The ninth match of the IPL 2026 features the Gujarat Titans up against Rajasthan Royals at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, on Saturday, 4th April. Rajasthan Royals started the tournament on a positive note, winning their opening match by eight wickets against Chennai Super Kings, successfully chasing a target of 128 runs in just 12.1 overs. Young sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi scored a brilliant 52 runs at a strike rate of 305 and helped his team to reach the target. The last time these two sides met, Suryavanshi shattered the record books en route to a 35-ball century in Jaipur.

On the other hand, Gujarat Titans had a tough start to the tournament, losing their opening match by three wickets against Punjab Kings. They batted first and posted a total of 162 runs in 20 overs. Shubman Gill was the top-scorer for Titans, scoring 39 runs off 27 balls, but their bowling unit failed to defend the target.

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GT vs RR Match Details 

• Match: Gujarat Titans vs Rajasthan Royals, 9th Match

• Date: 4th April 2026

• Time: 7:30 PM IST

• Venue: Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad 

• Live Streaming: JioHotstar 

GT vs RR Weather Report

Pitch Report - Narendra Modi Stadium

The surface at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad has traditionally been favourable for batting, and the quick outfield rewards stroke play. The venue has seen a number of high-scoring encounters in the past.

• Win Batting First: 62%

• Win Bowling First: 38%

Average Scores

• Average 1st Innings: 185

• Average 2nd Innings: 170

GT vs RR Recent Form

GT vs RR Head-to-Head Record (Last 10 matches)

• GT Wins - 6

• RR Wins - 2

Top Batters to Watch – GT vs RR

• Vaibhav Suryavanshi (RR): 52 runs in this tournament 

• Shubman Gill (GT): 39 runs in this tournament 

• Jos Buttler (GT): 38 runs in this tournament 

Top Bowlers to Watch – GT vs RR

• Jofra Archer (RR): 2 wickets in this tournament 

• Prasidh Krishna (GT): 3 wickets in this tournament 

• Ravindra Jadeja (RR): 2 wickets in this tournament 

GT vs RR Today Match Prediction Scenarios

Scenario 1: If GT bats first

• Powerplay Score: 45–50

• Predicted Total: 175–180

• Match Result: RR to win

Scenario 2: If RR bats first

• Powerplay Score: 50–60

• Predicted Total: 190–200

• Match Result: RR to win

Who Will Hit the Most Sixes?

Who Will Hit the Most Fours?

GT vs RR Predicted Playing XIs

Gujarat Titans 

Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (c), Jos Buttler (wk), Washington Sundar, Glenn Phillips, M Shahrukh Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Kagiso Rabada, Ashok Sharma, Mohammed Siraj

Rajasthan Royals 

Yashasvi Jaiswal, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Riyan Parag (c), Dhruv Jurel (wk), Shimron Hetmyer, Ravindra Jadeja, Jofra Archer, Nandre Burger, Sandeep Sharma, Ravi Bishnoi, Brijesh Sharma

Why Rajasthan Royals is the favourite

• Vaibhav Suryavanshi's recent form 

• won the previous match  

• Explosive middle-order

GT vs RR Today Match Prediction – Who Will Win Today?

Based on current form, team balance, and superior batting strength, Rajasthan Royals is the favourite to win this IPL 2026 match. Yashasvi Jaiswal, Vaibhav Suryavanshi and Shimron Hetmyer are expected to be the key performers.

Prediction: Rajasthan Royals to win

The Indian Premier League is coming up very soon, and one such team which has caught the fans' eyes is the Gujarat Titans. The Gujarat Titans enjoyed a strong campaign last season and looked set for a top-two finish under Shubman Gill, before a late dip in form saw them settle for third place in the 2025 edition. 

Heading into IPL 2026, GT have retained thei jnr core group while making calculated moves in the trade window. They have addressed key gaps through smart auction picks, assembling a younger and more dynamic squad. With a refreshed setup in place, here’s a brief SWOT analysis of the Gujarat Titans ahead of the new season.

GT IPL 2026 Squad: Shubman Gill (Captain), Sai Sudharsan, Kumar Kushagra, Anuj Rawat, Jos Buttler, Nishant Sindhu, Washington Sundar, Arshad Khan, Shahrukh Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Ishant Sharma, Gurnoor Singh Brar, Rashid Khan, Manav Suthar, Sai Kishore, Jayant Yadav, Glenn Phillips, Jason Holder, Ashok Sharma, Luke Wood, Prithvi Raj Yarra, Tom Banton.

