.
IPL 2026: GT vs RR Match Preview
Gujarat Titans will enter this match after a disappointing start. They scored 162 runs for 6 wickets Punjab Kings (PBKS)Who chased it with five balls remaining. Their bowling showed struggles, but the overall performance highlighted key areas that need immediate improvement.
The Titans are heavily dependent on Sai Sudarshan, Shubman Gill and Jos Buttler. Gill averages 41 against Rajasthan Royals, while Sudarshan scored 759 runs at an average of close to 55 in 15 matches last season. However, the middle order remains a matter of concern for the Titans.
Their bowling unit looks balanced. Prasidh Krishna impressed with 3 wickets for 29 runs, while Rashid Khan and Washington Sundar took one wicket each.
Meanwhile, Rajasthan Royals will enter with confidence Riyan Parag. Yashasvi Jaiswal and Vaibhav Suryavanshi put in impressive performances at the top. The presence of Jofra Archer adds firepower to their bowling, making them a well-balanced team.
Also Read: GT vs RR Match Prediction: Toss, Playing XI, Key Players, Best Batsman, Best Bowler and Who Will Win IPL 2026 Match 9?
IPL 2026: GT vs RR Playing XI
Gujarat Titans will likely open with Shubman Gill and Sai Sudarshan. Jos Buttler will take over the responsibility of wicketkeeping. Washington Sundar, Shahrukh Khan and Rahul Tewatia form the middle order. Rashid Khan, Ravishrinivasan Sai Kishore, Mohammad SirajAnd Prasidh Krishna completed the bowling attack.
Playing XI of Gujarat Titans: Sai Sudarshan, Shubman Gill (captain), Jos Buttler (wicketkeeper), Washington Sundar, Glenn Phillips, M Shahrukh Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Kagiso Rabada, Ashok Sharma, Mohammed Siraj. 12th player: Prasidh Krishna.
Gujarat Titans Squad: Sai Sudarshan, Shubman Gill (captain), Jos Buttler (wicketkeeper), Glenn Phillips, Rahul Tewatia, M Shahrukh Khan, Ravishrinivasan Sai Kishore, Rashid Khan, Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Ishant Sharma, Jayant Yadav, Jason Holder, Luke Wood, Washington Sundar, Tom Banton, Kulwant Khejroliya, Anuj Rawat, Manav Suthar, Kumar Kushagra, Arshad Khan, Gurnoor Brar, Nishant Sindhu, Ashok Sharma.
Rajasthan Royals will probably open with Yashasvi Jaiswal Vaibhav Suryavanshi. Riyan Parag, Shimron Hetmyer and Dhruv Jurel provide strength in the middle order. Ravindra Jadeja, Joffra Archer, Nandre Berger, Sandeep Sharma, Ravi Bishnoi and Brijesh Sharma handle the bowling responsibilities.
Playing XI of Rajasthan Royals: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Riyan Parag (captain), Dhruv Jurel (wicketkeeper), Shimron Hetmyer, Ravindra Jadeja, Joffra Archer, Nandre Berger, Sandeep Sharma, Ravi Bishnoi, Brijesh Sharma. 12th player: Donovan Ferreira.
Rajasthan Royals Team: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Ryan Parag (captain), Dhruv Jurel (wicketkeeper), Shimron Hetmyer, Dasun Shanaka, Ravindra Jadeja, Joffra Archer, Sandeep Sharma, Ravi Bishnoi, Adam Milne, Yudhveer Singh Charak, Tushar Deshpande, Shubham Dubey, Nandre Berger, Kuldeep Sen, Sushant Mishra, Donovan Ferreira, Kevena Mafaka, Luan-Dre Pretorius, Vignesh Puthur, Ravi Singh, Aman Rao Perala, Brijesh Sharma.
IPL 2026: GT vs RR Impact Players
Gujarat Titans will likely use Prasidh Krishna as their impact player. He bowls in the middle and death overs. If Gujarat Titans bat second, they will use a specialist batsman to chase the target against the Rajasthan Royals bowling attack.
IPL 2026: GT vs RR pitch report
Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad is known for high scoring matches. Red clay is used on most of the pitches here, which creates consistent bounce and allows the ball to come onto the bat. This makes it easier to play strokes and fast bowlers can still use the bounce to create chances.
Ground dimensions also favor larger aggregates, with square boundaries in the mid 60 meter range and straight boundaries up to 78 metres. During IPL 2025, nine matches were played at this venue, where the teams batting first averaged 216, and only two had totals below 200.
