GT vs PBKS, Match 46: Revenge Clash at Ahmedabad as Punjab Looks to Bounce Back
The last time these two met, Punjab Kings chased down 163 with three balls to spare in Match 4, silencing the Ahmedabad crowd. Tonight at Narendra Modi Stadium, Gujarat Titans want revenge on home soil while Punjab look to continue their dominant form against the Titans.
Match Info At A Glance
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Tournament | IPL 2026 |
| Match | 46th Match |
| Teams | Gujarat Titans vs Punjab Kings |
| Date | May 3, 2026 |
| Time | 7:30 PM IST |
| Venue | Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad |
| Toss Advantage | Chase |
| Weather | Clear |
Head to Head Record
| Stat | Details |
|---|---|
| Total Matches | 7 |
| Gujarat Titans Wins | 3 |
| Punjab Kings Wins | 4 |
| No Result | 0 |
| Last 5 Meetings | L/W/L/W/L (GT perspective) |
| Last Match | PBKS won by 3 wickets (Match 4, 2026) – 165/7 chased |
Punjab Kings hold the edge in this rivalry, winning 4 of 7 encounters. More importantly, PBKS have won the last two meetings against GT, including this season’s opening clash where they chased 163 comfortably. That momentum shift is real — Gujarat hasn’t beaten Punjab since 2024.
Pitch Report & Conditions
| Factor | Details |
|---|---|
| Pitch Type | Batting |
| Avg 1st Innings Score | 178 |
| Dew Factor | Likely |
| Best Strategy | Chase |
| Gujarat Titans record here | 4-2 (home) |
| Punjab Kings record here | 1-1 |
The Narendra Modi Stadium pitch favors batters hard. Average first-innings score sits at 178, and this season it’s hovered closer to 195 on flat tracks. Ball comes on nicely, letting batters hit through the line once settled. Fast bowlers get slight help with the new ball, but stroke-making becomes easier after the powerplay.
Dew is likely in May evenings in Ahmedabad, which makes chasing the smarter call. Second innings bowlers struggle to grip the ball. Teams batting second have a 58% success rate here when setting a target of 175+. Gujarat owns this venue — Shubman Gill holds the ground record with 1,144 runs, including a 129.
Team 1 Preview — Gujarat Titans
Predicted XI
| # | Player | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shubman Gill (c) | Opener |
| 2 | Jos Buttler | Opener |
| 3 | Sai Sudharsan | Top order |
| 4 | Glenn Phillips | Middle order |
| 5 | Kumar Kushagra | Wicket-keeper |
| 6 | Rahul Tewatia | All-rounder |
| 7 | Washington Sundar | All-rounder |
| 8 | Rashid Khan | Bowler |
| 9 | Mohammed Siraj | Bowler |
| 10 | Prasidh Krishna | Bowler |
| 11 | Kagiso Rabada | Bowler |
Strengths
Gujarat’s batting depth is genuinely frightening right now. With Gill averaging 55 this season (165 runs in 3 matches, SR 147.32) and Buttler at one end, the top order has firepower. The middle order hasn’t collapsed once this season — Tewatia and Sundar provide stability while Phillips accelerates. Their bowling attack has four genuine wicket-takers: Rashid (leg-spin), Rabada (pace), Siraj (seam), and Krishna (swing).
Weakness/Concern
Gujarat lost Match 30 to Mumbai by 99 runs — their score of 100 all out exposes vulnerability against quality pace. Against Punjab’s fast bowlers (Arshdeep, Bartlett, Ferguson), the middle order could crack if early wickets fall. Also, GT’s NRR is negative (-0.192) while sitting on 10 points from 9 matches. They need wins, not close contests.
Key Player To Watch
Shubman Gill — 165 runs in 3 matches this season at 55 average and 147.32 SR. He’s scored 1144 runs at Narendra Modi Stadium, the most by any batter here. Against Punjab’s new-ball attack, Gill’s measured 144.44 SR in opening overs (Match 4) sets the tone. If he crosses 50 today, GT win probability jumps to 70%.
Read also – SRH vs KKR, Match 45 Preview: Predicted XI, Pitch Report & Key Battles | IPL 2026
Team 2 Preview — Punjab Kings
Predicted XI
| # | Player | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Prabhsimran Singh | Opener |
| 2 | Mitchell Owen | Opener |
| 3 | Shreyas Iyer (c) | Top order |
| 4 | Nehal Wadhera | Middle order |
| 5 | Marcus Stoinis | All-rounder |
| 6 | Shashank Singh | Middle order |
| 7 | Marco Jansen | All-rounder |
| 8 | Azmatullah Omarzai | All-rounder |
| 9 | Arshdeep Singh | Bowler |
| 10 | Yuzvendra Chahal | Bowler |
| 11 | Lockie Ferguson | Bowler |
Strengths
Punjab sits top of the table with 13 points from 8 matches (6 wins, 1 loss) and NRR of +1.043. Their batting has been explosive — scored 264/2 against RR, 223/4 against SRH this season. Stoinis leads strike rate at 229.16 among regular batters. Chahal became the first player to cross 200 IPL wickets and took 4/28 in a low-total defense last season. Arshdeep Singh is their death-over specialist with consistent economy.