Strength

The Gujarat Titans have a major advantage in their top-order clarity, an area where many teams often struggle despite having talent. With Shubman Gill providing stability and control, Jos Buttler adding explosive firepower, and Sai Sudharsan ensuring consistent run flow, the trio offers a perfect blend of roles. 

More importantly, there is a clear role definition within the top three, giving the batting unit a solid foundation—something that often separates well-structured teams from the rest.

Weakness

The Gujarat Titans face a significant challenge in their middle order. The onus now shifts to Glenn Phillips, expected to take charge of the middle overs after showing encouraging form in Indian conditions.

However, the supporting cast lacks certainty. Shahrukh Khan has been inconsistent, while Kumar Kushagra is still finding his footing at the IPL level. Washington Sundar may be used as a floating option, but his impact remains unpredictable, and Tom Banton is likely to serve as backup. This lack of clarity leaves GT’s middle order slightly unsettled heading into the season.

See All: IPL 2026: SWOT Analysis of Royal Challengers Bengaluru

Opportunity

After being left out of India’s squad for the 2026 ICC Men's T20 World Cup, Shubman Gill heads into IPL 2026 with added motivation to make a strong statement, making it the team's best opportunity. Despite his consistent performances in the league over recent seasons, he has yet to replicate that success in international T20 cricket.

This season could be a turning point, with Gill likely to adopt a more aggressive approach and play with greater intent. If he manages to convert his form into impactful performances, IPL 2026 could be the stage where he firmly establishes himself as a top-tier T20 batter.

Threat

While the Gujarat Titans boast a strong overall bowling attack, much of their spinners' control still hinges on Rashid Khan. His ability to dominate and restrict opposition batters is what often turns the attack from effective to truly suffocating. However, if Rashid performs at a steady level rather than being a match-defining force, opposition teams tend to find ways to navigate the middle overs more comfortably. 

In such scenarios, GT’s bowling unit remains competitive but loses its edge, as there is no robust backing and support for the Afghan spinmeister through another reliable spinner. This subtle shift can prove crucial in tight contests and slow pitches, especially during the business end of the tournament.

IPL 2026 is set to begin in a few days, with defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru facing former champions Sunrisers Hyderabad in the opening match at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.

The special league has played a major role in the growth of franchise cricket worldwide and in the development of Indian cricket. It has helped create star players, discover new talent, and turn domestic cricketers into well-known names.

However, some star players miss certain IPL seasons due to injuries or poor form. Every team in the league has players who will aim to perform well and make an impact in their roles.

Some players will look to make a strong comeback this season. These include Prithvi Shaw, who was picked by Delhi Capitals late in the auction, Ruturaj Gaikwad, who missed the second half of last season due to injury, and Shubman Gill, who will aim to return to India’s T20I team.

With that in mind, here is a list of five players who could make a strong comeback in IPL 2026.

Also read -IPL 2026: Top 3 Players with the Most Fours in the IPL

Prithvi Shaw

Prithvi Shaw, once seen as one of the brightest young talents in Indian cricket, is a player who can make a strong comeback in IPL 2026. He returns to Delhi Capitals, a team where he has enjoyed success in the past, including strong opening partnerships with Shikhar Dhawan and David Warner. After a good domestic season following his move to Maharashtra, Shaw will now focus on performing well in the IPL and rebuilding his career. He has played 79 matches for Delhi Capitals and scored 1892 runs.

Ruturaj Gaikwad

Chennai Super Kings captain Ruturaj Gaikwad is another player who can make a strong comeback this season. He missed the second half of the previous IPL due to injury. Gaikwad has been part of the Indian team setup and will look to return in form. He will also have the support of experienced players like Sanju Samson and MS Dhoni in leadership matters.

Sarfaraz Khan

Sarfaraz Khan’s career has gone through many phases. He started as a promising uncapped player with RCB, learning under Chris Gayle, but could not fully deliver on his early promise. Later, he performed consistently in domestic cricket and earned a place in India’s Test team. However, he is currently out of contention. Sarfaraz went unsold last season but was picked by Chennai Super Kings in this year’s auction. The Chepauk pitch could suit his style of play, especially against spin. His creative batting makes him a useful T20 player, and he will aim to perform well and move closer to a return to the national team.

