GT vs RCB IPL 2026 Match 42 preview: Kohli and Gill clash in Ahmedabad

Gujarat Titans and Royal Challengers Bengaluru meet at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on April 30 for Match 42 of IPL 2026. The toss is at 7:00 PM IST, with play starting at 7:30 PM. Both teams need the points, though for very different reasons. RCB are chasing a top-two finish. GT are trying to stay alive in the playoff race before the league stage slips away from them.

RCB come into this match having won six of their eight games. Their last outing was a nine-wicket win over Delhi Capitals, where DC were bundled out for 75 and RCB chased it down in 6.3 overs. Josh Hazlewood took four wickets in that game, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar took three. That performance gave RCB the highest net run rate among the top four on the points table, currently sitting at 1.919.

GT's recent form and what has changed

Gujarat Titans had a rough start to IPL 2026, losing their first two matches. They then strung together three consecutive wins, which pulled them back into fifth place on the table with 8 points from 9 games. Their most recent win was an eight-wicket thrashing of Chennai Super Kings at Chepauk, where their bowlers set the tone with an aggressive powerplay spell that put CSK under pressure from the first over.

Shubman Gill has accumulated 330 runs this season and will be central to GT's batting plans. Sai Sudharsan has been in solid touch as well, scoring 87 off 46 balls in their last outing. Jos Buttler provides the middle-order firepower, and Rashid Khan remains their most reliable wicket-taking option with the ball. At home in Ahmedabad, GT have a 14-12 win-loss record in IPL history at this ground, which tells you the venue is not automatically an advantage for them.

RCB's playing XI and the bowlers to watch

RCB are expected to field: Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar as captain, Jitesh Sharma behind the stumps, Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Suyash Sharma, and one additional option from Mangesh Yadav or Phil Salt. Kohli has 351 runs this season and sits fourth in the Orange Cap standings. He scored 81 in the last time these two sides met, when RCB chased down GT's 205 with five wickets to spare.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar leads the Purple Cap standings with 14 wickets from 8 matches, ahead of Jofra Archer, Anshul Kamboj, and Eshan Malinga, all of whom also have 14 wickets. Hazlewood's four-wicket haul against DC showed he is in form at exactly the right time. RCB's pace attack has been their most consistent weapon this season, and Narendra Modi Stadium's true bounce should suit both Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar.

GT's predicted lineup and the Rashid Khan factor

GT are expected to go with: Shubman Gill as captain, Sai Sudharsan, Jos Buttler, Shahrukh Khan, Washington Sundar, Jason Holder, Rashid Khan, Manav Suthar, Prasidh Krishna, Kagiso Rabada, and Mohammed Siraj. Rabada and Siraj give GT genuine pace at the top. Rashid Khan in the middle overs will be the biggest test for Kohli and the RCB batting lineup, especially if the pitch offers any grip as the game progresses under lights.

Washington Sundar has been a steady contributor with bat and ball this season. His ability to bowl tightly in the powerplay and hit cleanly in the lower order makes him difficult to plan around. GT's batting relies heavily on Gill and Sudharsan at the top, with Buttler expected to take on the anchor role in the middle if early wickets fall.

Pitch conditions and toss decision

Narendra Modi Stadium has been a high-scoring venue in IPL 2026, with a par score of around 180 to 200. The square boundaries are approximately 60 to 72 metres, and the straight boundaries run to 70 to 75 metres, which is larger than many other IPL venues. Dew is a factor in evening games at Ahmedabad, and both captains will factor that into the toss call. The team bowling second often benefits from better grip on the ball in the final overs once dew settles.

RCB won the toss when these sides last met at Chinnaswamy Stadium on April 24 and chose to field. GT posted 205 for 3, and RCB chased it down in 19.5 overs. Kohli's 81 and a half-century from Devdutt Padikkal made the difference. GT will want a different result this time, and home conditions in Ahmedabad give them a reasonable chance of putting up a score that tests RCB's chase.

What the result means for the points table

RCB are currently second with 12 points. A win here takes them to 14 points, which would put clear daylight between them and third-placed Rajasthan Royals and SRH, both also on 12. It would also make their net run rate advantage even more meaningful heading into the final stretch. For GT, a win is necessary to stay in the race. Losing would leave them on 8 points from 10 games, requiring a near-perfect run through their remaining fixtures to break into the top four.

Punjab Kings remain at the top with 13 points and a game in hand. The GT vs RCB result tonight will not directly affect PBKS, but it will reshape the battle for positions two through five. The match starts at 7:30 PM IST on April 30 and will be broadcast on Star Sports and streamed live on JioHotstar.