HIGHLIGHTS Gujarat Titans vs Punjab Kings IPL 2026 Match 46 - Result, Scorecard

Welcome back for GT's reply with the bat. The players of Punjab Kings have taken their fielding spots. Sai Sudharsan and Shubman Gill are the two openers for the Titans. Xavier Bartlett will bowl the first over of the chase. Sudharsan to face. Here we go!

... THE RUN CHASE ...

An easy chase for GT? The scorecard suggests that the Titans certainly have the edge heading into the second innings, but we have seen such recent middling scores turn out to be not all that easy to gun down. 164 is what the hosts need to get and pick up a third straight win. Punjab Kings will be eager to strengthen their claim at the top of the table, and it should be an exciting run chase. Stay tuned.

Let's now hear from Jason Holder - On the conditions and the target, Jason Holder says it was a really good team effort and that the boys bowled really well. He adds that KG and Siraj set the tone in the powerplay, bowling the lengths that made it difficult for the Punjab batters to get on top. On the lengths that worked for him, Holder says on this wicket, you need to hit a good length, and you can extract something off it. He adds there was a little seam movement as well, which helped GT keep Punjab at bay. On whether Ahmedabad is his favourite venue, Holder says he is trying to make it home. He says it is a good place for him, he enjoys coming here and loves the stadium and the fans. On how to bat in the middle phase, he says it is about giving yourself time. He adds that there was not too much spin today, and it was just about giving yourself a chance and playing according to the situation.

New star on the horizon - Punjab Kings endured an uncharacteristic Powerplay, losing three wickets, and things looked pretty bleak. They were five down inside the first 10 overs before Suryansh Shedge stepped up and hit a maiden IPL fifty to regain some of the momentum. Marcus Stoinis too played a big role in PBKS' counterattack as Marco Jansen laid the finishing touches, taking Punjab over the 160-run mark.

Setting things up in the Powerplay - The Powerplay has become a very crucial phase of play in the IPL and once again, GT's frontline pacers have dominated that phase. Mohammed Siraj and Kagiso Rabada set things up brilliantly up top, but it wasn't quite backed up by the others in the second half of the innings.

Competitive total on the board? Gujarat Titans will certainly be the happier of the two sides heading into the break, but Punjab Kings will be decently pleased with that recovery. There seems to be something in the wicket early on for the pacers, but given what we have seen, the wicket has gotten better for batting.

Rashid Khan to Arshdeep Singh, Pushed through, on a length, on middle. Arshdeep Singh shuffles a long way across and pulls it to short fine leg and they scamper through. Just a single off the last ball. But 14 runs come off it. PUNJAB KINGS FINISH AT 163/9.

The next batter is Arshdeep Singh.

Rashid Khan to Marco Jansen, OUT! HIT HARD AND CAUGHT! Rashid wins the duel against Jansen, but the towering South African has played a good hand. Short and wide outside off. Jansen reaches out and flat bats it hard but finds short extra cover. Gill moves a couple of steps to his right, dives and takes a fine low catch, just inches off the ground. Punjab Kings are 162/9, 1 ball left.

Rashid Khan to Marco Jansen, WIDE! Miles outside off, on a good length. Jansen opts to leave. It goes outside the tramline and is called a wide.

Rashid Khan to Marco Jansen, FOUR! Off the inside edge and it shows how cruel this game can be. Dishes out a googly on a fuller length, on middle and leg. Marco Jansen tries to smash it over the off side, but gets a fat, healthy inside edge. The ball runs past the leg stump and goes through the vacant short fine leg region for a boundary.

Rashid Khan to Marco Jansen, SIX! Gets a good piece of it! A bit too full and into the slot from Rashid, around off. Marco Jansen takes a giant stride ahead, gets under the ball nicely and dumps it down the ground for a cracking six. Important runs these for the Punjab Kings.

Rashid Khan to Marco Jansen, Serves it full and far outside off. Marco Jansen lofts it inside out over extra cover. Nishant Sindhu comes charging across to his right from deep point and mops it up. Two taken. 150 UP FOR PUNJAB KINGS!

Rashid Khan to Marco Jansen, Floated up, full and around off. Jansen drives it off the front foot to long off and denies the single.

Arshad Khan to Marco Jansen, Keeps it full on the stumps, Marco Jansen flicks it to deep square leg's left for a single. So 8 runs from the penultimate over.

Arshad Khan to Marco Jansen, Low full toss, outside off at 140.4 kph. Marco Jansen slices it just over Shubman Gill at extra cover for a couple of runs as Gill hunts it down in the outfield.

