Shubman Gill, Jos Buttler, Rashid Khan, Sunil Narine, and Prasidh Krishna are the standout players to watch in GT vs KKR Match 25 of IPL 2026 at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, on Friday, April 17.
Gujarat Titans are on a two-match winning streak, sitting 6th on the points table with two wins from four matches.
Meanwhile, Kolkata Knight Riders remain winless in IPL 2026, losing all four completed matches and sitting rock-bottom on the table.
This clash pits GT’s rejuvenated batting lineup against KKR’s spin duo of Varun Chakravarthy and Sunil Narine.
Key Players To Watch Out For From Both Teams
| Category | Player Name | Team | Key Role / Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Batsman | Shubman Gill (c) | GT | 165 runs in 3 innings at avg 50+; averages 52+ at NMS. |
| Batsman | Jos Buttler | GT | Scored 60 off 37 vs LSG; explosive wicketkeeper-opener. |
| Batsman | Sai Sudharsan | GT | Reliable left-handed opener for GT; consistent run scorer. |
| Batsman | Finn Allen | KKR | Just 16 runs in last 3 innings; struggling against pace. |
| Batsman | Ajinkya Rahane (c) | KKR | Best SR in powerplay but inconsistent; dropped to No.3 vs CSK. |
| Bowler | Rashid Khan | GT | Economy of 6.9 in IPL 2026 (best in GT colours). |
| Bowler | Mohammed Siraj | GT | Right-arm pace threat with new ball; key powerplay bowler. |
| Bowler | Varun Chakravarthy | KKR | Yet to take a wicket in IPL 2026; needs a comeback spell. |
| Bowler | Vaibhav Arora | KKR | Combined 11 wickets with Kartik Tyagi; KKR’s best pacer. |
| All-Rounder | Sunil Narine | KKR | 3 wickets in IPL 2026; regaining form with the ball. |
| All-Rounder | Washington Sundar | GT | Handy with bat at No.4 and offers tight off-spin. |
Key Player Battles To Watch: GT vs KKR
Individual battles could define this contest. Here are the three most intriguing matchups on Friday.
| Battle | GT Player | KKR Player | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Powerplay Clash | Mohammed Siraj | Finn Allen | Siraj’s outswing vs Allen’s struggles against right-arm pace. Allen has just 16 runs in his last 3 innings. |
| Spin Showdown | Rashid Khan | Cameron Green | Green has scored only 11 runs off 12 Rashid balls in IPL. Green’s struggles against spin are well documented. |
| Battle of Legends | Jos Buttler | Sunil Narine | Narine has kept Buttler to SR of 105.08 in 11 innings. Four IPL MVPs between them. Must-watch contest. |
GT vs KKR: Head-to-Head Record in IPL
The GT vs KKR rivalry is still young, but it has already produced some iconic moments.
GT have dominated the recent meetings, winning 3 of the last 4 encounters.
KKR’s last win over GT came back in IPL 2023, the famous Rinku Singh five-sixes match at this very ground.
| Stat | Detail |
|---|---|
| GT Wins (Last 4 Meetings) | 3 |
| KKR Wins (Last 4 Meetings) | 1 |
| Last KKR Win vs GT | IPL 2023 (Rinku’s 5 sixes in final over) |
| KKR Current Losing Streak | 6 games (since IPL 2025) |
| GT Home Record (IPL 2026) | 1 Loss (vs RR in first home game) |
Narendra Modi Stadium Pitch And Conditions: What To Expect
This will be the first match on Pitch No. 6 at the Narendra Modi Stadium this IPL season.
During the T20 World Cup, this surface was an excellent batting wicket with pacers extracting extra bounce off the deck.
The average first-innings score at this venue over the last 10 matches is around 193 runs.
Consequently, teams batting first should target at least 200 to set a defendable total.
Ahmedabad’s temperature is expected to hit 41 degrees Celsius during the day, but the evening match start should make conditions more manageable.
Additionally, dew is expected in the second innings, making the toss crucial. In 8 of the last 10 games here, the toss winner has elected to bowl first.
Probable Playing XIs for GT vs KKR Match 25
Here is Probable Playing XI of both teams:
GT Probable XI
Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (c), Jos Buttler (wk), Washington Sundar, Glenn Phillips, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj, Ashok Sharma, Prasidh Krishna
Impact Player: Shahrukh Khan
KKR Probable XI
Finn Allen, Ajinkya Rahane (c), Cameron Green, Angkrish Raghuvanshi (wk), Rovman Powell, Rinku Singh, Ramandeep Singh, Anukul Roy, Sunil Narine, Varun Chakravarthy, Kartik Tyagi
Impact Player: Vaibhav Arora
Note: Matheesha Pathirana has received his NOC from Sri Lanka Cricket but will not be available for this match due to logistical reasons. He is expected to join KKR from April 19.
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Final Verdict: Both Teams Ready With Balanced Squad For Clash
Gujarat Titans are clear favourites heading into this contest, riding on consecutive wins and a lethal bowling attack led by Prasidh Krishna and Rashid Khan.
KKR, on the other hand, desperately need a win to keep their playoff hopes alive. Narine and Varun Chakravarthy hold the key with the ball.
However, KKR’s batting has been their Achilles heel, and against GT’s pace trio of Siraj, Rabada, and Prasidh, it will be a massive test.
Regardless of the result, this Ahmedabad clash between two former champions promises to deliver plenty of drama on April 17.
