Rajasthan Royals vs Gujarat Titans: IPL 2026 Match Preview

Jaipur. IPL 2026's 52nd match is being played today between Rajasthan Royals and Gujarat Titans. 

This match will start at 7:45 PM at Rajasthan's home ground, Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur.

Gujarat Titans, captained by Shubman Gill, has an opportunity to surpass Rajasthan in the points table. Both teams have 12 points each with 6 wins and 4 losses in 10 matches, but Rajasthan is fourth and Gujarat is fifth due to a better net run rate.

Gujarat is in excellent form, having won their last three matches consecutively. On the other hand, Rajasthan Royals, captained by Riyan Parag, has lost three of their last five matches.

• Both teams facing each other for the 10th time

A total of 9 matches have been played between both teams so far. Of these, Rajasthan has won 3 and Gujarat has won 6 matches. Last season, both won one match each. 

This is the second encounter this season. Rajasthan won the first match played in Ahmedabad by 6 runs.

• Rajasthan unable to defend 220+ scores twice in a row

Bowling has become the biggest concern for Rajasthan Royals. Despite scoring more than 220 runs in the last two matches, the team could not defend it. 

In the last match against Delhi Capitals, Rajasthan scored 225 runs with the help of Riyan Parag's 90 runs, but Delhi completed the target with 7 wickets remaining. At Sawai Mansingh Stadium too, targets of more than 220 have been successfully chased in the last two matches. 

In such a situation, the team winning the toss might choose to bowl first. Jofra Archer is Rajasthan's highest wicket-taker with 15 wickets in 10 matches.

• Dhruv Jurel's batting questioned, challenge to improve strike rate

Rajasthan's top order appears strong due to Vaibhav Suryavanshi (404 runs) and Yashasvi Jaiswal (312 runs). However, Dhruv Jurel's slow innings batting at number three is a cause for concern. 

Jurel has scored 42 runs off 30 balls twice and 16 runs off 20 balls once in his last three innings. His strike rate this season is affecting the team's run rate. Vaibhav is the highest run-scorer for Rajasthan.

• Gujarat's top-3 batsmen in excellent form

Gujarat Titans seems to have returned to form at the right time. Captain Shubman Gill (378 runs) and Sai Sudharsan (385 runs) are consistently scoring runs. Sudharsan has hit two half-centuries and one century in his last four innings. 

With Jos Buttler (335 runs) returning to form, Gujarat's top order has become even stronger. However, the team must avoid the problem of middle-order collapse, which led to the team being all out for 100 runs against Mumbai. Gill is the team's highest run-scorer.

• Gujarat's pace attack sharp under Rabada's leadership

Titans' bowling is their biggest weapon. Kagiso Rabada is leading the pace attack with 16 wickets. He is also the team's highest wicket-taker. He is well supported by Prasidh Krishna (12 wickets) and Mohammed Siraj (11 wickets). At Rajasthan's ground, these three fast bowlers of Gujarat will try to stop the Royals' batsmen with their pace and accuracy.

• Favorable for batsmen at Sawai Mansingh Stadium

The pitch at Sawai Mansingh offers movement to fast bowlers with the new ball initially. Once the batsmen are set, it is easy to play shots due to the bounce and fast outfield. The average score in the first innings of IPL at this ground is 166 runs, while in the second innings it is between 150-160.

• No chance of rain in Jaipur today

The weather will be hot in Jaipur today during the match. The temperature is estimated to be between 32°C and 37°C at the start of the match, and the sky will be clear. There is no chance of rain.

Team Situation

Rajasthan Royals have form/fitness issues with Nandre Burger and may make a change, giving a chance to either Kwena Maphaka or Adam Milne. They could also bring in Dasun Shanaka in place of Burger, who offers both batting and bowling options. Shimron Hetmyer may also be brought back into the playing eleven to strengthen the batting.

• Rajasthan Royals (Probable 12): 1. Yashasvi Jaiswal, 2. Vaibhav Suryavanshi, 3. Dhruv Jurel (Wicketkeeper), 4. Riyan Parag (Captain), 5. Donovan Ferreira, 6. Ravindra Jadeja, 7. Shubham Dubey, 8. Jofra Archer, 9. Ravi Bishnoi, 10. Nandre Burger/Dasun Shanaka, 11. Brijesh Sharma, 12. Tushar Deshpande.

Gujarat Titans debuted Nishant Sindhu in the last match and are unlikely to change the winning combination. Although Mavi had conceded 27 runs in the only over he bowled against Punjab Kings, he was effective in previous matches. He also adds depth to the batting, meaning R Sai Kishore may still have to wait for his turn.

• Gujarat Titans (Probable 12): 1. Shubman Gill (Captain), 2. Sai Sudharsan, 3. Jos Buttler (Wicketkeeper), 4. Nishant Sindhu, 5. Washington Sundar, 6. Jason Holder, 7. Rahul Tewatia, 8. Rashid Khan, 9. Mavi, 10. Arshad Khan, 11. Kagiso Rabada, 12. Mohammed Siraj.

Statistics and Interesting Information

• Donovan Ferreira's strike rate of 264.86 is the third-highest among any batsman facing more than 30 balls in the death overs of IPL 2026. He has also hit 11 sixes in this phase, the second-highest after Tim David's 12 sixes.
• Mohammed Siraj's powerplay economy rate is 6.92, the second-best this season after Akil Hossain's 6.44 (among those who have bowled at least 30 balls).
• Shubman Gill needs to be cautious against Jofra Archer, who is in excellent form during the powerplay. Archer has dismissed Gill 3 times in 6 innings in the IPL.
• Riyan Parag has been dismissed twice in two innings against Jason Holder and twice in six innings against Rashid Khan in the IPL. His strike rate against Rashid is only 90.
• Vaibhav Suryavanshi scored his first IPL century against Gujarat exactly one year ago. Since then, he has added another century to his name this season.