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The stage is set for a high-octane Saturday night at the world’s largest cricket stadium. The 9th Match of IPL 2026 sees the Gujarat Titans (GT) returning home to Ahmedabad, desperate to open their account after a narrow opening loss, while the Rajasthan Royals (RR) arrive brimming with confidence after a dominant start to their campaign.
Shubman Gill’s men arrive at the Narendra Modi Stadium looking to bounce back after falling just short against the Punjab Kings in their season opener. While the result wasn’t what they hoped for, there were flashes of brilliance, notably a steady 39 from the skipper and an encouraging 3-wicket haul from Prasidh Krishna. Returning to Motera provides a significant psychological boost, as the Titans have historically transformed the world’s largest stadium into an impenetrable fortress. Their top order featuring the elegant Sai Sudharsan, the clinical Shubman Gill, and the explosive Jos Buttler facing his former franchise is arguably the most formidable trio in the league and will be eager to feast on home conditions. However, concerns linger over a middle order consisting of Shahrukh Khan, Rahul Tewatia, and Washington Sundar, which lacked the necessary finishing spark in their previous outing. For GT to secure their first win of 2026, they will need Rashid Khan to rediscover his trademark wicket-taking rhythm to stifle the momentum of an aggressive Royals batting unit.
Under the fresh leadership of Riyan Parag, the Rajasthan Royals appear to be a team reborn, coming off a clinical and dominant 8-wicket thrashing of CSK. The buzz surrounding the squad is centred on their X-factor, the young sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi, whose recent 15-ball fifty has sent shockwaves through the tournament and made him the primary threat for any bowling attack. Beyond the youthful exuberance, the Royals have found a rare sense of balance that has eluded them in past seasons. With Ravindra Jadeja providing veteran stability in the all-rounder slot and a terrifying pace battery featuring a fully-fit Jofra Archer alongside the fiery Nandre Burger, RR finally looks like a complete, multi-dimensional bowling unit. As the match progresses into the evening, the role of Ravi Bishnoi will be pivotal; his ability to navigate the middle overs and pick up crucial wickets before the heavy Ahmedabad dew sets in could be the deciding factor in maintaining the Royals’ unbeaten streak.
GT vs RR, IPL 2026: Match details
- Date and Time: April 4; 7:30 pm IST / 2 pm GMT
- Venue: Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
GT vs RR, Head-to-Head Record in IPL
Matches played: 8 | GT won: 6 | RR won: 2 | No result/Tied: 0
Narendra Modi Stadium Pitch report
The pitch at the Narendra Modi Stadium is expected to be a balanced surface with a mix of 70% red and 30% black soil, offering truer bounce and pace compared to traditional turning tracks. Batters will likely enjoy the ball coming onto the bat, especially in the Powerplay, while pacers can expect some initial lateral movement. However, as the game progresses, the red soil may dry out, bringing slower balls and cutters into play. A critical factor will be the significant dew expected after 8:30 PM, which will make gripping the ball difficult for spinners and likely prompt the toss-winning captain to bowl first
Also READ: IPL 2026: Ravindra Jadeja gets emotional against his former franchise CSK; video goes viral
Squads
Gujarat Titans: Shubman Gill (captain), Sai Sudharsan, Shahrukh Khan, Anuj Rawat, Kumar Kushagra, Washington Sundar, Manav Suthar, Rahul Tewatia, Nishant Sindhu, Jayant Yadav, Arshad Khan, Sai Kishore, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar, Ishant Sharma, Ashok Sharma, Kulwant Khejroliya, Jos Buttler*, Tom Banton*, Luke Wood*, Glenn Phillips*, Jason Holder*, Rashid Khan*, Kagiso Rabada*
Rajasthan Royals: Riyan Parag (captain), Shubham Dubey, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Aman Rao, Dhruv Jurel, Ravi Singh, Ravindra Jadeja, Yudhvir Singh, Ravi Bishnoi, Yash Raj Punja, Vignesh Puthur, Sandeep Sharma, Tushar Deshpande, Sushant Mishra, Kuldeep Sen, Brijesh Sharma, Jofra Archer*, Lhuan-dre Pretorius*, Donovan Ferreira*, Kwena Maphaka*, Nandre Burger*, Adam Milne*, Shimron Hetmyer*, Dasun Shanaka*
GT vs RR, IPL 2026: Today’s Match Prediction
Case 1:
- Rajasthan Royals wins the toss and bowls first
- Gujarat Titans’ powerplay score: 50-60
- Gujarat Titans’ total score: 180-190
Case 2:
- Gujarat Titans wins the toss and bowls first
- Rajasthan Royals’ powerplay score: 70-80
- Rajasthan Royals’ total score: 220-230
Match result: Team bowling first to win the contest.
