IPL Match Today, GT vs RR: Head-to-head, key players, pitch report, probable XIs, match preview

NEW DELHI: Gujarat Titans and Rajasthan Royals square off in Qualifier 2 of IPL 2026 at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh on Friday, with a place in the final against Royal Challengers Bengaluru at stake.

Rajasthan Royals arrive with momentum after knocking out Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Eliminator, powered by teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s explosive 97 off just 29 balls. Gujarat Titans, meanwhile, will look to bounce back strongly after suffering a heavy defeat against RCB in Qualifier 1.




The clash promises to be a battle between Gujarat’s disciplined bowling attack and Rajasthan’s fearless batting unit led by the in-form Sooryavanshi. The 15-year-old has emerged as the biggest talking point of the tournament with his fearless hitting at the top, overshadowing even established names like Yashasvi Jaiswal.

GT pacers Mohammed Siraj and Kagiso Rabada will once again be tasked with stopping the RR opener early. Siraj had dismissed Sooryavanshi with the short ball in their previous meeting, and Gujarat may target the same weakness again.

Key players to watch

For Rajasthan Royals, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Jofra Archer remain the biggest match-winners. Archer’s pace and ability to strike in the powerplay could be crucial against GT’s strong top order of Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan and Jos Buttler.

Gujarat Titans will rely heavily on skipper Shubman Gill and Sudharsan after their batting struggled badly against RCB. Rahul Tewatia’s late-order hitting and Rashid Khan’s control in the middle overs could also play key roles in the knockout clash.

GT vs RR head-to-head

• Matches played: 10
• GT won: 7
• RR won: 3

GT vs RR Pitch Report

The New Chandigarh pitch has consistently produced high-scoring encounters this season. Batters have enjoyed the pace and bounce on offer, while fast bowlers have struggled at times during the death overs.

Another batting-friendly surface is expected for Qualifier 2, and teams could once again target scores above 200. Dew later in the evening may also influence captains to chase after winning the toss.

GT vs RR Weather Update

Hot and dry conditions are expected in New Chandigarh during match hours. Temperatures are likely to remain above 35°C in the evening, with no significant chance of rain interrupting play.

GT vs RR Probable Playing XIs

Gujarat Titans: Shubman Gill (c), Sai Sudharsan, Jos Buttler, Nishant Sindhu, Rahul Tewatia, Washington Sundar, Jason Holder, Rashid Khan, Mohammed Siraj, Kagiso Rabada, Prasidh Krishna.

Rajasthan Royals: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Riyan Parag (c), Shimron Hetmyer, Donovan Ferreira, Ravindra Jadeja, Jofra Archer, Ravi Bishnoi, Nandre Burger, Sandeep Sharma.

The match starts at 7:30 PM IST.

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