🏏IPL 2026: Gujarat Titans vs RCB, 42nd Match, Ahmedabad🏏

🏏IPL 2026: Gujarat Titans vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru, 42nd Match,🏏

Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad

Gujarat Titans (GT) will take on Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in Match 42 of IPL 2026 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad today. The Titans head into this contest with renewed confidence after a convincing eight-wicket win over Chennai Super Kings at Chepauk.

Their bowlers set the tone early with an impressive powerplay spell, putting CSK under pressure from the start. That victory helped GT bounce back after consecutive defeats to Mumbai Indians and RCB, bringing their campaign back on track.

RCB, meanwhile, are riding high after a commanding nine-wicket win against Delhi Capitals, where they bundled out DC for just 75. Their pace duo of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood were outstanding with the new ball, showcasing their dominance this season.

With Punjab Kings recently slipping up, RCB now have a strong opportunity to climb to the top of the points table.

The last time these sides met, RCB comfortably chased down 205, powered by a brilliant 81 from Virat Kohli and a rapid half-century from Devdutt Padikkal.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru have a recent and rather specific fondness for Pitch No. 6 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. It was on this very strip that the side finally ended their long wait for an IPL title in 2025. Gujarat Titans, too, have found success here: they chased down 180 against Kolkata Knight Riders earlier this season, albeit in the final over, and had overhauled a 204-run target against Delhi Capitals at this venue last year.

"We're playing on the pitch six, which is a 75% red soil. It's the same strip that we played the final on last year. And it usually plays very well, that strip. So we'd anticipate it playing very well again," said RCB head coach Andy Flower on the eve of the contest.

The pitch, though, is only one part of a broader contrast. RCB arrive with a more complete batting unit, sitting second on the table with six wins from eight games. GT, meanwhile, have oscillated between extremes, splitting their eight matches evenly. The gap is reflected in their scoring patterns too: RCB's 90 sixes are the second-most this season, while GT's 55 is joint-lowest.

There are some similarities too. RCB's seamers lead the league in Powerplay wickets with 17, with GT not far behind at 13. Kagiso Rabada has been central to that early impact with nine wickets, while Bhuvneshwar Kumar has seven for RCB. Both sides also deploy a wrist-spin and left-arm spin combination, adding a layer of symmetry to otherwise contrasting line-ups.

Ultimately, though, the game may hinge on the depth of RCB's batting and how well GT can disrupt it across phases. At the Chinnaswamy stadium a few days back, that very difference allowed RCB to chase down 205 with relative comfort. "There is obviously a lot of talk about playing a different brand of cricket, but we are comfortable with our approach," said Parthiv Patel. Whether that approach can hold against a more rounded RCB unit is the more pressing question.

When: GT vs RCB, Match 42, Thursday, April 30 at 7:30 PM IST

Where: Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad

What to expect: While the pitch should be good for batting, it is unlikely to be overwhelmingly in the batters' favour. A total in the 190-200 range should make for a well-contested game.

Head to head: RCB have a 4-3 lead over GT in matches played against them, including a win in the only game between these two sides in Ahmedabad. All seven previous encounters between these two sides ended with the chasing team winning.

Team watch:

Gujarat Titans

Injuries/Unavailabilities: Prasidh Krishna missed the previous game, with Arshad Khan coming in, and he ended up having an expensive outing. Prasidh is likely to slot back in for the match against RCB.

Tactics & Matchups: Kagiso Rabada has dismissed Virat Kohli four times in 15 innings, while Prasidh has dismissed him thrice in eight innings. Meanwhile Rashid Khan has a favourable match-up against Devdutt Padikkal, having dismissed him four times in seven innings.

Probable XII: Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (c), Jos Buttler (wk), Shahrukh Khan, Washington Sundar, Jason Holder, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj, Manav Suthar, Prasidh Krishna

Royal Challengers Bengaluru

Injuries/Unavailabilities: There is no clarity yet on Phil Salt, who missed the last two games due to an injury. Jacob Bethell could get another game if his England team-mate hasn't recovered sufficiently.

Tactics and Matchups: Bhuvneshwar Kumar has a good match-up against Jos Buttler and Shubman Gill, having dismissed them eight times and four times respectively. Gill has also been dismissed by Jos Hazlewood twice in six innings, and the Australian has accounted for Sai Sudharsan twice in as many innings too, making RCB's new-ball bowlers vs GT's top three an engrossing contest.

Probable XII: Virat Kohli, Jacob Bethell, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar (c), Jitesh Sharma (wk), Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Rasikh Salam Dar, Suyash Sharma

Did you know?

