Match Overview
The Rajasthan Royals (RR) are set to face the Gujarat Titans (GT) in their second match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Gujarat on Saturday, 4th April. The match is expected to be a high-stakes encounter, with both teams aiming for a strong start in the tournament.
Gujarat Titans’ Performance
Gujarat Titans began their IPL 2026 campaign with a tough loss to the Punjab Kings, who secured a thrilling victory by three wickets. Batting first, the Titans managed to score 162 for the loss of six wickets in their 20 overs. Shubman Gill contributed 39 runs, Jos Buttler scored 38, and Glenn Phillips added 25. However, the Punjab Kings executed their chase effectively, finishing the game in 19.1 overs. Prasidh Krishna played a crucial role with his bowling, taking three wickets in four overs.
Rajasthan Royals’ Strong Start
Rajasthan Royals made a powerful statement in their opening match against the Chennai Super Kings, winning comfortably. They bowled out CSK for just 127 runs and chased the target in 12.1 overs. Nandre Burger and Jofra Archer were instrumental with two wickets each, while Ravindra Jadeja took two wickets as well. Vaibhav Suryavanshi led the batting assault with a 15-ball half-century, and Yashasvi Jaiswal remained unbeaten on 38 runs.
Match Details
- Match: GT vs RR 9th T20 IPL Match
- Date and Time: Saturday, April 4; 7:30 p.m. IST
- Venue: Narendra Modi Stadium, Gujarat
- Broadcasting and Live Streaming: TV – Star Sports Network, Live Stream – JioHotstar
Pitch and Weather Report
The pitch at the Narendra Modi Stadium is known for being flat, allowing batters to score big runs. Fast bowlers can benefit from the new ball in the early stages. The average first-inning total at this venue is expected to be around 175.
The weather is predicted to be humid and partly cloudy, with only a 10% chance of rain. Temperatures will likely range between 26-32°C, with a cold breeze expected in the evening, which could aid pace bowlers.
Head-to-Head Records
In their head-to-head encounters in T20s:
- Matches Played: 8
- Won by Gujarat Titans: 6
- Won by Rajasthan Royals: 2
- Tied: 0
- No Result: 0
Probable Lineups
Gujarat Titans:
Shubman Gill, Jos Buttler, Sai Sudharsan, Shahrukh Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Glenn Phillips, Washington Sundar, Rashid Khan, Mohammed Siraj, Kagiso Rabada, Ashok Sharma
(Impact Players: Kumar Kushagra, Prasidh Krishna, Manav Suthar, Jayant Yadav)
Rajasthan Royals:
Yashasvi Jaiswal, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Riyan Parag (c), Shimron Hetmyer, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Brijesh Sharma, Jofra Archer, Sandeep Sharma, Ravi Bishnoi, Nandre Burger
(Impact Players: Shubham Dubey, Vignesh Puthur, Donovan Ferreira, Sushant Mishra)
Key Players to Watch
Prasidh Krishna (GT): Known for his aggressive style, he has taken 77 wickets in 67 IPL matches. He showed his potential in the previous match, taking three wickets for 29 runs.
Vaibhav Suryavanshi (RR): A young talent, he scored a fifty in 15 balls in the opener and is expected to play a crucial role in this match.
Toss Prediction
Historically, the toss-winning team has opted to bowl twice and bat once in the three T20 matches played at this venue. Batting first has been advantageous, with the team batting first winning 54 times out of 97 matches.
Match Scenario
Scenario 1
– Toss Winner: RR (opts to bat first)
– Power-Play Score: 45-55
– RR Total: 180-190
– Match Winner: Rajasthan Royals
Scenario 2
– Toss Winner: GT (opts to bat first)
– Power-Play Score: 42-48
– GT Total: 170-180
– Match Winner: Gujarat Titans
Final Thoughts
Playing at their home ground, the Gujarat Titans have a good chance to continue their dominance over the Rajasthan Royals. However, the Royals have quality players who can deliver in any situation, as seen in their opener against the CSK. This match is expected to be highly competitive, with both teams eager to secure a win.
