Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 The high-octane drama continues in the season, and the 9th match at the iconic Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad was no exception. In form of Gujarat Titans (GT) ready to host Rajasthan Royals (RR) The atmosphere was heated on April 4, 2026, yet when the team sheet came out there was a wave of anxiety among the home fans.
The most notable development of the evening was the absence of Gujarat Titans’ charismatic leader and batting mainstay, Shubman Gill. In his place, the experienced Afghan leg spinner Rashid Khan Went out for the toss, confirming that Gill will be sidelined for this crucial encounter.
GT vs RR: Why is Shubman Gill not playing today’s IPL match?
The main reason for the absence of Gill is: muscle cramps. Acting captain Mo during the toss Rashid Khan Providing clarity on the situation, given that the injury was a setback, it was probably a precautionary measure to ensure the long-term fitness of their key opening batsman.
“Well, we also wanted to bowl first,” Rashid Khan said after losing the toss. “Fresh wicket and I think the bowlers will get some help in the beginning… Gill has a bit of a muscle cramp, hopefully he will be back soon. KK (Kumar Kushagra) is playing his first game and we are looking forward to watching him play“
Gill, who has been in great form and has top-scored for the Titans in their previous matches, is a vital cog in the GT machinery. Muscle cramps have been a recurring obstacle for Gill; He famously struggled with neck spasms during a Test match in late 2025 and missed a series new zealand In 2024 for similar reasons. Given the grueling nature of the IPL 14-match group stage, the GT management has opted for a ‘safety first’ approach, hoping to get their captain back for the upcoming fixtures.
Riyan Parag’s selection in the toss against GT was surprising
This scene made the evening even more surprising Riyan Parag Decision after winning the toss. Parag takes over after strategic leadership change sanju samson As the full-time captain for the 2026 season, the young all-rounder looked confident at the toss.
Rajasthan Royals won the toss and elected to bat first, with Parag indicating clear intent to dominate the scoreboard.
“We will bat first. We have to assess different circumstances and adapt to them. Hopefully we will score a good score around 210 and defend it laterParag commented that he stressed the philosophy of flexibility, saying that the Royals aim to be a team that can adapt to any situation rather than sticking to the same brand of cricket.
Royals made two strategic changes and included it Tushar Deshpande For Brijesh Sharma And -Shubham Dubey For Ravi Bishnoi. Meanwhile, GT gives debut to young talent Kumar KushgraHe was tasked with filling the huge void left by Gill. As the match begins in Ahmedabad, all eyes will be on how the Titans adapt without their leader and whether the new-look Royals under Parag can take advantage of Gill’s unfortunate absence.
Starting eleven of both the teams
Rajasthan Royals: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Dhruv Jurel (wicketkeeper), Riyan Parag (captain), Shimron Hetmyer, Donovan Ferreira, Ravindra Jadeja, Joffra Archer, Nandre Berger, Tushar Deshpande, Sandeep Sharma.
Gujarat Titans: Kumar Kushagra, Sai Sudarshan, Jos Buttler(w), Glenn Phillips, Washington Sundar, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan(c), Kagiso Rabada, Ashok Sharma, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna
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