The fast bowlers may get some help in the initial overs due to bounce and carry, while the spinners are expected to be effective during the middle phase of the innings. If Gujarat Titans bat first then their target could be between 180 to 190, while Rajasthan Royals’ target could be higher between 210 to 220.
IPL 2026: GT vs RR weather report
Weather conditions are expected to remain warm, with temperatures starting in the low 30s and gradually dropping to the high 20s during the evening. Skies should remain mostly clear with brief spells of thunderstorms, but no major disruptions are expected.
IPL 2026: GT vs RR head-to-head record and last 5 matches
Gujarat Titans dominate the overall head-to-head record. Gujarat Titans and Rajasthan Royals have played eight matches against each other. Gujarat Titans have won six matches, while Rajasthan Royals have won two matches.
During IPL 2025, both the teams had won one match each. In the last match between the two teams, Rajasthan Royals defeated Gujarat Titans by eight wickets, whereas Gujarat Titans had won the first match by 58 runs.
| played | RR won | RR lost | tie | N.R. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
last 5 matches
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Rajasthan Royals won by 8 wickets Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur in 2025
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Gujarat Titans won by 58 runs Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad in 2025
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Gujarat Titans won by 3 wickets Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur in 2024
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Gujarat Titans won by 9 wickets Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur in 2023
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Rajasthan Royals won by 3 wickets Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad in 2023
IPL 2026: GT vs RR players to watch
Vaibhav Suryavanshi is an important player for Rajasthan Royals. He scores runs quickly during powerplay overs. Rajasthan Royals will need him to deliver another strong batting performance against Gujarat Titans.
Sai Sudarshan provides stability to the batting lineup of Gujarat Titans. The team will expect him to open the innings and score heavily against Rajasthan Royals at the Narendra Modi Stadium.
Jofra Archer creates pace and bounce for Rajasthan Royals. He recently took important wickets in the opening match. The Narendra Modi Stadium pitch suits his bowling style and he can trouble the Gujarat Titans top order in the powerplay.
In the first match, Prasidh Krishna looked in great form and took 3 wickets for 29 runs in four overs. He used his pace and bounce effectively to trouble the Punjab batsmen, especially during the middle overs, and could again play a key role.
IPL 2026: GT vs RR key battles worth watching
The match will be decided by key matches at various stages. One of the most important matches will be between Shubman Gill and Joffra Archer in the powerplay. Gill likes to face the fast bowlers early, while Archer uses raw pace and yorkers to strike quickly, making this an exciting opening encounter.
Another important contest will come in the middle overs, where Rashid Khan will face aggressive batsmen like Shimron Hetmyer. The West Indies batsman is known for hitting big shots against spin, but if handled carelessly, Rashid’s googlies can cause problems and lead to mistakes.
Sai Sudarshan will face Nandre Berger with the new ball. Berger swings the ball and tries to trouble Sudarshan early on, while Sudarshan aims to give Gujarat Titans a fast and aggressive start in the powerplay overs.
Prasidh Krishna will bowl against Dhruv Jurel in the middle and death overs. Krishna uses pace and bounce to create pressure, while Jurel will have to remain calm and build his innings carefully in pressure situations.
IPL 2026: GT vs RR Live Streaming and Telecast Details
IPL 2026 matches in India are available on both television and digital platforms, giving fans multiple ways to follow the action. Star Sports Network handles the TV broadcast, while JioHotstar provides live streaming for viewers who prefer to watch online.
Coverage is offered in multiple languages including English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and Kannada. Overall, broadcasts are available in over 12 languages on Star Sports channels, making the tournament accessible to a wide audience.
To watch online, JioHotstar will live stream the match. Fans only need an active subscription to watch the game on a mobile phone, tablet or smart TV from anywhere in the world.
IPL 2026: GT vs RR Match Prediction
With a strong batting lineup and quality fast bowlers, Rajasthan Royals led by Riyan Parag are heading into the match as favourites. Their early wins in IPL 2026 give them confidence and a psychological edge over Gujarat Titans.
Gujarat Titans will face a tough test and Shubman Gill will have to lead from the front. However, their strong record at the Narendra Modi Stadium keeps them in contention, making the encounter unpredictable.
The toss may prove decisive. So far in IPL 2026, captains have given priority to bowling first, as it is easier to chase the target in a night game. Gill and Parag are also likely to adopt the same approach.
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