🏏IPL 2026: GT vs SRH, 56th Match, at Ahmedabad

🏏IPL 2026: GT vs SRH, 56th Match, at Ahmedabad🏏

Till late on Sunday evening, Sunrisers Hyderabad were sitting on top of the table - exactly where Pat Cummins likes his team to be. Royal Challengers Bengaluru dethroning them from there notwithstanding, that SRH managed to find themselves there despite winning only one out of their first four games, is incredible in itself.

Winning six out their next seven games put them there, and they could be back at the top in 48 hours after losing the crown if they beat Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad - a feat they have never achieved - on Tuesday. But the task won't be simple. The Shubman Gill-led side is going through a resurgence of its own, and after a four-match winning streak, sitting only a place below SRH. A victory would take them to the top as well.

This victory is especially important because it could possibly seal their spot in the playoffs in what is a tight race among the top-six teams. But both sides, realistically in contention for a top-two finish, will be hoping for more.

There are more similarities than their respective places on the table which has been the script of their campaigns so far. Both teams have been powered - not for the first time - by their openers. Boasting two of the most prolific pairs, they have dictated the batting might.

What separates them is the performances of the middle order. GT's middle order (No.4-8) has the second lowest average and has hit the least number of sixes (20) in this season so far. On the contrary, SRH's middle order, led by Heinrich Klaasen, has the third-best strike rate and hit the most number (54) of sixes.

On the bowling front, while GT's pace pack has been dependable throughout, SRH have picked their way since the inclusion of Sakib Hussain. In many ways, the terms of the contest could well be dictated here - the unit that does manage to run through the top-order early could pinch that early advantage, and set in motion the team's climb to the top.

When: Gujarat Titans vs Sunrisers Hyderabad, Tuesday, May 12, 2026, 7:30 PM IST

Where: Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad

What to expect: Even as KKR chased down 205 against GT in Ahmedabad, the venue hasn't been among the highest scoring in the competition this season, with the average first innings score being 181. Pacers, especially, have enjoyed better times, conceding at less than 9 an over.

Head to head: Gujarat Titans have held a dominant 5-1 lead over Sunrisers Hyderabad, winning all three games between the two sides at home.

Gujarat Titans

Injuries/Unavailability: All the players are expected to be available for the contest

Tactics & Matchups: Ishan Kishan may be the second-highest scorer among all non-openers this season, but the southpaw has historically struggled to score at a brisk pace against the troika of Jason Holder, Rashid Khan and Washington Sundar. They could be deployed against the southpaw. In fact, Washington could have an important role to play in the Powerplay against the all-left top-order of SRH. Another interesting face-off could be between the in-form South Africans, Heinrich Klaasen and Kagiso Rabada, given that the latter has dismissed Klaasen three times in 30 balls.

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

Sunrisers Hyderabad

Injuries/Unavailability: No injuries have been reported as yet

Tactics & Matchups: Pat Cummins may bring himself on to keep Jos Buttler in check. The batter has been dismissed four times in T20s by Cummins.

Probable XII: Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, Ishan Kishan, Heinrich Klaasen, Nitish Reddy, Aniket Verma/Smaran Ravichandran, Salil Arora, Pat Cummins, Harsh Dubey, Shivang Kumar, Sakib Hussain, Eshan Malinga

Big picture: A high-stakes clash

Gujarat Titans (GT) and Sunrisers Hyderabad(SRH) are in a logjam at the top half of the IPL 2026 table, with only two points separating the toppers and the sixth-placed team. The winner of the game between GT and SRH in Ahmedabad will nudge ahead of everyone else to the top of the table with 16 points. This will be the first time that GT and SRH will meet this season, and the stakes can't be higher.

GT's attack has stymied two hard-hitting batting line-ups, defending champions RCB and PBKS, in their previous two home games, setting up sub-170 chases, which was right up the alley of Shubman Gill, B Sai Sudharsan and Jos Buttler. SRH, meanwhile, have lost each of their three matches against GT in Ahmedabad since IPL 2023.

Kagiso Rabada and Mohammed Siraj keep banging the ball away on a good length or a hard length through the powerplay. Rashid Khan is back to his best this season - he is the leading wicket-taker between overs seven and 16 with 13 strikes - while Jason Holder has been a strike force across phases, including in the death.

It's advantage GT, especially in Ahmedabad, but you wouldn't bet against SRH. Travishek and Ishan Kishan can put GT's attack off their lengths. Heinrich Klaasen is enjoying his most productive IPL season, and is just six away from 500 runs. They have a point-of-difference bowler in Eshan Malinga and other bowlers with defensive skills who can rally around the Sri Lanka quick.

Team news

Both teams are coming off emphatic wins and are unlikely to tinker with their first XIs.

Gujarat Titans (probable): 1 Shubman Gill (capt), 2 B Sai Sudharsan, 3 Jos Buttler (wk), 4 Washington Sundar, 5 Jason Holder, 6 Nishant Sindhu, 7 Rahul Tewatia, 8 Rashid Khan, 9 Arshad Khan, 10 Kagiso Rabada, 11 Mohammed Siraj, 12 R Sai Kishore

Sunrisers Hyderabad (probable): 1 Travis Head, 2 Abhishek Sharma, 3 Ishan Kishan (wk), 4 Heinrich Klaasen, 5 Nitish Kumar Reddy, 6 R Smaran, 7 Salil Arora, 8 Pat Cummins (capt), 9 Shivang Kumar, 10 Harsh Dubey, 11 Eshan Malinga, 12 Sakib Hussain

In the spotlight: Kagiso Rabada and Nitish Kumar Reddy

Kagiso Rabada has made heads turn in this IPL with his impeccable lengths and extreme pace in the powerplay. He has bowled 150kph rockets, often taking the conditions out of the equation. His battle against Travishek could have a significant impact on the result on Tuesday.

Nitish Kumar Reddy 2.0 has provided SRH with the balance that some other teams are still searching for. He is now hitting speeds close to 140kph, after working with Steffan Jones, a former county player and current fast-bowling coach, in the lead-up to the IPL. And in the death overs, he has a batting strike rate of 217.02. It's the second-highest for an Indian batter, behind Tilak Varma, between overs 16 and 20 for a minimum of five innings during this phase.

Pitch and conditions: Win the toss and bat first?

Tuesday's game is set to be played on pitch no.5, which was previously used in late April, when Tilak outscored GT with an unbeaten 101. This surface has tended to favour the team batting first in recent years. Six of the last eight completed matches on this track, which includes the T20 World Cup, have been won by the side batting first.

Stats and Trivia: Rashid vs SRH

• Rashid has a poor record against his former side, SRH, managing just two wickets in six innings at an economy rate of 9.30.
• GT are one victory away from equalling their best winning streak. They had won five in a row in 2022.
• Abhishek Sharma has whacked 27 sixes in 138 balls in the powerplay this season. Only Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (32 in 148 balls) has hit more sixes than him during this phase.
• Kishan has been dismissed eight times by pace in ten innings this IPL, but has maintained an excellent strike rate of almost 188.88 against the quicks. The strike rate jumps to 192.42 against spin.

Thank you, Parm, for the thread and for tagging.

Best wishes to both teams, a bit more for SRH.

GT head into the clash in strong form, sitting third on the points table with 14 points from 11 matches. The Titans have won their last four games and will aim to continue their winning streak with a victory that could take them to the top of the standings.

SRH, meanwhile, have also gathered momentum at a crucial stage of the tournament. Hyderabad have won four of their last five matches, including an impressive victory over Punjab Kings in their previous outing. Another win could see SRH climb to the top spot in the IPL 2026 points table.