GT seek home comforts as buoyant RR await

Rajasthan Royals have entered a new era with new ownership, coach, and captain, aiming to adopt a smart style of play that relies on assessing and adapting to conditions. Riyan Parag, in his seventh season with the franchise, highlighted this approach after their dominant tournament opener in Guwahati, where they outplayed Chennai Super Kings.

In Ahmedabad, Gujarat Titans' top-order has been formidable at the Narendra Modi Stadium, averaging above 50 with a strike rate over 155. When their batting faltered against Punjab Kings in their first game, their bowling attack stepped up, showing readiness for the season.

At home, Titans have a proven blueprint; Royals will aim to assess conditions and adapt smartly for Saturday's clash.

When: Saturday, April 4 at 7:30 PM IST
Where: Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
What to expect: A high-scoring match is anticipated, with an average first innings score of 215 in last season's IPL at this venue. Teams batting first won seven out of nine games here last season.
Head to Head: Gujarat Titans lead Rajasthan Royals 6-2 overall and 2-1 at the Narendra Modi Stadium.

Team News & Tactics:

• Gujarat Titans: No injuries reported. Pacers may target Vaibhav Sooryavanshi outside off-stump, as 52% of his IPL runs and 20 of his 29 sixes have come in the mid-wicket and mid-on regions.
  Probable XII: Shubman Gill (c), Sai Sudharsan, Jos Buttler (wk), Washington Sundar, Glenn Phillips, Shahrukh Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Kagiso Rabada/Jason Holder, Ashok Sharma, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna.

• Rajasthan Royals: All players are fit. Jofra Archer could be key in the Powerplay, having dismissed Shubman Gill three times in 19 balls while conceding only 16 runs.
  Probable XII: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Riyan Parag (c), Shimron Hetmyer, Donovan Ferreira, Ravindra Jadeja, Jofra Archer, Ravi Bishnoi, Sandeep Sharma, Nandre Burger, Brijesh Sharma.

Key Stats:

• In the 2026 T20 World Cup, Ahmedabad had the highest average first innings total (198) among all venues.
• Vaibhav Sooryavanshi hits a six every 4.8 balls in the IPL, with 29 sixes in just eight innings.
• Each of Titans' top three batsmen average 50+ and strike at 150+ in T20s at this venue.

Quotes:

• Riyan Parag on Vaibhav Sooryavanshi: "He loves to bat. I've told the coaches he gets as much batting as he wants… Me and Dhruv were in awe. How is he doing this? I'm really happy to have him in my team."
• Shubman Gill on Ashok Sharma: "He works hard on the game, he's a good find for us. He bowled well up front and in the back… Hopefully, he'll get a chance to show his skills with the new ball."