Weakness/Concern
Punjab lost Match 40 to Rajasthan by 6 wickets after posting 222/4 — their bowling couldn’t defend a big total. Against GT’s deep batting (Phillips, Tewatia, Sundar all capable of 30+), Punjab’s spin除了 Chahal lacks variety. Harpreet Brar isn’t in the predicted XI, leaving them light on left-arm spin option. Also, they’re 1-1 at Narendra Modi Stadium — neutral venue advantage.
Key Player To Watch
Marcus Stoinis — Leading Punjab’s strike rate at 229.16 this season. Career IPL stats: 2,136 runs at 28.86 average with 44 wickets — genuine all-round threat. Against GT’s middle order, Stoinis’s death overs bowling (SR 32 in T20s) and lower-order hitting (1 century, 10 fifties) will decide momentum.若 he contributes 30+ runs and 1 wicket, PBKS win probability hits 65%.
Key Battles To Watch
Shubman Gill vs Arshdeep Singh — Gill averages 55 this season against Punjab’s pace; Arshdeep has taken 28 wickets in 56 IPL matches with death-over expertise. If Arshdeep breaks Gill’s innings in powerplay, GT’s top order collapses. Gill has scored 39 off 27 balls (SR 144.44) against new ball in Match 4.
Rashid Khan vs Marcus Stoinis — Rashid’s economical spells (SR 28 in T20s) vs Stoinis’s 229.16 strike rate. Rashid took 2 wickets in Match 4’s death overs; Stoinis accelerated from 7.5 to 11 RPO after that. This over-by-over battle in overs 16-18 could swing momentum.
Yuzvendra Chahal vs Jos Buttler — Chahal (200+ IPL wickets, economy 8.03) vs Buttler’s aggressive stroke play. Buttler averaged 34.5 last season against leg-spin; Chahal’s 4/28 against low totals shows he can break partnerships. If Buttler scores 40+, GT’s total crosses 200.
Our Match Prediction
Gujarat Titans win this — by 12-18 runs.
Three facts back this call: First, GT are 4-2 at Narendra Modi Stadium this season, with Shubman Gill owning the ground record (1,144 runs). Second, dew makes chasing harder, and GT bat first on home soil. Third, Punjab lost Match 40 defending 222 — their bowling cracks under pressure against deep batting lines.
GT’s bowling depth gives them one extra wicket-taking option (Rabada + Rashid + Siraj) Punjab simply don’t match. PBKS rely heavily on Chahal and Arshdeep; if either fails, middle order collapses. Expected score: GT 195/6, PBKS 177/9.
The Bottom Line
Punjab owns the head-to-head, but Ahmedabad owns Gujarat — and home ground advantage in a revenge clash tips this to the Titans.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Who will win Gujarat Titans vs Punjab Kings IPL 2026 Match 46?
A: Gujarat Titans — by 12-18 runs. Home ground at Narendra Modi Stadium and superior bowling depth gives them the edge.
Q: What is the head to head record between Gujarat Titans and Punjab Kings?
A: Punjab Kings lead 4-3 in 7 total matches. PBKS won the last two meetings including Match 4 this season.
Q: What time does Gujarat Titans vs Punjab Kings start today?
A: 7:30 PM IST on May 3, 2026 [input]
Q: What is the pitch report for Narendra Modi Stadium today?
A: Batting-friendly pitch with average first-innings score of 178. Dew is likely, making chasing advantageous.
Q: Who are the key players to watch in Gujarat Titans vs Punjab Kings?
A: Shubman Gill (GT) — 165 runs in 3 matches this season at 55 average. Marcus Stoinis (PBKS) — leading strike rate at 229.16. Yuzvendra Chahal (PBKS) — 200+ IPL wickets.
Reference
Cricbuzz — Match Facts GT vs PBKS Match 46 IPL 2026 — https://www.cricbuzz.com/cricket-match-facts/152009/gt-vs-pbks-46th-match-indian-premier-league-2026
CricTracker — PBKS vs GT Head-to-Head Record in IPL History — https://www.crictracker.com/pbks-vs-gt-head-to-head-record-in-ipl-history/
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