Arshad Khan to Vijaykumar Vyshak, In line of the leg stump, full in length, clipped across to the square leg region for a single.

Arshad Khan to Vijaykumar Vyshak, Wide across the batter, full in length. Vijaykumar Vyshak tries to run it behind but misses.

Arshad Khan to Marco Jansen, Uppish, but safe! On a back of a length on the leg stump. Jansen backs away and thumps it down to long on. Siraj collects on the bounce in the deep.

Arshad Khan to Marco Jansen, IN THE AIR AND DROPPED! It hasn't been his evening so far, for Manav Suthar as he shells a sitter. Pitched full and on the stumps. Marco Jansen clears the front leg and tries to smoke it over deep mid-wicket, but does not properly get under it. Hits it off the toe end and it goes high up in the air towards the leg side. Manav Suthar does not look steady under it and puts it down at deep mid-wicket. Two taken. A huge relief for Jansen.

Arshad Khan to Marco Jansen, WIDE! Slams it short but down leg. Marco gets inside the line and misses to connect. Wide called.

Jason Holder to Vijaykumar Vyshak, Sees it off watchfully, does Vyshak and denies Hat Trick for Holder. Full in front of the stumps. Vijaykumar Vyshak presses forward and smothers it onto the pitch. 4-0-24-4 for Holder as he wraps his spell.

Vijaykumar Vyshak is the next batter in, and is the Impact Sub for PBKS, replacing Nehal Wadhera.

Nehal Wadhera is substituted by Vijaykumar Vyshak

Jason Holder to Xavier Bartlett, OUT! BOWLED! A ripper from Holder and he is on a Hat Trick. He is over the moon as he gets his 4th wicket. Over the wicket, Holder uses the wider angle. Hard length, outside off, nipping back in sharply. Bartlett looks to punch it down the ground without moving his feet, gets beaten on the inside edge and the ball tickles the top of the middle stump. Golden duck for Bartlett. PBKS are 141/8.

Xavier Bartlett is in next.

Jason Holder to Marcus Stoinis, OUT! MISCUED IN THE AIR AND CAUGHT! Good bit of battle between the two all-rounders and Holder has the last laugh. Holder goes short and on middle and leg, from around the wicket. Marcus Stoinis goes back in the crease and tries to flat bat it over long on, but slices it off the blade, perhaps getting it high on the willow. Slices it straight into the hands of Washington Sundar at long on. Stoinis is livid with himself for not getting the timing right on that one. This wicket could shrink a fair bit of runs from the total. Punjab Kings are 141/7 after 17.4 overs.

With 14 balls left, can PBKS finish strongly?

Jason Holder to Marcus Stoinis, WIDE! Seeing Stoinis moving in the crease, Holder tries to push it across on a short length, but it goes beyond the tramline and Stoinis leaves. Wide called.

Jason Holder to Marcus Stoinis, FOUR! Up and over! Holder tries to outthink the batter and comes from around the stump. But slips in a low full toss, wide outside off. Marcus Stoinis goes deep in the crease and lifts it over the in-field. Doesn't time it well off the middle, but has enough muscle to clear mid off for a boundary.

Jason Holder to Marco Jansen, Fires it fuller and on middle. Marco Jansen clears the front leg away and heaves it off the inner half to long on for a run.

Jason Holder to Marcus Stoinis, From around the wicket, Holder pushes it across the right-hander on a length. Stoinis has already shuffled outside off and guides it to deep third for a single.

Mohammed Siraj to Marcus Stoinis, Not much, just a single. Low full toss, on off, Stoinis runs it along the ground to long off for a single.

Will the extra delivery cost GT?

Mohammed Siraj to Marcus Stoinis, WIDE! Bang on review from Stoinis. Short and wide outside off, Marcus Stoinis leaps a bit to slash it over point, but misses. He is disappointed that it hasn't been deemed a wide for height and goes upstairs for a review. Ball Tracking confirms that it is marginally above the head height. Stoinis' head height is 1.92 meters and the ball has passed at 1.96 meters. So, the on-field decision is overturned.

Is that a wide for height? The on-field umpire says no and Stoinis has challenged it by reviewing. The side-on angle comes up with the Ball Tracking. It shows that it is passing just above the head height. So it is called a wide.

Mohammed Siraj to Marcus Stoinis, FOUR! Finds the gap to perfection! Stoinis moves to 34 (27). Short and off pace, outside off. Marcus Stoinis hops on the toes, waits for the ball to arrive. He steers it away and finds the gap wide of backward point and beats the deep third fielder to his right for a boundary.

