Opening Match of the Season
The Punjabi Kings (PBKS), who were runners-up in the previous season, are set to kick off their 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) campaign in Match 4 against the Gujarat Titans (GT) at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday, March 31. This match is highly anticipated as both teams aim to establish a strong start to the season.
Last year, PBKS reached their second-ever IPL final but fell just short with a six-run loss to the Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the final held in Ahmedabad. Despite this setback, the Punjab-based team has maintained a stable squad that led them to the final in 2025. They have made minimal changes, adding only four players in the mini auction, including Cooper Connolly and Ben Dwarshuis. The team will continue to rely heavily on their captain, Shreyas Iyer, along with Arshdeep Singh, to guide them towards another playoff spot.
On the other hand, the Gujarat Titans finished third last season but were eliminated by the Mumbai Indians in the first Eliminator. The 2022 champions boast a well-balanced squad with high-quality batters and bowlers in top form. Last season, GT’s squad included recipients of both the Purple and Orange Caps, Prasidh Krishna and Sai Sudharsan, respectively.
Availability of Players
For the opening match, PBKS are expected to field their strongest XI. However, they will be without Lockie Ferguson for the early stages of the campaign due to parental leave. In contrast, the Gujarat Titans have no players currently unavailable for selection. The Ahmedabad-based team has strengthened their overseas contingent by signing Luke Wood, Jason Holder, and Tom Banton during the mini auction.
Match Details
The match between Punjab Kings and Gujarat Titans, known as Match 04 of the IPL 2026, will take place at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh. The game is scheduled for Tuesday, March 31, starting at 7:30 PM (IST). Fans can watch the live broadcast on JioStar Network Channels and stream it via JioHotstar (App & Website).
Head-to-Head Record
The head-to-head record between PBKS and GT shows a balanced competition. Both teams have played six matches, with each winning three times. Their first-ever fixture took place on April 08, 2022, which GT won. The most recent encounter was on March 25, 2025, where PBKS emerged victorious.
Pitch Report
The Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium offers a mixed playing surface for T20 matches. Last year, teams often scored over 200 runs, while some struggled to reach 120. The pitch is expected to provide opportunities for both batters and bowlers, with spin coming into play during the latter stages of the game. The outfield is generally quicker, favoring batters who can time their shots effectively.
Predicted Playing XIs
Punjab Kings (PBKS):
Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh, Shreyas Iyer (Captain), Mitchell Owen, Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Marco Jansen, Harpreet Brar, Ben Dwarshuis, Arshdeep Singh
Impact Player: Yuzvendra Chahal
Gujarat Titans (GT):
Shubman Gill (Captain), Sai Sudharsan, Jos Buttler, Washington Sundar, Shahrukh Khan, Jason Holder, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Kagiso Rabada, Mohammad Siraj, Prasidh Krishna
Impact Player: Sai Kishore
