GT vs RR, Match 8 Preview: Head-to-Head Record, Predicted XI, Pitch Report
Match 9 of IPL 2026 sees Gujarat Titans (GT) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) clash at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Saturday, 4 April, at 7:30 PM IST. This high-stakes match is the second game of a doubleheader. Both teams aim to build early momentum after their first games.
GT comes into this match after narrowly losing to Punjab Kings. RR, however, secured a strong win against Chennai Super Kings. This promises to be an exciting encounter between two teams with powerful batting lineups and unique bowling strengths.
The match will be broadcast live on Star Sports and streamed on JioHotstar. Tickets are available through BookMyShow. Due to the evening timing, dew is expected to influence the second innings.
GT and RR have faced each other eight times in IPL history, with GT winning six of those matches. At Ahmedabad, GT leads 2-1, including a dominant win in the 2022 IPL final. GT’s highest total at this venue was 217/6 in 2025, while RR’s lowest was 130/9 in 2022.
GT’s batting lineup features Shubman Gill and Jos Buttler as openers, with Sai Sudharsan in the middle order. Their bowling attack is led by Rashid Khan, supported by Sai Kishore, Mohammed Siraj, and Kagiso Rabada.
RR’s team includes Yashasvi Jaiswal and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi opening the innings, with Dhruv Jurel and Shimron Hetmyer in the middle order. Their bowling attack features Jofra Archer, Nandre Burger, and Ravindra Jadeja.
Shubman Gill’s ability to anchor the innings is crucial for GT. For RR, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s aggressive batting will be key. Archer’s pace bowling could play a decisive role in limiting GT’s scoring early on.
The pitch at Narendra Modi Stadium is flat and batting-friendly, with large boundaries making high scores possible. New-ball bowlers can extract some movement, but the middle overs favor batters. Dew in the second innings may make defending totals difficult.
Historically, teams have performed similarly whether they bat first or second. The average first-innings score is 177, with 180 considered a competitive total.
Predictions favor GT due to their strong head-to-head record and superior bowling attack. Sources like Google Gemini and Grok highlight GT’s historical dominance and the effectiveness of their spin bowlers against RR’s left-handed top order.
The match will be live on Star Sports, JioHotstar, Sky Sports Cricket (UK), Fox Cricket/Kayo Sports (Australia), and Willow TV (USA/Canada). Expect an exciting clash between two strong teams as they battle for early IPL momentum.