Mohammed Siraj to Marco Jansen, Attacks the stumps, on a good length. Marco Jansen backs away and knocks it to the right of mid off. Shubman Gill swoops across with a slide and cuts it off. Just a single.

Mohammed Siraj to Marcus Stoinis, At pace, this is short on off. Marcus Stoinis tries to swat it down the ground, but slices it over mid on. The ball lands in front of the long on fielder who picks it up on the bounce. One taken.

Mohammed Siraj to Marcus Stoinis, Deceptive bumper with pace taken off, outside off. Marcus Stoinis climbs the imaginary ladder to play the ramp shot, but is beaten by the lack of pace.

Mohammed Siraj to Marcus Stoinis, Pace off on a length, on middle. Marcus gets on the back foot and stabs it to extra cover.

STRATEGIC BREAK! What a time to get a wicket for the Titans and it is the in-form Suryansh Shedge who gets out. Punjab Kings have managed to drag their way out of trouble and with 4 overs remaining, they will now be targeting a score of around 160-170. GT will be pleased with that wicket but will hope to get a couple more, or else, Punjab could end up getting a defendable total on the board. With that said, Marco Jansen walks out to bat now. Also, Mohammed Siraj will bowl out. 3-0-20-2 so far are his bowling figures.

Kagiso Rabada to Suryansh Shedge, OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! Rabada shows his smarts and ends this 79-run partnership. Hits the hard length, just outside off at over 145 kph and gets a good bit of lift as well. The shot is on for Shedge to play the ramp shot. He stands tall, goes for it to hit it over short third, but is beaten by pace and edges it back to the keeper. Probably cramped for space too on that occasion. Buttler gathers it nicely above his head. Top knock from the young Suryansh Shedge. Punjab Kings are 126/6. Rabada ends his spell with excellent figures, reading 4-1-22-2.

Kagiso Rabada to Marcus Stoinis, Fuller one, on middle and leg. Stoinis stays put and dinks it through mid on for a single.

Kagiso Rabada to Suryansh Shedge, Slower one, into the pitch, short on off. Suryansh Shedge top edges on the pull shot, but the ball lands safely behind mid-wicket for a single.

Kagiso Rabada to Suryansh Shedge, Good heat! Shedge backs away looking for room and Rabada reads it immediately, firing a short ball angling in down leg. Suryansh goes hard at the slash but is beaten for pace and bounce.

Kagiso Rabada to Suryansh Shedge, Beaten! Good response from KG! Skids through the deck, a bit fullish and around off, nipping away. Shedge tries to slam it downtown, only to miss.

Kagiso Rabada to Suryansh Shedge, SIX! Picked up and dumped into the stands! Rabada errs in line and length, a juicy half-volley, drifting down leg. Suryansh Shedge gladly accepts the gift and whips it behind deep backward square leg for a six.

Kagiso Rabada replaces Manav Suthar.

Rashid Khan to Suryansh Shedge, There it is, a maiden IPL FIFTY for Suryansh Shedge and what a time to get it as well. Flatter one on middle, turns back in as well. Shedge waits back and works it away to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Rashid Khan to Marcus Stoinis, A tad short and wide outside off, Stoinis cuts it down to deep backward point and collcts a single.

Rashid Khan to Marcus Stoinis, Rashid immediately drags the length back and bowls it much straighter. Stoinis fails to get it away.

Rashid Khan to Marcus Stoinis, SIX! The Hulk joins the six-hitting party now. Tossed up, full and just outside off. Marcus Stoinis lunges to reach for it and lifts it back over the bowler's head for another biggie.

Rashid Khan to Suryansh Shedge, Drifted into the pads now, Shedge works it away wide of mid-wicket and turn the strike over.

Rashid Khan to Marcus Stoinis, Flatter length ball on off, dragged down to long on for a single by Stoinis.

Can this be the turning point for PBKS here? Rashid Khan is brought back on. 2-0-8-0 so far. He replaces Arshad Khan.

Manav Suthar to Suryansh Shedge, SIX! Wow, Suryansh Shedge has taken Manav Suthar to the cleaners, 27 off the over. Another juicy full toss, this time on middle. Suryansh Shedge whacks it across the line and over deep mid-wicket for a huge six.

Manav Suthar to Suryansh Shedge, FOUR! Oh, you can feel the momentum shift and the 100 is up for Punjab. Short and wide outside off, a bit slower too. Shedge reaches for it and does well to hit it well to the left of deep point to find the fence.

