Gujarat Titans (GT) will field Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan, and Kagiso Rabada, while Rajasthan Royals (RR) rely on Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Jofra Archer, and Yashasvi Jaiswal in the IPL 2026 Qualifier 2 at Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur, on Friday, May 29, 2026, at 7:30 PM IST.
Currently, GT reached Qualifier 2 after losing to RCB in Qualifier 1 at Dharamsala, whereas RR arrived here by demolishing SRH by 47 runs in the Eliminator.
Although GT hold a commanding 7-4 H2H lead over RR, the Royals carry massive momentum after their Eliminator demolition, and the winner of tonight’s clash goes straight to the IPL 2026 Final at Ahmedabad on May 31.
GT Playing 11 Today
Because GT lost convincingly to RCB in Qualifier 1, changes to the batting order may be considered. Accordingly, Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan continue opening, since both scored 500+ runs this season and remain GT’s most reliable partnership.
Furthermore, Jos Buttler at No. 3 provides explosive firepower, while Washington Sundar and Jason Holder add all-round balance. Additionally, Shahrukh Khan and Rahul Tewatia handle the death overs. However, GT may bring in an extra batter given their Qualifier 1 batting collapse.
On the bowling front, Kagiso Rabada remains GT’s strongest weapon with the new ball and at the death. Moreover, Mohammed Siraj handles the powerplay overs, while Rashid Khan controls the middle overs with leg-spin.
Besides that, Arshad Khan and Manav Suthar complete the bowling unit. However, both playoff matches so far have seen the team fielding first after the toss go on to lose by big margins, which is a worrying trend GT must consider.
GT Predicted XI: Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (C), Jos Buttler (WK), Washington Sundar, Jason Holder, Shahrukh Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Arshad Khan, Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj.
RR Playing 11 Today
Since RR demolished SRH by 47 runs in the Eliminator just two days ago, they should not disturb a winning combination. Consequently, Yashasvi Jaiswal opens alongside Dhruv Jurel (WK), with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (583 runs, SR 232, missed the fastest IPL century by just 1 run in the Eliminator) coming in as the impact player.
Besides that, captain Riyan Parag bats at No. 3, while Shimron Hetmyer and Donovan Ferreira provide middle-order firepower. Additionally, Ravindra Jadeja and Dasun Shanaka offer all-round depth at Nos. 6 and 7, giving RR a long batting lineup.
In terms of bowling, Jofra Archer (21+ wickets) leads the pace attack with express speed. Moreover, Nandre Burger adds South African pace, while Ravi Bishnoi controls the middle overs with leg-spin.
However, Sushant Mishra may replace Brijesh Sharma for extra left-arm variety on this Mullanpur surface that RR played the Eliminator on just 48 hours ago.
RR Predicted XI: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Riyan Parag (C), Shimron Hetmyer, Donovan Ferreira, Ravindra Jadeja, Dasun Shanaka, Jofra Archer, Nandre Burger, Ravi Bishnoi, Sushant Mishra.
Impact Player Picks for Both Sides
GT Impact Sub: Prasidh Krishna
Since GT need their best bowling attack for this knockout, Prasidh Krishna continues as the bowling impact sub. Specifically, his bounce and accuracy in the middle overs complement Rabada, and therefore Gill gains a genuine five-bowler attack to contain RR’s explosive batting lineup.
RR Impact Sub: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
Similarly, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi remains RR’s knockout weapon from the bench. Because Sooryavanshi missed the fastest IPL century by just 1 run in the Eliminator, he enters tonight desperate to finish the job against GT. Specifically, his 583 runs at SR 232 make him the most dangerous player in this tournament, and his powerplay cameos can decide any knockout game within the first 6 overs.
Key Players to Watch in Qualifier 2
Firstly, the battle between Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Kagiso Rabada will be the headline duel for the second time this season, since Sooryavanshi’s 583 runs at SR 232 make him the most dangerous opener while Rabada’s new-ball spells have dismantled top orders all season.
