Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, Rashid Khan, Arshdeep Singh, and Kagiso Rabada are the key players to watch in GT vs PBKS Match 46 of IPL 2026 at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, on Sunday, May 3.
Punjab Kings sit atop the points table with six wins in eight matches and an NRR of +1.043, making them the most dominant team this season.
Meanwhile, Gujarat Titans are 5th with five wins from nine matches, riding back-to-back wins including a crucial victory over defending champions RCB.
With 4 of GT’s 5 wins coming while chasing and PBKS’s explosive batting lineup making 200+ totals look routine, this promises to be a high-scoring affair at the world’s largest cricket stadium.
Key Players To Watch Out For From Both Teams
| Category | Player Name | Team | Key Role / Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Batsman | Shubman Gill (c) | GT | 373 runs at avg 46.62, SR 155.41; GT’s backbone this season. |
| Batsman | Sai Sudharsan | GT | 328 runs; century vs RCB; closing in on 2,000 IPL career runs. |
| Batsman | Jos Buttler (wk) | GT | Explosive opener; capable of taking any attack apart. |
| Batsman | Shreyas Iyer (c) | PBKS | PBKS captain; unbeaten 71* chasing 265; avg 69.75, SR 186. |
| Batsman | Priyansh Arya | PBKS | Most runs at Mullanpur (311); SR 264.10 in IPL 2026. |
| Batsman | Prabhsimran Singh (wk) | PBKS | Explosive opener; 261 runs at home this season. |
| Bowler | Kagiso Rabada | GT | 14 wickets this season; GT’s leading wicket-taker. |
| Bowler | Prasidh Krishna | GT | 12 wickets; effective across powerplay and death overs. |
| Bowler | Mohammed Siraj | GT | Right-arm pace; powerplay threat with new ball. |
| Bowler | Arshdeep Singh | PBKS | 14 home wickets; left-arm swing; death-overs specialist. |
| Bowler | Lockie Ferguson | PBKS | Right-arm express pace; replaced Xavier Bartlett in recent games. |
| Bowler | Yuzvendra Chahal | PBKS | 9 wickets at Mullanpur; middle-overs spin control. |
| All-Rounder | Rashid Khan | GT | Economy improving; match-winner on big NMS boundaries. |
| All-Rounder | Marcus Stoinis | PBKS | Finisher at No.5; pace bowling option; big-match player. |
Key Player Battles To Watch: GT vs PBKS
This clash features three fascinating individual contests between the table-toppers and GT’s home advantage.
| Battle | GT Player | PBKS Player | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Powerplay Clash | Kagiso Rabada | Priyansh Arya | Rabada’s 14 wickets and outswing vs Arya’s SR 264.10. If Rabada dismisses Arya early, PBKS’s powerplay dominance is neutralized. |
| Middle-Overs Spin | Rashid Khan | Shreyas Iyer | Big NMS boundaries suit Rashid. Iyer averages 69.75 and loves attacking spin. Fascinating battle of control vs aggression. |
| Death-Overs Duel | Sai Sudharsan | Arshdeep Singh | Left-hander vs left-arm angle. Arshdeep’s 14 home wickets vs Sudharsan’s 328 runs. Key phase for both teams. |
GT vs PBKS: Head-to-Head Record in IPL
The GT vs PBKS rivalry is closely contested, with PBKS holding a slight edge in recent meetings.
In the last 10 encounters, PBKS lead 4-3, and PBKS hold the highest-ever score at this venue (243 vs GT in IPL 2025).
| Stat | Detail |
|---|---|
| Last 10 Meetings | PBKS lead 4-3 |
| PBKS Highest at NMS | 243 runs (vs GT, IPL 2025) |
| GT Home Record (IPL 2026) | 2 wins in 4 matches at NMS |
| PBKS Current Form | 6 wins in 8 matches (1st, NRR +1.043) |
| GT Wins While Chasing | 4 out of 5 wins this season came via chase |
| NMS IPL Results | 24-24 (evenly split batting first vs chasing) |
NMS Pitch And Conditions: What To Expect
The Narendra Modi Stadium offers a batting-friendly surface with true bounce.
The average first-innings score this season is approximately 195, significantly higher than the overall IPL average of 175 at this venue.
Results are evenly split (2-2) between teams batting first and chasing in 4 games this season.
Fast bowlers have taken 49 wickets compared to spinners’ 23 in the last 5 games here, showing pace dominance.
Dew is expected in the second innings, making chasing the preferred option at the toss.
Ahmedabad temperatures will peak at 41 degrees Celsius during the day, though the evening start brings some relief.
Probable Playing XIs for GT vs PBKS Match 46
GT Probable XI
Shubman Gill (c), Sai Sudharsan, Jos Buttler (wk), Washington Sundar, Rahul Tewatia, Shahrukh Khan, Jason Holder, Rashid Khan, Kagiso Rabada, Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj
Impact Player: R Sai Kishore or Glenn Phillips
PBKS Probable XI
Prabhsimran Singh (wk), Priyansh Arya, Cooper Connolly, Shreyas Iyer (c), Marcus Stoinis, Suryansh Shedge, Nehal Wadhera, Marco Jansen, Lockie Ferguson, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal
Impact Player: Vijaykumar Vyshak
Note: Lockie Ferguson has replaced Xavier Bartlett in the recent games, adding extra express pace to the attack.
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Final Verdict: Both Teams Ready With Balanced Squad For Clash
Punjab Kings are slight favourites despite playing away, backed by an unbeaten record (only loss to RR), Iyer’s captaincy, and the most explosive batting lineup in IPL 2026.
However, GT have home advantage at NMS, back-to-back wins including beating RCB, and a lethal pace trio of Rabada, Siraj, and Prasidh.
The key battleground is the powerplay. If GT’s pace attack can contain PBKS’s openers, they have every chance of winning. But if Arya and Prabhsimran get going, even 250 may not be safe.
Regardless of the result, this Sunday evening clash between the table-toppers and an in-form GT side promises to be a blockbuster at the world’s largest cricket stadium.