Manav Suthar to Suryansh Shedge, FOUR! That's easy pickings for the batter and the 50-run stand is up between these two. A juicy full toss, outside off. Shedge just eases it into the huge gap at covers and picks up a boundary.

Manav Suthar to Suryansh Shedge, SIX! That's gone deep into the stands. A bit too full and on middle, Suryansh Shedge clears the front leg and hits through the line, pummeling the ball back over the sightscreen for another biggie.

Manav Suthar to Suryansh Shedge, SIX! Suryansh Shedge has decided to counterattack now. Length ball around off, Shedge gets his hands out in front and drags the ball across a bit, getting a hold of it and it sails over long on for a six.

Manav Suthar to Marcus Stoinis, Fullish length on middle, sliding on, Stoinis eases it to the left of the bowler and gets it down to long off for a run.

Manav Suthar is brought into the attack now. He replaces Rashid Khan.

Arshad Khan to Marcus Stoinis, A single to end, but 15 runs come off it. Back of a length, angled across off, Stoinis runs it down to deep third and collects a single.

Arshad Khan to Marcus Stoinis, WIDE! Another wild delivery. Khan switches back to over the wicket and digs it in halfway down the pitch, and wide outside off. Left alone for a wide for height.

Arshad Khan to Marcus Stoinis, FOUR! That's a poor delivery. Shortish length, angled down leg, Stoinis just gets inside the line and helps it wide of the keeper into the fine leg fence for a boundary.

Arshad Khan to Suryansh Shedge, Arshad comes around the wicket and angles the ball well into the batter. Shedge backs away and flicks it behind square leg for a single.

Arshad Khan to Suryansh Shedge, Hard length over middle, Shedge skips down the pitch and lofts it over extra cover. Shubman Gill does well to chase it down as the batters pick up a couple of runs.

Arshad Khan to Suryansh Shedge, SIX! Shot of the game so far. Into the surface again, on the leg stump. This time, Shedge holds his shape and just heaves it off the hips and over deep square leg for a biggie. Surprisingly, it's the first one of the night as well.

Arshad Khan to Suryansh Shedge, Oh, a hack across the line from Suryansh Shedge but he misses. Heavy length, on leg stump, Shedge backs away and swings across the line but is beaten by the extra bounce.

Change? Yup. Arshad Khan (1-0-6-0) replaces Jason Holder.

Rashid Khan to Marcus Stoinis, Floated up again, at the stumps, Stoinis defends it off the front foot. Just the four singles in the over, then.

Rashid Khan to Marcus Stoinis, A bit more flighted, on off and middle, Stoinis lunges to defend.

Rashid Khan to Suryansh Shedge, A short wrong'un, turning into the batter. Suryansh Shedge rocks back and pulls it on the bounce to the deep mid-wicket fielder for a fourth straight single in the over.

Rashid Khan to Marcus Stoinis, Tossed up, full and straight, Marcus Stoinis clears the front leg and just strokes it along the turf through mid off for one more.

Rashid Khan to Suryansh Shedge, Flatter this time, on off, Shedge punches it with a straight bat and gets it down to long off again for another single.

Rashid Khan to Marcus Stoinis, Tossed up, very full and around off, hit on the up and down to long off for a run.

Jason Holder to Marcus Stoinis, Banged in well short now, Stoinis reaches out and pulls it down towards cow corner for a single to end the over, 11 off it.

Jason Holder to Marcus Stoinis, FOUR! That's stellar timing from Stoinis. Fractionally short again, not too wide outside off. Stoinis backs away a bit and glides it through backward point and the ball races away to the fence.

Jason Holder to Marcus Stoinis, FOUR! Unfortunate for the bowler. Shortish length, angled into the batter, Stoinis swivels and tries to pull but gets an under edge and the ball rolls away into the fine leg fence.

Jason Holder to Suryansh Shedge, Fuller now, around off, Suryansh Shedge lunges ahead and punches it to mid off, picking up a quick single as well.

Jason Holder to Marcus Stoinis, Similar line and length, a bit straighter this time. Stoinis rocks back and punches it towards extra cover for a single.

Jason Holder to Marcus Stoinis, Just back of a length, angled in towards off, Stoinis stays back and dabs it to backward point.

Rashid Khan to Marcus Stoinis, Overpitched on middle, Stoinis eases it down to long on for a single. Another quiet over. Rashid starts nicely. Just 4 runs from it. At halfway, Punjab Kings are 51/5.

