In the IPL 2026 showdown at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, Rajasthan Royals’ captain Riyan Parag won the toss and opted to bat first against the Gujarat Titans (GT). With regular GT skipper Shubman Gill sidelined due to muscle spasms, Rashid Khan will take the helm for tonight’s match.
Rajasthan Royals have made two adjustments to their lineup, bringing in Donovan Ferreira to replace Ravi Bishnoi and Tushar Deshpande stepping in for Brijesh Sharma. Following the toss, Riyan expressed optimism about setting a competitive score, stating, “We’re going to bat first. It’s essential to assess and adapt to varying conditions. Our aim is to post a solid total around 210 and defend it later. We aspire to be a versatile team that can thrive in any scenario. We don’t want to be pigeonholed into one style of play. We aim to evaluate the pitch and adapt to the diverse conditions the IPL presents. That’s the message moving forward.”
On the other side, Gujarat Titans are also making two changes, with Kumar Kushagra set to make his debut in place of Gill, while Shahrukh Khan will be replaced by Prasidh Krishna. GT captain Rashid commented, “We would have preferred to bowl first too, given the fresh wicket. I believe there’s some early assistance for bowlers, but we’re content with the toss outcome. Gill’s muscle spasm is unfortunate, but we expect him back soon. KK (Kumar Kushagra) is making his debut, and we’re eager to see him in action. We played some good cricket in our last match; it was closely contested, yet there are areas we need to refine in our bowling and batting. We’ve discussed this extensively and are determined to bring our A-game today while giving 100%. We’re focused on building on the positives from our last performance.”
**IPL 2026 Matchup: Rajasthan Royals vs Gujarat Titans – Confirmed Playing XI**
**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.
**Gujarat Titans:** Kumar Kushagra, Sai Sudharsan, Jos Buttler (WK), Washington Sundar, Glenn Phillips, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan (C), Mohammed Siraj, Ashok Sharma, Kagiso Rabada, Prasidh Krishna.