Punjab Kings secured the toss and opted to bowl against Gujarat Titans in the fourth fixture of the Indian Premier League 2026 at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium. Both teams are looking to begin their campaign on a positive note.
Gujarat Titans have introduced 23-year-old pacer Ashok Sharma into their line-up, giving him his first appearance in the tournament and strengthening their pace attack.
Following the toss, Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer stated that the decision to bowl first was based on current conditions, adding that the team is focused on delivering its best performance without dwelling on past results. He also mentioned the inclusion of players such as Cooper Connolly, Marcus Stoinis, Xavier Bartlett and Marco Jansen.
Meanwhile, Gujarat Titans skipper Shubman Gill remarked that the pitch appears suitable for batting despite recent spells of rain. He noted that the side had a good previous season and pointed out the addition of Glenn Phillips and Ashok Sharma, along with experienced players like Jos Buttler, Rashid Khan and Kagiso Rabada.
The contest brings attention to two important players in India’s limited-overs set-up, with Shubman Gill captaining the Gujarat Titans and Shreyas Iyer leading the Punjab Kings.
The two teams have met six times in IPL history so far, with each side claiming three victories.
Chennai Super Kings defeated Gujarat Titans in the 2023 final after Gujarat Titans had won the IPL title in 2022 and reached the final again in 2023. Punjab Kings, in comparison, advanced to the finals in 2014, 2017 and 2025 but did not secure the championship.
Playing XIs
Gujarat Titans: Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (Captain), Jos Buttler (Wicketkeeper), Washington Sundar, Glenn Phillips, M Shahrukh Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Kagiso Rabada, Ashok Sharma, Mohammed Siraj.
Punjab Kings: Prabhsimran Singh (Wicketkeeper), Cooper Connolly, Shreyas Iyer (Captain), Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Marco Jansen, Xavier Bartlett, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal.
Also Read: RCB Beat SRH By Six Wickets In IPL 2026 Opener As Kohli, Padikkal Star
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