Rashid Khan to Marcus Stoinis, Nice and full, just outside off. Stoinis tries to reverse sweep, but the ball rolls off the inner half to backward point.

Rashid Khan to Suryansh Shedge, Leg break, full on off, Suryansh Shedge steers it against the spin and through mid-wicket for a single. 50 UP FOR PUNJAB KINGS!

Rashid Khan to Marcus Stoinis, Another googly dished out, full on leg. Marcus leans on and drills it to long on for a single.

Rashid Khan to Marcus Stoinis, A googly now, touch fuller and spinning back on the leg stump. Marcus gets across and tries to paddle it fine on the leg side, but misses and is hit on the front pad. The ball deflects behind and the first slip fielder dives to his left to stop the ball. A slight appeal for LBW, but the umpire shakes his head. Doing too much to slide down leg.

Rashid Khan to Suryansh Shedge, Floated full and on middle and leg. Suryansh Shedge gets on the front foot and flicks it through mid-wicket for a single.

Rashid Khan to have a bowl now.

Jason Holder to Marcus Stoinis, On top of middle, Stoinis rides the bounce and punches it away to mid off.

Jason Holder to Marcus Stoinis, Inside edge saves Stoinis! Touch fuller and jagging back into the batter, on middle. Marcus Stoinis is pinned in the crease and plays around it to get hit on the back thigh. A massive appeal for LBW, but the umpire is unmoved. Holder is quite certain and Buttler runs towards the bowler to have a chat. The question is whether there is an inside edge. Holder doesn't think so and convinces Gill to take the review. However, the front-on replay shows that there is a clear deflection onto the pads. It is confirmed by the UltraEdge as it comes up with a huge spike. GT lose a review.

STRATEGIC BREAK! Jason Holder has that golden touch at the moment and with half the Punjab batting lineup already back in the hut, it's time for a breather. It has been a relentless spell of pressure from the GT pacers and the Punjab batters have had no answers. Shreyas Iyer did try for a bit to steady the ship for his side, but his dismissal now means that the home side is well and truly on top. Punjab might be forced to use the Impact Sub much sooner than they would have liked. With that said, Marcus Stoinis walks out to bat at number 7.

Jason Holder to Shreyas Iyer, OUT! CHOPPED ON! Wicket number 2 for Holder and this is just like a hammer blow on PBKS as they lose their skipper. Slams the deck hard and it nips back sharply into the batter over middle. Shreyas Iyer gets into a tangle as he is cramped for room. Is late to decide and goes for the dab to the off side, only to chop it back onto the stumps behind. He has a long stare at the pitch before making the long walk back. Shreyas has a stare at the pitch before walking away. Punjab Kings are 47/5.

Jason Holder to Suryansh Shedge, Good length, around off. Shedge steers it through the backward point and cover-point gap for a run.

Jason Holder to Shreyas Iyer, Puts an extra bit of effort to slam the ball, short on middle, slanting in. Iyer gets a bit across and pulls it along the ground for a single at deep mid-wicket.

Jason Holder to Shreyas Iyer, Bashes the length hard, outside off. Iyer stays back and knocks it straight to backward point.

Arshad Khan to Suryansh Shedge, Hits the deck hard, angling from leg to middle. Suryansh Shedge gets behind the line and blocks it down the pitch. Good start for Arshad as well. 6 runs from his first.

Arshad Khan to Suryansh Shedge, Straighter, fuller, on off. Suryansh Shedge presents full face of the bat and drives it straight to the mid off fielder.

Arshad Khan to Shreyas Iyer, Similar length, pitching just outside leg. Iyer presses back and nudges it behind square on the leg side for a run.

Arshad Khan to Suryansh Shedge, In-between length, on middle and leg. Shedge steers it through square leg for a single.

Arshad Khan to Suryansh Shedge, FOUR! Fortuitous! Hard length, just outside off, angling away further. Suryansh Shedge is rushed on the pull shot but gets a thick inside edge. The ball rolls past the stumps to the left of Buttler who dives and half stops, but cannot take the sting out of it as it runs to the fence behind.

Arshad Khan to Suryansh Shedge, From over the stump. Length ball, on middle. Suryansh Shedge stays put and bunts it back to the bowler.

Double bowling change? Or will Kagiso Rabada bowl out here? It is a bowling change as Arshad Khan is introduced into the attack now.

Jason Holder to Suryansh Shedge, Back of a length, on top of off, Suryansh Shedge presses back and eases it through cover-point for an easy run. Another successful over for GT. Just 4 runs and a wicket from it.