Shubman Gill

India’s Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill will see IPL 2026 as a chance to return to the T20I side. This makes him another strong candidate for a comeback this season. Gill has played 118 IPL matches and scored 3866 runs. He will aim to deliver consistent performances and strengthen his place in the shorter format.

Yuzvendra Chahal

Yuzvendra Chahal is another player who can make a strong comeback in IPL 2026. The experienced spinner is currently out of the Indian team but remains one of the best bowlers in the league. He is the leading wicket-taker in IPL history, with 221 wickets in 174 matches. Chahal will look to use this season to prove his form and push for a return to international cricket.

FAQs

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is set for the annual awards ceremony, where the Indian Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill will get a top award, while the legendary Indian cricketers will be honoured.

Shubman Gill: BCCI Cricketer of the Year

The BCCI will organise the annual Naman Awards this Sunday (March 15) in Delhi. Shubman Gill has been nominated for the Cricketer of the Year award. Gill was the leading run-scorer in international cricket as well as Test cricket in 2025, as the right-handed batter scored 1764 international runs last calendar year, including 983 Test runs. He was also India's fourth-highest ODI run-scorer in 2025 with 490 runs, including two centuries and two half-centuries. Although he wasn't selected for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026, he was the vice-captain of the T20I side and also a member of the Indian team that won the Asia Cup T20 2025. 

Meanwhile, Ayush Mhatre, the Mumbai cricketer, has been nominated for the Lala Amarnath Award, which is for the best domestic player. 

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Rahul Dravid, Roger Binny, Mithali Raj: Col CK Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award

Former Indian captain and head coach Rahul Dravid, former Indian cricketer and BCCI President Roger Binny, and former Indian Women's captain Mithali Raj will also be honoured with the Col CK Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award. 

Even more than 13 years after his retirement from international cricket, Rahul Dravid holds the third most international runs record by an Indian. Under his coaching, India won the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024, which was the Men in Blue's first ICC trophy after 11 years. He was also the coach of the India U19 team that finished runners-up in the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup 2016 and champions in the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup 2018.

Roger Binny was the leading wicket-taker when India won the ICC Cricket World Cup in 1983. He was also the head coach of the India U19 team that won the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup 2000. Roger also served as a national selector and a developmental officer in the Asian Cricket Council (ACC).

Former Indian Women's captain Mithali Raj still holds the record for leading run-scorer in the Women's ODI with 7805 runs, including seven centuries and 64 half-centuries. The right-handed batter also holds the record for the second-highest score in Women's Test cricket history with 214 against England Women at Taunton in 2002. Under her leadership, India Women finished runners-up in the 2005 and 2017 editions of the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup. 

The Punjab cricket team reached the Semi-final of the List A tournament Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26, and the team has received special gifts from the Indian Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill. 

Shubman Gill played one Ranji Trophy match in January 2026

Last month, Shubman Gill returned to the Punjab team for one Ranji Trophy 2025-26 match, which was the group stage match against the hosts Saurashtra. While Gill spent some quality time during that match, he brought special gifts for the Punjab cricketers and support staff for their recent top performances, as the domestic team reached the Semi-final of the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26. 

The gifts were the new special Nike Air Force 1 shoes, which have been specially made for India, and the Punjab team enjoyed them first before officially released. 

This is small gift from me: Shubman Gill

In the social media video, Gill said, "We lost the semi-finals, but nonetheless that should take away from the cricket that I think we have play and this is small gift from me. Thanks to Sebastian, Abhishek, and the Nike team, for doing this." 

The Punjab cricketer further added, "These are the new Air Force 1, just specially made for India. And they are unreleased, so you would be the first people to get your hands on it. Thank You!"

We were delighted to welcome one of our very own, @ShubmanGill , back to the Punjab team for a one-off Ranji appearance last month.

Shubman spent quality time with the squad, sharing valuable lessons and advice from his journey and surprising both players and support staff with… pic.twitter.com/7EeiYMGtnH

— Punjab Cricket Association (@pcacricket) February 18, 2026

The Ranji Trophy resumed after a near two-month hiatus, with Round 6 of the Elite Group stage getting underway on Thursday, January 22, 2026. The Indian ODI team members returned to domestic cricket, but the players faced difficulties because the venues had spin-friendly conditions.

