IPL 2026: Rashid Khan Steps Up for GT as Gill Misses Out, RR Chooses to Bat
Synopsis
In a surprising twist at IPL 2026, Rashid Khan will captain the Gujarat Titans as Shubman Gill is rested due to injury. The Rajasthan Royals have won the toss and will bat first, setting the stage for a thrilling matchup in Ahmedabad.
Key Takeaways
Rashid Khan leads GT in Gill's absence.
RR won the toss and will bat first.
GT seeks their first win after a narrow loss.
RR enters the match with high confidence.
Past encounters favor GT historically.
Ahmedabad, April 4 (NationPress) In a significant turn of events, Rashid Khan will take the helm for the Gujarat Titans as they face the Rajasthan Royals in the ninth match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad this Saturday. Regular captain Shubman Gill is sidelined due to a muscle spasm, prompting this change.
The Titans are eager to secure their first win this season after narrowly losing their opener against the Punjab Kings. Despite a solid score of 162/6, their bowlers faltered at crucial moments, enabling Punjab to chase down the target with five balls remaining.
In contrast, Rajasthan Royals are entering this match with high spirits following a dominant win over the Chennai Super Kings in Guwahati. Their impressive bowling performance restricted CSK to just 127, and they completed the chase comfortably in under 13 overs. Standout performances came from Jofra Archer and Nandre Burger, while young talent Vaibhav Suryavanshi made headlines with a powerful fifty.
Historically, the Titans have had the upper hand in this rivalry, clinching victory in six out of their eight encounters. The Royals have only managed to win twice, one of which was during their latest clash in April 2025. Notably, the Titans emerged victorious in their first meeting in April 2022, setting the stage for an intriguing matchup.
After winning the toss, RR captain Riyan Parag stated, “We’re opting to bat first. It’s vital for us to evaluate and adapt to varying conditions. Our goal is to post a challenging score around 210 and defend it effectively. We aspire to be versatile and not limit ourselves to one style of play. We want to be proficient in all conditions the IPL presents. Hence, our focus is clear.” He also announced two changes: Tushar Deshpande replaces Brijesh, and Shubham Dubey comes in for Bishnoi.
On the other side, GT’s stand-in captain Rashid Khan remarked, “We also wanted to bowl first. The fresh pitch should offer some assistance to the bowlers initially, but we’re satisfied with the toss outcome. Gill’s muscle spasm is unfortunate, and we hope to see him back soon. Kumar Kushagra is debuting today, and we’re excited to see him in action. Our previous game was close, and we identified areas for improvement in both bowling and batting. We’ve discussed this extensively and aim to bring our A-game today.”
Playing XIs:
Rajasthan Royals: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Riyan Parag (c), Shimron Hetmyer, Donovan Ferreira, Ravindra Jadeja, Jofra Archer, Nandre Burger, Tushar Deshpande, Sandeep Sharma
Impact Substitutes: Ravi Singh, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Shubham Dubey, Brijesh Sharma, Ravi Bishnoi
Gujarat Titans: Kumar Kushagra, B Sai Sudharsan, Jos Buttler (wk), Washington Sundar, Glenn Phillips, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan (c), Kagiso Rabada, Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj, Ashok Sharma
Impact Substitutes: Shahrukh Khan, Jason Holder, Manav Suthar, Anuj Rawat, Jayant Yadav
Point of View
The absence of Shubman Gill for the Gujarat Titans raises questions about their adaptability. With Rashid Khan stepping in as captain, both teams encounter a pivotal moment that could define their season. The Rajasthan Royals, full of confidence, aim to leverage their recent success against Chennai, making this match a critical juncture for both franchises.
NationPress
11 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Shubman Gill absent from the match?
Shubman Gill is resting due to a muscle spasm.
Who is captaining Gujarat Titans in Gill's absence?
Rashid Khan is leading the Gujarat Titans.
What was the outcome of the previous match for Gujarat Titans?
They lost narrowly to Punjab Kings despite scoring 162 runs.
Which team won the toss?
Rajasthan Royals won the toss and opted to bat.
Who made their debut for Gujarat Titans?
Kumar Kushagra is making his debut in this match.
