By Times Mitra | Ahmedabad | April 4, 2026
The Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad is witnessing a high-octane clash as the Rajasthan Royals (RR) take on the Gujarat Titans (GT) in Match 9 of IPL 2026. In a significant development at the toss, Rajasthan Royals captain Riyan Parag won the flip and elected to bat first, aiming to set a massive target on what appears to be a “tramline” pitch friendly to stroke-makers.
The Current Scorecard (Live Updates)
As the match progresses, the Royals have sprinted to a dominant start.
- Rajasthan Royals: 48/0 (4.1 overs) [Previous turn data]
- Top Batters:
- Yashasvi Jaiswal: 22* (12 balls)
- Vaibhav Sooryavanshi: 23* (13 balls)
- Bowling Figures:
- Mohammed Siraj: 2.0-0-25-0
- Kagiso Rabada: 2.0-0-19-0
Record-Breaking Opening Pair: Jaiswal and Sooryavanshi
The highlight of the early innings has been the explosive partnership between the seasoned
Yashasvi Jaiswal and the 15-year-old sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. Entering this match, the duo needed only three runs to become the fastest Indian pair to reach 500 partnership runs in IPL history, surpassing the long-standing record held by Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir (309 balls).
Sooryavanshi, who made headlines last season with a 35-ball century against the same opponent, has once again taken the attack to the Titans’ pace battery. His fearless approach has allowed
Jaiswal to play a more calculated role, though both left-handers have already cleared the ropes early in the powerplay.
Captaincy Shuffle: Rashid Khan Steps In
A major blow for the home side came just before the toss when it was announced that regular skipper
Shubman Gill would miss the encounter due to a muscle spasm. In his absence, the “Magician” Rashid Khan is leading the Gujarat Titans.
At the toss, Rashid expressed confidence in his squad despite the missing leader, noting that they had hoped to bowl first anyway to exploit any early grass on the surface. The Titans have handed an IPL debut to young wicketkeeper-batter Kumar Kushagra, who replaces Gill in the lineup.
Playing XIs and Tactical Changes
Both teams have adjusted their combinations for this crucial Match 9 fixture.
| Rajasthan Royals (RR) | Gujarat Titans (GT) |
|---|---|
| Yashasvi Jaiswal | Kumar Kushagra (Debut) |
| Vaibhav Sooryavanshi | Sai Sudharsan |
| Dhruv Jurel (WK) | Jos Buttler (WK) |
| Riyan Parag (C) | Glenn Phillips |
| Shimron Hetmyer | Washington Sundar |
| Donovan Ferreira (In for Ravi Bishnoi) | Rahul Tewatia |
| Ravindra Jadeja | Rashid Khan (C) |
| Jofra Archer | Kagiso Rabada |
| Nandre Burger | Ashok Sharma |
| Tushar Deshpande (In for Brijesh Sharma) | Mohammed Siraj |
| Sandeep Sharma | Prasidh Krishna |
Sources:
Rajasthan brought in
Donovan Ferreira and Tushar Deshpande to bolster their middle order and pace department. Meanwhile, GT is relying on the experience of Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna to stem the flow of runs in the powerplay.
The Historical Context: Head-to-Head
Historically, the Gujarat Titans have dominated this fixture. In their eight previous meetings, GT has emerged victorious 6 times, while the Royals have managed only 2 wins. Their most famous encounter remains the 2022 IPL Final, where GT defeated RR to lift their maiden title.
However, the 2026 version of the Royals is a different beast. Led by the aggressive
Riyan Parag and anchored by a world-class bowling unit featuring Jofra Archer and Ravindra Jadeja, the Men in Pink are looking to overturn years of Titans’ dominance.
Match Outlook
With the average first-innings score at the Narendra Modi Stadium trending above 200 this season, Parag’s decision to bat first aligns with RR’s strategy of scoreboard pressure. The Titans, currently winless in the tournament, face an uphill battle to contain a rampant RR top order without their primary run-getter,
As the sun sets over Ahmedabad, all eyes are on whether the “
Sooryavanshi Storm” can carry Rajasthan to a match-winning total or if
Rashid Khan’s tactical brilliance can spark a GT comeback.
Stay tuned for live updates and post-match analysis.