Similarly, Rashid Khan versus Riyan Parag in the middle overs promises a fascinating spin duel that could swing the contest.
| Player | Team | Role | Key Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shubman Gill | GT | Captain / Opener | 500+ runs; consistent anchor; 104* vs RCB in 2023; GT’s heartbeat |
| Sai Sudharsan | GT | Opener | 500+ runs; 2nd Orange Cap; century vs RCB; GT’s batting backbone |
| Kagiso Rabada | GT | Pace Spearhead | Purple Cap contender; POTM 3/28 vs SRH; lethal at death |
| Rashid Khan | GT | Leg-spinner | GT’s talisman; middle-overs specialist; IPL legend |
| Vaibhav Sooryavanshi | RR | Opener / Impact | 583 runs; SR 232; missed fastest IPL century by 1 run in Eliminator |
| Jofra Archer | RR | Pace Spearhead | 21+ wickets; consistently 145 kmph; RR’s go-to in all phases |
| Ravindra Jadeja | RR | All-rounder | Knockout pedigree; batting + bowling depth; experienced campaigner |
In addition, Sooryavanshi versus GT’s entire playing XI is the matchup that will define this game, since no other batter in IPL 2026 has single-handedly influenced results as much as the 16-year-old prodigy.
Head-to-Head Record: GT vs RR
Across 11 IPL meetings, GT hold a commanding 7-3 lead over RR. Notably, GT won the most recent meeting this season (Match 52 at Jaipur) by 77 runs, where Rashid Khan took 4/36 to dismantle RR’s batting completely.
| Category | Gujarat Titans | Rajasthan Royals |
|---|---|---|
| Matches Played | 10 | 10 |
| Wins | 7 | 3 |
| IPL 2026 Season H2H | 1 win (M52, 77-run win) | 1 win (M25, 6-run win) |
| Most Recent Result | Won by 77 runs at Jaipur | Lost by 77 runs |
| Playoff Record vs Each Other | First meeting | First meeting |
Additionally, GT’s 7-4 dominance is one of the most lopsided short-history rivalries in the IPL. However, RR won the earlier meeting this season at Ahmedabad by 6 runs, and their Eliminator demolition of SRH shows they can beat anyone when Sooryavanshi fires.
Pitch Report & Weather Forecast
Firstly, the Mullanpur Stadium hosted the Eliminator just 48 hours ago, where RR chased 200+ and restricted SRH to 47 runs fewer. Furthermore, this surface has averaged 191 in first-innings scores across IPL 2026, making it a high-scoring venue that rewards aggressive batting.
Secondly, the Mullanpur weather forecast shows 36°C with a 35% chance of light showers. Consequently, a full 40-over contest remains likely, although brief interruptions could occur. Besides that, dew will arrive during the second innings, and both playoff matches so far have seen the team fielding first after winning the toss go on to lose, raising serious questions about the bowl-first approach.
However, this unusual playoff trend means the captain winning the toss faces a genuine dilemma. As a result, data from the two previous playoff games suggests that batting first might actually be the smarter decision tonight, breaking the conventional IPL wisdom of chasing.
Match Prediction: Who Wins Today?
Rajasthan Royals enter as slight favourites due to their crushing momentum from the 47-run Eliminator win and the fact that they already played at this venue just 48 hours ago. Specifically, Sooryavanshi’s 583 runs (SR 232), Archer’s 21 wickets, and RR’s familiarity with these Mullanpur conditions give them a clear edge over a GT side that looked out of sorts in Dharamsala.
On the other hand, GT‘s 7-4 H2H dominance and their 77-run demolition of RR in Match 52 show they have the weapons to destroy this same RR lineup. However, the Qualifier 1 loss at Dharamsala exposed fragile confidence, and GT must pick themselves up in just three days for the biggest game of their season.
As for the toss, the unusual trend of both playoff teams fielding first and losing may encourage the winner to bat first tonight. Ultimately, RR are predicted to win this contest and therefore reach the IPL 2026 Final, although GT’s H2H dominance and the high stakes of a knockout make this a genuine coin-flip encounter.
Suggested Reads:
Final Word
To sum up, the GT vs RR Qualifier 2 is the last hurdle before the IPL 2026 Final, and the winner gets to face RCB at Ahmedabad on May 31. If Sooryavanshi completes the century he missed by 1 run in the Eliminator, then GT’s bowlers face a nightmare evening at a venue RR played on just 48 hours ago.
Otherwise, Gill’s consistency and Rabada’s pace could carry GT to their second consecutive IPL Final. Either way, this Friday night at Mullanpur promises the kind of drama that only knockout cricket can deliver.
Disclaimer: Playing XIs, impact substitutes, and predictions draw on pre-match reports and may change based on the toss, fitness updates, and final team announcements.
