GT vs RCB IPL 2026 Match 42: Playing XI, Head-to-Head, Pitch Report & Who Will Win Today

Six days ago, Virat Kohli walked into M. Chinnaswamy Stadium and took the Gujarat Titans apart. His 81 was more than a simple knock. It defines his class. RCB chased 205 in 18.5 overs and never looked stressed doing it.

Now the upcoming return match is here. Same teams. Completely different ground.

Gujarat Titans host Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Match 42 of IPL 2026 at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, on April 30, 7:30 PM IST. The world’s largest cricket stadium brings 76-metre straight boundaries into play. That one detail changes how Rashid Khan bowls, how Rabada attacks, and how RCB’s top order thinks at the crease.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru holds a 4-3 advantage over the Gujarat Titans in their head-to-head matches. Both teams arrive on the back of wins. Both are deep in the playoff race. Neither side can afford to lose momentum at this stage of IPL 2026.

Three-player battles sit at the heart of this match. Kohli vs Rabada. Gill vs Hazlewood. Patidar vs Rashid Khan. Each one of them could individually flip the result.

Below you will find the full GT vs RCB playing XI, head-to-head stats, pitch report, timeline, and today’s match prediction.

Where to Watch Gujarat Titans vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru Match

GT vs RCB Head to Head Records

GT vs RCB Pitch Report

The Narendra Modi Stadium is different from every other IPL venue in one critical way. The boundaries are genuinely big — 76 metres straight, 70 metres square. RCB hit 14 sixes in their Chinnaswamy demolition of GT six days ago. Expect that number to drop here.

The pitch in Ahmedabad rewards patience early. Pacers get genuine carry in the first six overs. As the game progresses, the surface slows, and spinners find purchase. That is precisely why Rashid Khan and Washington Sundar, as a pair in the middle overs, give GT such a structural advantage at home.

Dew arrives in the second innings and makes the ball harder to grip. Defending totals here, once the dew settles, is a difficult task. Both skippers will read the toss the same way: win it, bowl first, and back your batters to post and then chase down a clear target.

Weather Report

The temperature will hover around 32-38 degrees Celsius at match time in Ahmedabad. The humidity level will be around 36-51% during the match. The hot and humid weather will wait for the players and fans.

The wind will be blowing from the South-southwest at 15km/h. That will add some feel-good factor for the spectators. The rain will not interrupt the game.

GT vs RCB Playing 11(Probable)

For GT

Shubman Gill(C), S SaiSudharsan, Jos Buttler (WK), Washington Sundar, Shahrukh Khan, Jason Holder, Rashid Khan, Arshad Khan, Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj , Manav Suthar

Impact Player – Glenn Phillips / Nishant Sindhu/ Rahul Tewatia / Kulwant Khejroliya / Anuj Rawat.

For RCB

Virat Kohli, Jacob Bethell, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar(C), Jitesh Sharma (WK), Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh hazlewood, Rasikh Salam

Impact Player – Suyash Sharma

Gujarat Titans vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru Timeline

Gujarat Titans vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru Stats

• Virat Kohli has dominated this rivalry for RCB, emerging as the top run-scorer with 432 runs in only 7 innings.
• Shubman Gill holds the record for the highest individual score with a clinical 104 off 52 deliveries.
• In 2024, RCB dominated GT by chasing 200 in just 16 overs, winning by nine wickets with 24 balls remaining.
• Mohammed Siraj leads the rivalry with 8 wickets in 5 matches. 
• Rashid Khan dominates Padikkal, taking his wicket three times across six innings in this one-sided rivalry.

GT vs RCB Prediction

RCB arrives with 6 wins from 8 matches, sitting comfortably above GT in the standings. GT is 4 wins, 4 losses. On paper, RCB is the better team right now.

At Narendra Modi Stadium, the toss can be decisive. Dew in the second innings makes defending totals tough, so both captains will probably choose to bowl first. Winning the toss gives about a 60-40 edge.

Scenario A — GT bowls first: On a larger, drier ground, Rashid Khan and Washington Sundar should concede 15–20 fewer runs than at Chinnaswamy. Rashid’s strong performance at home is crucial. If RCB stay between 185 and 192, GT can chase with the help of the dew.

Gill, Sudharsan, and Buttler can lead the chase.

Scenario B — RCB bowl first: Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar are dangerous with the new ball in Ahmedabad. If they dismiss Sudharsan in the powerplay, GT could slip to 175–180. Under 190 feels near automatic with Kohli’s form, including a career-best 163+ strike rate and 81 against GT.

The critical variable nobody is discussing: Mohammed Siraj moved from RCB to GT and now knows the RCB batting order. His new-ball away swing against Kohli, and Phil Salt in the powerplay, could decide the match if he strikes early.

Projected totals: If GT bats first, expect 182-192. If RCB bat first, expect 193-203.

Win probability: Current projections give RCB a 58% chance and GT a 42% chance.

Final call: RCB edge this by 8-12 runs or 2-3 wickets — but only if Kohli bats through 15 overs. If GT dismisses him before over 12, this match belongs to the home side.

For more, Follow Sports Dribble on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Krishanu

My name is Krishanu Das the founder of the Sports Dribble.
I am Accountant by profession but a Sports Blogger by passion.
I am passionate about sharing my all knowledge and experiences of sports, with my readers and every sports enthusiast.

sportsdribble.com