The Gujarat Titans (GT) are set to play their first home game of the 2026 Indian Premier League season when they face the Rajasthan Royals (RR) at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Saturday, April 4. 

The Ahmedabad-based franchise will be looking to secure their first win of the new season after losing their opening game against the Punjab Kings (PBKS) in New Chandigarh. Batting first, the 2022 champions managed to score 162 from their quota of 20 overs. None of their batters managed to get a score above 40, with Shubman Gill top scoring with 39, and Buttler hitting 38 off 33 balls. 

The bowlers, however, kept GT in the game before Cooper Connolly’s splendid knock of 72 not out took the hosts home. Last season’s Purple Cap winner, Prasidh Krishna, took three wickets whilst conceding just 29 runs from his quota of four overs. 

Despite coming second best in their game against PBKS, Gill & Co. have a solid team that will not require much tinkering when they face the Royals at Motera. Their strength lies in having consistent Indian players along with overseas superstars, who are widely regarded as some of the greatest T20 players in the history of the game.

Here is GT’s strongest predicted XI vs RR, Match 9, IPL 2026: Top Order: Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (c), Jos Buttler (wk) Sai-Sudharsan-and-Shubman-Gill. (Photo source: X/IPL)

GT’s top three is arguably one of the strongest top orders in the entire IPL this year. The trio of Sai Sudharsan, captain Shubman Gill, and Jos Buttler scored a combined 1,947 runs amongst themselves, with the former going on to win the Orange Cap.

In an ideal scenario, one of the aforementioned three has always had a good outing for GT, which releases the pressure from the middle-order batters, knowing a majority of times they will get a good start to the innings.

Middle Order: Washington Sundar, Glenn Phillips, M Shahrukh Khan, Rahul Tewatia Rahul Tewatia. (Photo source: IPL/BCCI)

The middle order for GT consists of players like Washington Sundar, who can build an innings should the top order fail, along with powerful finishers like Rahul Tewatia and Shahrukh Khan.

One advantage GT have with their middle order is that they have a good combination of left-handers and right-handers.

This allows the management to use this flexibility to their advantage and change the lineup according to the bowler in front. 

Bowlers: Rashid Khan, Kagiso Rabada, Ashok Sharma, Mohammed Siraj Prasidh-Krishna. (Photo source: IPL)

GT’s bowling department consists of some of the biggest names in T20 cricket, including the likes of Kagiso Rabada and Rashid Khan. However, their Indian bowlers are some in great form heading into the second game of the new season.

Ashok Sharma made his IPL debut against PBKS, where he took the crucial wicket of Marco Jansen. He was the joint-highest wicket-taker in the recently-concluded Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy with 22 scalps to his name. 

Both Mohammed Siraj and Krishna, however, will continue to lead the fast bowling department, with Rabada’s form still a big question mark. 

Gujarat Titans’ predicted playing XI:

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

Impact Player: Prasidh Krishna