The day featured highly publicized events, which included Shubman Gill's disappointing performance during Punjab's Elite Group B match against Saurashtra. Gill made his return to the Ranji Trophy after his last appearance in January 2020 when he faced the left-arm spinner Parth Bhut at Niranjan Shah Stadium (Ground C) and he got out without scoring after two balls. Bhut produced outstanding results by taking five wickets while conceding 33 runs on a pitch that turned sharply.

Gill batted at an unfamiliar No.5 position while Punjab's middle order showed difficulties handling the ongoing spin attack. The day proved challenging for batsmen because 23 wickets fell during the opening day. Punjab reached a total of 139 all out after Prabhsimran Singh Anmolpreet Singh and Uday Saharan provided temporary resistance. Saurashtra's bowlers maintained tight control while Ravindra Jadeja and Dharmendrasinh Jadeja backed Bhut through their strong performance.

ALSO SEE: Watch: How ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 Trophy enters Sri Lanka during SL vs ENG 1st ODI

Watch the video:

🚨 Shubman Gill was once again got robbed by the umpire. He was clearly not out, as there was clear bat before pad, but the umpire still gave him out & there was no DRS available. The same thing happen in his last Ranji match where he was given lbw out when he was batting on 102. pic.twitter.com/LrwDEBvuYi

— Ahmed Says (@AhmedGT_) January 22, 2026

Saurashtra take firm control on spin-friendly pitch as Punjab look to bounce back on Day 2

Saurashtra chose to bat first and scored 172 runs, with Jay Gohil's composed 82 serving as the match's most impressive performance. The best bowler for Punjab was Harpreet Brar, who took six wickets while allowing 38 runs. Saurashtra ended the day with a second innings score of 24 for 3, which gave them a 57-run overall advantage.

The match included a celebratory element because the Saurashtra Cricket Association honored Arpit Vasavada for his 100th first-class match together with Cheteshwar Pujara Jaydev Unadkat and Ravindra Jadeja. For Gill, the day will come to focus on hitting back at Day 2, if Punjab scored in his comeback to Ranji Trophy cricket trying with real efforts to retrieve the game in return.

Shubman Gill, one of India’s most talked-about batters, was left out of the T20 World Cup squad announced by the BCCI. The tournament is set to begin on February 7. The Ajit Agarkar-led selection panel chose players like Ishan Kishan and Rinku Singh instead. Gill’s omission has sparked wide debate among fans and experts.

The decision came despite Gill being a regular name in India’s white-ball plans. Many expected him to feature, especially given his reputation and past performances. However, concerns around his recent T20 form played a role. The selectors opted to focus on players they felt were better suited at this stage.

Former Australia captain Michael Clarke has now spoken in support of Gill. Clarke believes the snub does not end Gill’s chances. In fact, he feels Gill could make a strong return after the World Cup. Clarke even sees leadership potential in the young batter.

“Don’t Be Surprised If He Takes Over the Captaincy”

“He might still be (in contention). I don't think that changes too much. I think the squads needed to be announced by a certain time, and he wasn't batting as well as he would like,” Clarke said on the Beyond23 Cricket Podcast. He added that India have many opening options and the timing worked against Gill.

Clarke also pointed out that the selectors wanted full focus on World Cup preparation. “They wanted these couple of warm-up games to be a real focus on what they are doing in the World Cup,” he said. According to him, questions over Gill’s form led to the call. The decision was made specifically with the World Cup in mind.

See Also: Virat Kohli dethroned as ICC No.1 ODI batter after latest rankings update

Gill had been named India’s T20I vice-captain last year, replacing Axar Patel. However, the selectors later reappointed Axar as vice-captain for the World Cup. Looking ahead, Clarke remains confident. “I think after the World Cup, don't be surprised if he not only comes back into the team, but he also takes over the captaincy,” he said, adding that Gill is “an unbelievable player” and India are fully focused on winning the World Cup.

India will face New Zealand in a five-match T20I series starting on January 21 in Nagpur. Suryakumar Yadav will lead the Indian team. This series is important for India as they prepare for the 2026 T20 World Cup. India are the current champions and have not lost a T20I series since winning the 2024 World Cup.