Jason Holder to Shreyas Iyer, Well-directed short ball at chest height. Shreyas swivels and pulls it to the left of mid-wicket for a single.

Jason Holder to Suryansh Shedge, Good length ball, on top of off. Iyer plays it late off the back foot and runs it wide of backward point for a single.

The Punjab batting lineup is in tatters right now. Suryansh Shedge is the new batter in.

Jason Holder to Nehal Wadhera, OUT! EDGED AND TAKEN! Proper Test match length from Holder and he gets the reward. Punjab Kings are in deep trouble. Holder bashes the length hard, and angles it across the batter, outside off. Nehal Wadhera has a loose poke at it, playing it away from his body without moving his feet. An outside edge is found the ball flies flat to the left of Butter. Jos dives full-length to his left and gathers it nicely in his gloves. Iyer is stranded at one end and needs some stability from the other end. PBKS are 36/4.

Jason Holder to Nehal Wadhera, On a length, around the leg stump. Nehal Wadhera shimmies down the track to work it across, but is cramped for space and the ball beats the inside edge. It goes off the thigh pad and flies over the sticks and rolls to the keeper.

Jason Holder to Shreyas Iyer, Angles it onto the pads, on a length. Shreyas tucks it to deep backward square leg for a single.

Wow, what a Powerplay for the bowling side. There does seem to be something in it for the new-ball bowlers. Jason Holder now comes into the attack, replacing Mohammed Siraj.

Kagiso Rabada to Nehal Wadhera, Back of a length, outside off. Nehal stabs it away to the backward point region. The fielder there dives to his right and makes a sharp stop. A WICKET MAIDEN from Rabada to wrap the Powerplay. Punjab Kings are 35/3.

Kagiso Rabada to Nehal Wadhera, Hits the deck hard and angles it outside off, Nehal Wadhera has a feel for it, but prevents himself and drags the bat inside the line to leave.

Kagiso Rabada to Nehal Wadhera, Excellent variety from Rabada! Follows up with a 148.8 kph bumper, over the leg stump. Nehal Wadhera is taken by surprise, and just manages to dodge under the projectile.

Kagiso Rabada to Nehal Wadhera, Corker! Back of a length, straightening off the pitch on off. Nehal Wadhera hangs back and tries to defend, but the ball flirts past the outside edge on its way to the keeper.

A third wicket inside the Powerplay for GT. Nehal Wadhera walks out to bat now, at number 5.

Kagiso Rabada to Prabhsimran Singh, OUT! MISTIMED AND TAKEN EASILY! A rare occasion where both the Punjab openers have failed to make any impact. Rabada shines. He hits the hard length, keeping the line of attack around the off pole and gets a decent lift as well. Prabhsimran Singh stands tall and tries to loft it over the cover fielder, but gets the ball high on the bat. Goes through the shot, but does not get the timing at all. Airs it away and offers a simple catching practice to Manav Suthar at cover. PBKS are 35/3.

Kagiso Rabada to Prabhsimran Singh, Beaten! Back of a length, kicking up around off. Prabhsimran Singh arches back and tries to uppercut it over point but the ball zips over his angled bat.

Change? No. Rabada to bowl the third as well. 2-0-14-0 so far.

Mohammed Siraj to Shreyas Iyer, FOUR! A calculated risk from Iyer and he gets the desired result. Good length, around the top of the stumps, and Iyer smacks it up and over wide mid off for a boundary.

Mohammed Siraj to Shreyas Iyer, A third dot ball on the trot, and Iyer desperately wants to get off strike here. Good length, angled in towards middle and leg, Iyer nudges it just past thestrip in the off side and wants the single but Singh sends him back again.

Mohammed Siraj to Shreyas Iyer, Siraj drags the length back now, bowling it back of a length over off and middle. Iyer gets inside the line and pats it down to mid on.

Mohammed Siraj to Shreyas Iyer, Not full enough to play that shot. Pitched up on off stump, Shreyas Iyer drives through the line but gets it high on the bat and miscues it towards mid off.

Mohammed Siraj to Shreyas Iyer, FOUR! Whipped away from Iyer. Full again, on off and darts back in. Iyer gets a smidge inside the line and forces it flat and uppishly between mid on and mid-wicket for a boundary.

Mohammed Siraj to Shreyas Iyer, Fuller than a good length, slipped back in towards middle stump at 142.9 kph. Iyer plays it late and pushes it out to covers.

