In the IPL 2026 showdown with the Gujarat Titans, Punjab Kings (PBKS) captain Shreyas Iyer won the toss and chose to bowl first at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh. After the toss, Iyer expressed, “We’re opting to bowl first. Chasing gives you a clearer picture of how to approach the target. We’ve played a few practice matches, and any total posted has been successfully chased down. That’s influencing my decision.
Regarding his team’s mindset heading into this season, Iyer said, “Last season was phenomenal, but that’s behind us now. We begin from scratch, and my message to the team is simple: be yourselves, express your abilities, and focus on the present. T20 is a format where it’s easy to get ahead of yourself, so the more grounded you are, the better you’ll perform.
On the team’s previous record at this venue, Iyer commented, “We shouldn’t dwell on past results. Our aim is to play the best cricket we can. The boys are in a great headspace, and it’s vital to concentrate on the now rather than what’s happened before. We just need to stay present and give our best.
As for overseas players, he mentioned the new addition of Cooper to the squad, along with Stoinis, Bartlett, and Jansen. The Gujarat Titans will see Glenn Phillips making his debut, while Ashok Sharma is also set for his first match in the league. Similarly, Cooper Connolly is poised to make his IPL debut for Punjab Kings.
Gujarat Titans’ captain Shubman Gill shared his thoughts, stating, “The wicket looks promising. It’s been covered for a few days with intermittent rain, but it appeared solid when we arrived. Last season, we started strong, reaching the top position until the 13th match, but we fell short in the qualifiers. We need to improve in certain areas, especially fielding. This year, it’s all about adding that extra 5 percent in batting, bowling, and fielding.
Gill also noted the excitement around their debutants, Glenn and Ashok, and highlighted the experience of Jos Buttler, emphasizing his immense value to the team beyond just his batting skills.
**IPL 2026: Confirmed Playing XI**
**Punjab Kings**: Prabhsimran Singh (WK), Cooper Connolly, Shreyas Iyer (C), Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Marco Jansen, Xavier Bartlett, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal.
**Gujarat Titans**: Shubman Gill (C), Sai Sudharsan, Jos Buttler (WK), Washington Sundar, Glenn Phillips, Shahrukh Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Kagiso Rabada, Ashok Sharma, Mohammed Siraj.