India will aim to continue their winning run. New Zealand come into the series after winning the ODI series 2-1, which makes them a strong opponent. Still, the Black Caps have not beaten India in a T20I series since 2018–19.

Since that time, India have won four T20I series in a row against New Zealand. Their most recent meeting ended with India winning the series 2-1 in January–February 2023. In this article, we take a look at five active Indian players who last played the home T20I series against New Zealand in 2023:

Also read -Watch: Gautam Gambhir smiles as he reunites with Hardik Pandya & Jasprit Bumrah ahead of IND vs NZ 2026 T20Is

1. Shubman Gill

Shubman Gill was the highest run-scorer when India last played a home T20I series against New Zealand in 2023. He scored 144 runs in three innings at a strong strike rate of 184.61. He also scored one century.

Gill was not selected for the upcoming T20I series because of poor form. Last year, he scored 291 runs in 15 innings at a strike rate of 137.26 and did not score a half-century.

Ishan Kishan was picked in the squad instead of Gill. Axar Patel was named vice-captain for the T20I series against New Zealand and for the 2026 T20 World Cup.

Overall, Gill has scored 869 runs in 36 T20I matches at a strike rate of 138.9, with one century and three half-centuries.

2. Yuzvendra Chahal

Yuzvendra Chahal played only one match in the three-match T20I series against New Zealand in 2023. He took one wicket and gave away just four runs in two overs.

The 35-year-old was part of the 2024 T20 World Cup squad but did not play any match. His last T20I game for India was against West Indies in August 2023.

In IPL 2025, Chahal took 16 wickets in 13 matches for Punjab Kings but had an economy rate of 9.55. In T20Is, he has taken 96 wickets in 80 matches at an economy rate of 8.19.

3. Deepak Hooda

Deepak Hooda played in India’s last home T20I series against New Zealand. He failed to perform well and scored only 12 runs in two innings at a strike rate of 100.

That series was his last for India. In total, Hooda played 21 T20I matches and scored 368 runs at a strike rate of 147.20. He also scored one century.

In IPL 2025, Hooda had a poor season. He scored just 31 runs in five innings at a strike rate of 75.6. Chennai Super Kings released him before IPL 2026, and he was not sold in the auction.

4. Rahul Tripathi

Rahul Tripathi played all three T20I matches against New Zealand in 2023. He scored 57 runs at a strike rate of 123.91. His best score was 44 runs off 22 balls.

Overall, Tripathi played five T20I matches for India and scored 97 runs at a strike rate of 144.77. His other two matches were against Sri Lanka.

Tripathi also struggled in IPL 2025. He scored 55 runs in five innings at a strike rate of 96.49 while playing for Chennai Super Kings.

5. Umran Malik

Umran Malik was seen as a big talent in Indian cricket. He played eight T20I matches for India and took 11 wickets, but his economy rate was high at 10.48.

Against New Zealand in 2023, he took two wickets in two matches and bowled at an economy rate of 7.89. That series was his last T20I series for India.

The 26-year-old has struggled in recent seasons. In IPL 2023, he took only five wickets in eight matches for SunRisers Hyderabad. Since 2024, injuries have slowed his career.

He last played for Jammu & Kashmir in the 2025 Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy, where he took six wickets in five matches.

Indian Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill is set for his return to the Ranji Trophy, as the right-handed batter wants to utilise his present gap period to improve his batting quality.

Since the end of the 2025 England tour, Shubman Gill has been struggling to perform consistently. His struggles are more recognisable in the T20 cricket, where he was the vice-captain of the Indian team. 

But due to inconsistent performances, Gill was dropped from the Indian T20I side, as he hasn't been selected for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026, which India and Sri Lanka are set to host on February 7 and March 8, 2026. 

While Gill now has a rest time from the international schedule, as his next crucial assignment will be the IPL 2026 before any next team India assignment, he is ready to utilise this period by making himself available for more match practice. 

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Shubman Gill will take part in the Saurashtra game

As the Ranji Trophy 2025-26 is set to restart this week, Gill has decided to be available for his domestic team Punjab. While Saurashtra are ready to host Punjab in the Elite Group B match from January 22, Gill is available for the fixture.