Will Siraj get the third over in a row? Oh, yes. He will. 2-0-12-2 are his bowling figures so far.

Kagiso Rabada to Shreyas Iyer, Bashing the hard length again, Iyer taps it down behind square on the off side and pinches a run. Just four runs off the over.

Kagiso Rabada to Shreyas Iyer, Back of a length again, on off, Iyer chops it down just past off stump and looks for a quick single but is sent back.

Kagiso Rabada to Prabhsimran Singh, Hard length, in and around off. Singh lets the ball come onto him before angling it behind point for a single.

Kagiso Rabada to Prabhsimran Singh, Tight bowling again. Just back of a length, slanted back in from outside off. Singh looks to cut but chops it down towards the gully region.

Kagiso Rabada to Prabhsimran Singh, Well, that's a wild swing from Prabhsimran. KG pitches it full and around the fifth stump line. Singh looks to lift it over long off but ends up connecting only with thin air.

Halt in play. It seems like the straps on Iyer's batting pads have come off while diving, and he gets rid of both of them. A new pair is on its way. Good to continue now.

Kagiso Rabada to Shreyas Iyer, TWO WIDES! A risky run. Hard length, angling down leg, Iyer leaves it alone and Buttler dives to his left, making a half stop. The ball deflects to Sudharsan, who picks and has a shy at the batting end, but misses. The ball rolls all the way to the non-striker's end and had the throw hit there, Shreyas would have been in huge trouble. To add to it, Prabhsimran Singh calls Iyer for a quick single as well and probably the Punjab skipper didn't like that call, a bit unnecessary at this stage of the game.

Kagiso Rabada to Shreyas Iyer, BEAUTY! Pitched up fuller and just outside off. This one angles in but then leaves the right-hander off the deck. Iyer goes fishing for the drive, but the ball zips past the outside edge.

Mohammed Siraj to Shreyas Iyer, Siraj goes full and angles it into the pads, looking to beat the bat. However, Iyer is up to the task and clips it down to long leg for a single. After 3 overs, PBKS are 23/2.

Mohammed Siraj to Prabhsimran Singh, A good hustle from the batters. Good length on off, darts back in. Singh stays leg side of the ball and punches it out to extra cover for a quick single.

Mohammed Siraj to Shreyas Iyer, Back of a length and on off, Iyer presses back and punches it through the cover region for one more.

Mohammed Siraj to Prabhsimran Singh, Straighter in line, on the pads, and worked away to deep backward square leg for a single by Prabhsimran.

Mohammed Siraj to Prabhsimran Singh, Short of a good length and around off, Prabhsimran Singh goes for the drive but gets it uppishly and into the gap at covers for a couple of runs.

Mohammed Siraj to Prabhsimran Singh, Another lovely delivery, this one stays a shade low as well. Good-length delivery, seaming away from off and middle. Singh pushes at it but gets beaten past the outside edge and the ball misses the off stump by a whisker as well.

Kagiso Rabada to Shreyas Iyer, A jaffa to finish the over. Good length again, on off, the ball straightens off the deck and bounces steeply, beating Iyer past the outside edge.

Kagiso Rabada to Prabhsimran Singh, Hard length, darted into the pads, Singh fails to tuck it away. The ball goes off the pads and behind square leg for a leg bye.

Kagiso Rabada to Prabhsimran Singh, Extra bounce! Good length, on off, shoots off the deck and Prabhsimran Singh gets taken aback, getting hit on the gloves.

Kagiso Rabada to Prabhsimran Singh, Length ball outside off, driven wide of deep third but Siraj tidies up to his right in the deep and keeps it down to two runs.

Kagiso Rabada to Prabhsimran Singh, FOUR! Streaky but will do nicely for Singh. Back of a length and in the channel, Singh rocks back and punches but the ball flies off the outer half of the blade and into the vacant third man fence.

Kagiso Rabada to Prabhsimran Singh, FOUR! Into the gap! On a good length, outside the off stump, Prabhsimran Singh hits it through the line and creams it through the cover and point gap for a boundary.

Top-drawer opening over from Siraj. Kagiso Rabada will operate from the opposite end.

Mohammed Siraj to Shreyas Iyer, What an over to start the game, 6 runs and a couple of wickets off it. Good length around the top of off, Iyer hangs back and watchfully keeps it out in front of point.

Mohammed Siraj to Shreyas Iyer, FOUR! That's glorious from Iyer. Short of a good length, outside off, Iyer rocks back and slams it through the gap at covers for a boundary, the first one of the game.

