GTvsRR

Match Preview

Gujarat Titans and Rajasthan Royals meet in Match 9 of the Indian Premier League 2026 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on 4 April 2026, with the two sides arriving in very different moods. Gujarat begin this home fixture looking for an immediate response after their opening defeat to Punjab Kings on 31 March 2026, while Rajasthan travel to Ahmedabad with early confidence after beating Chennai Super Kings on 30 March 2026.

That contrast gives this contest its edge. Gujarat have the urgency of a side keen to settle quickly into the season, especially in familiar conditions, while Rajasthan have the chance to build on an encouraging start and turn one early win into momentum. With both teams carrying proven match-winners and this venue often producing eventful T20 cricket, there is every reason to expect a high-quality evening.

Conditions & Venue

The Narendra Modi Stadium has been one of the more productive batting venues in the IPL since 2022. The average first-innings score here stands at 192, while the average second-innings score is 169, a gap that reflects how valuable scoreboard pressure can become in Ahmedabad. Teams batting first have won 54.76 percent of matches in this sample, compared to 45.24 percent for chasing sides, so there is a slight tilt towards setting a total rather than pursuing one.

The bowling split is just as revealing. Fast bowlers have claimed 370 wickets compared to 168 for slow bowlers, underlining how much influence seam can have at this ground. That should bring Gujarat’s pace resources and Rajasthan’s quicker bowlers sharply into focus, especially with the new ball and again at the death.

The recent matches at the venue show the range the surface can offer. In March 2026, India posted 255/5 against New Zealand and then bowled them out for 159, a reminder that big first-innings scores are possible if top-order batters settle in. But the same venue also saw South Africa chase 177/1 against West Indies in February 2026 with striking comfort, showing that a target can still be reeled in if conditions remain true. Ahmedabad can reward ambition, but it also tends to expose any lapses in execution.

Team Form & Head-to-Head

Gujarat’s recent results suggest they need a reset. Their defeat to Punjab Kings in Mullanpur on 31 March 2026 followed a difficult finish to their 2025 campaign, with losses to Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings and Lucknow Super Giants in succession before that one emphatic win over Delhi Capitals on 18 May 2025. The concern from that stretch is not just the results, but the number of big scores they have had to chase or contain. Even so, returning to Ahmedabad may offer them a chance to re-establish control.

Rajasthan’s form line is steadier. Their 2026 campaign began with a convincing win over Chennai Super Kings, chasing 128 in just 73 balls after bowling CSK out for 127. Looking a little further back, they also beat CSK on 20 May 2025, though that came after a run of three defeats in 2025. Their most recent performance, however, was tidy and authoritative, and it gives them a cleaner entry into this fixture.

The recent head-to-head story is competitive but leans Gujarat. They have won three of the last five meetings between these teams, including both the Ahmedabad fixture on 9 April 2025 and the Jaipur clash on 10 April 2024. Rajasthan, though, won the most recent meeting on 28 April 2025 in Jaipur, chasing 210 with remarkable ease as they reached 212/2 in just 95 balls. That result will give them belief, but Gujarat’s 217/6 to 159 win in Ahmedabad on 9 April 2025 is the more relevant local marker before this rematch.

Players to Watch

For Gujarat, much begins with Shubman Gill. The captain remains their central batting figure and his numbers at this venue are outstanding. His 129 against Mumbai Indians in the 2023 Qualifier 2 and 104 against Chennai Super Kings in 2024 both came in Ahmedabad, evidence of how well his game fits these surfaces. Against Rajasthan, he has also been productive, with 84 on 28 April 2025 and 72 on 10 April 2024. If Gujarat are to make the most of batting-friendly conditions, Gill’s role at the top will be crucial.

Rashid Khan remains just as important to Gujarat’s balance. He has 104 IPL wickets and a strong record against Rajasthan, including 3 for 14 on 5 May 2023. His match-up numbers against current Royals batters are also useful: he has dismissed Riyan Parag twice while conceding only 23 runs in 25 balls, and has also removed Dhruv Jurel and Shubham Dubey. On a ground where pace dominates overall, Rashid’s middle-overs control could still be a decisive counterpoint.

Among Gujarat’s seamers, Prasidh Krishna stands out. He took 3 for 24 against Rajasthan in Ahmedabad on 9 April 2025, and his broader venue record includes 4 for 41 against Delhi Capitals here in 2025. With fast bowlers enjoying such a strong share of wickets at this ground, his height and hit-the-deck method could be especially relevant. Mohammed Siraj, too, brings pedigree, with 81 IPL wickets and a strong overall record as a strike seamer. His contest with Rajasthan’s top order in the powerplay could shape the innings.

For Rajasthan, Jofra Archer is the obvious quick to watch on a surface that has rewarded pace. He began IPL 2026 with 2 for 19 against Chennai Super Kings on 30 March 2026, and his history in Ahmedabad includes a four-wicket T20I haul for England in 2021. If the pitch offers carry, Archer’s pace can test even a settled top order.

Sandeep Sharma and Tushar Deshpande offer a different kind of threat. Sandeep has previously hurt Gujarat in Ahmedabad, taking 2 for 25 on 16 April 2023, and his numbers against Gill are respectable, conceding 30 runs in 26 balls with one dismissal. Deshpande has dismissed both Gill and Sai Sudharsan twice in their recorded meetings, though both batters have also scored freely against him, which makes that battle one of the more intriguing tactical contests in the game.

Ravindra Jadeja adds all-round depth for Rajasthan. His batting and bowling record since 2022 remains substantial, and his matchup against Gujarat’s leading batters is worth noting: he has dismissed Gill once and Sai Sudharsan once, while also keeping Rashid Khan scoreless in two balls faced. He may not dominate the pre-match spotlight in the way the quicks do, but his ability to influence the middle overs on both sides of the game could be important.

Final Word

This looks like a contest shaped by phases. Gujarat will want a strong start from Gill and enough support around him to make use of a venue where first-innings totals can climb quickly. Rajasthan, meanwhile, will trust the confidence from their opening win and the pace of Archer, Sandeep Sharma and Deshpande to challenge that top order early. In the middle overs, Rashid Khan against Rajasthan’s engine room could be one of the defining matchups, while the closing overs may decide everything if the game follows Ahmedabad’s usual high-scoring pattern.

Gujarat have home conditions and a recent big win over Rajasthan at this venue to lean on. Rajasthan have the sharper start to 2026 and the memory of that commanding chase in April 2025. Put together, it feels like a match balanced between response and momentum, and one that could turn on who handles the powerplay and death overs with greater precision.