- Virat Kohli has 432 runs in seven innings against GT, with a hundred and four fifties and he averages 86.40 against them with a strike rate of 149.48

- Until the end of IPL 2024, Devdutt Padikkal had a strike rate of 123.14 against pace. From the start of IPL 2025 till date, he has an SR of 168.62 against the quicks.

What they said:

"As far as preparation is concerned, I can definitely tell you that we make sure that they are well prepared. We have those facilities here where we can do our open nets and stuff like we had that session yesterday with our lower middle order or our middle order. So we try and give them as much (time) as possible. We have full faith in them and we are making sure that they are ready for the important games and hopefully if the situation comes around, they should be able to deliver." - Parthiv Patel, GT assistant coach, on the middle order.

"Obviously things came together so quickly and so well that the game was over in the blink of an eye. So it was great to watch those two great bowlers bowl, Bhuvneshwar and Hazlewood, and then obviously we had an easy small chase so the game was over quite quickly. And I think, to be honest, you've got to treat the wins and losses with a fair degree of equanimity because with losses you don't want to get too down and the same principles apply to wins. So I don't think it's a huge challenge, to be honest." - Andy Flower, RCB head coach, on the game against DC.

GT vs RCB head-to-head in IPL

Total matches played: 7

GT won: 3

RCB won: 4

No result: 0

Here are the top stats and upcoming milestones from Match 42:

Gujarat Titans (GT):

• Jos Buttler: Needs 7 fours for 1300 T20 fours
• Jos Buttler: Needs 4 sixes for 200 IPL sixes
• Mohammed Siraj: Needs 6 wickets for 200 T20 wickets
• Kagiso Rabada: Needs 1 four for 50 T20 fours

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB):

• Jacob Bethell: Needs 2 fours for 150 T20 fours
• Jacob Bethell: Needs 1 six for 100 T20 sixes
• Virat Kohli: Needs 106 runs for 14,000 T20 runs
• Virat Kohli: Needs 1 six for 450 IPL sixes
• Bhuvaneshwar Kumar: Needs 1 wicket for 350 T20 wickets

Matchups That Produce Magic

This contest could well be shaped by two eye-catching individual duels that have a habit of swinging momentum sharply.

One of the most decisive battles to watch is between Rashid Khan and Devdutt Padikkal. Rashid has consistently had the better of the in form left hander across the TATA IPL. In 36 balls faced, Padikkal has managed just 36 runs while being dismissed four times, including once earlier this season. Rashid’s variations and accuracy have repeatedly challenged Padikkal’s rhythm, and another early breakthrough here could tilt the balance firmly in Gujarat Titans’ favour.

Equally compelling is the contest between Jos Buttler and Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Bhuvneshwar’s experience and ability to shape the ball both ways have brought him success against Buttler in the past. Across 62 deliveries, Bhuvi has dismissed Buttler three times while conceding only 68 runs, keeping the pressure firmly on the batter. If this duel plays out again with the new ball, it could have a major bearing on how RCB’s innings unfolds.

These matchups are more than just numbers. They are moments waiting to happen, and on nights like these, one spell or one dismissal can define the story.

All Eyes on the Two
Two batters headline this high-stakes contest, carrying form, responsibility and narrative weight for their respective sides. Shubman Gill and Rajat Patidar are not just in form, they are central to how this match could unfold.

Shubman Gill : Owning the Ahmedabad Fortress
Ahmedabad has truly been Gill’s stronghold. Since the TATA IPL 2024 at this venue, he has compiled a prolific 621 runs while striking at an impressive 163 and averaging north of 40. Comfort, confidence and class have defined his outings here. Gill’s timing rather than brute force unsettles bowlers, and his ability to pick gaps with elegant stroke making makes him the cornerstone of GT’s batting plans. If the Titans are to push past the 200 mark or control the innings tempo, Gill’s presence at the top will be vital.

Rajat Patidar : The Middle Overs Masterclass
If Gill anchors, Patidar detonates. In TATA IPL 2026, Patidar has been unstoppable in the middle overs, especially between overs 11 and 15. He has scored 146 runs in that phase alone at a staggering strike rate of 247.5, dismantling bowling plans with fearless intent. Sixteen sixes and six fours during that window underline the brutality of his approach, reflected in an astonishing boundary percentage of 82.2 percent while averaging 48.7. Accessing every corner of the ground with ease, Patidar has turned the middle overs into RCB’s biggest weapon.

Two batters, two contrasting styles, one defining night. When Gill’s elegance meets Patidar’s explosiveness, the balance of this contest could tip dramatically.