Mohammed Siraj to Shreyas Iyer, No hat-trick! Back of a length and outside off. Shreyas Iyer gets on his toes and dabs it down towards point.

What a sensational start for the Titans through Siraj. And got to say, a brilliant decision by the on-field umpire amid the deafening noise from the crowd. In walks the PBKS captain, Shreyas Iyer, at number 4 and will face the Hat Trick ball.

Mohammed Siraj to Cooper Connolly, OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! A peach of a delivery and Mohammed Siraj is on a hat-trick in the very first over. This is bowled on a good length and on off, the ball shapes back in beautifully. Connolly has a push at it but the ball zips past the inside edge. There's a prolonged appeal for a caught behind and eventually, the umpire raises his finger. Cooper Connolly seems uncertain and has a chat with Prabhsimran Singh before finally taking the review. UltraEdge comes up and shows a thin spike when the ball is next to the inside edge. Connolly has to walk back and GT are up and about as one.

Huge blow for PBKS as the lethal opening pair is separated in just two balls. Siraj continues to dominate in the Powerplay. Cooper Connolly is in at number 3.

Mohammed Siraj to Priyansh Arya, OUT! CAUGHT! Siraj gets his man on the second chance and Punjab Kings are already 2/1 after just 2 deliveries. Siraj dishes out another short-pitched delivery, bowling it wide outside the off stump. Priyansh Arya fails to resist the temptation and flat-bats it wide of deep backward point. Nishant Sindhu, the debutant, scampers across to his left and takes a fine sliding catch.

Mohammed Siraj to Priyansh Arya, Oh, what a valiant effort from Jos Buttler. Mohammed Siraj and GT almost get a wicket on the first ball. Siraj begins with a shortish delivery over off and middle. Priyansh Arya looks to pull but gets a top edge that flies down towards fine leg, but fairly fine. The keeper runs after it and puts in a big dive but the ball falls out of reach. Two taken.

All set to get going in Ahmedabad. It's been a scorching day, but a bit of evening breeze out there might bring some kind of relief for the spectators and players. The two umpires walk out to the middle. Shubman Gill leads his troops out to the park as the Titans spread to take their respective fielding spots. The destructive opening pair of Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya make their way to the crease. Mohammed Siraj has the new ball in hand and is raring to go. Arya will face the first ball. There's a slip in place. The countdown is done and it's time to play. Here we go!

The Knights dominate the Orange Army - Well, another pretty one-sided contest, which has just concluded, in Hyderabad. Kolkata Knight Riders have chased down 166 with plenty of comfort, winning by 7 wickets to halt the SRH juggernaut. Three wins on the trot now for KKR. It takes them to 7 points and they remain in the eighth position. For the Sunrisers, this is their fourth defeat but they remain in a very strong position, currently third on the table with 12 points.

The captain of the Punjab Kings - Shreyas Iyer, on the pitch, says it looks beautiful with a little bit of grass on it. Adds that it is a black soiled surface that is a little unusual. He adds that Punjab have played a game on this surface before. On the team changes, he confirms Xavier Bartlett and Vijaykumar Vyshak come back in the side. On the intensity of the league, he says it is not frustration but an intense tournament where they have to travel and come up fresh for every game. He calls it just another game and says Punjab will try to execute to the best of their abilities.

The captain of the Gujarat Titans - Shubman Gill says that they will bowl first because they have been chasing well and their bowling has also been top-notch. Adds that how Rahul Tewatia batted and finished things off in the last game was good to see. On the pitch, Gill says that there is a green tinge to it. Feels that in a tournament like the IPL, you need to peak at the right time, which he feels they are doing and hopes that this is a perfect game for them. Ends by informing that Nishant Sindhu is set to make his debut.

Impact sub options for GT - Rahul Tewatia, Glenn Phillips, Anuj Rawat, Kumar Kushagra, Kulwant Khejroliya.

Gujarat Titans (Playing XI) - Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (C), Jos Buttler (WK), Nishant Sindhu (On debut for GT and in for Shahrukh Khan), Washington Sundar, Jason Holder, Rashid Khan, Arshad Khan, Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj, Manav Suthar.

Impact sub options for PBKS - Harpreet Brar, Vishnu Vinod, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Musheer Khan, Mitchell Owen.

Punjab Kings (Playing XI) - Prabhsimran Singh (WK), Priyansh Arya, Cooper Connolly, Shreyas Iyer (C), Suryansh Shedge, Nehal Wadhera, Marcus Stoinis, Marco Jansen, Xavier Bartlett (In for Lockie Ferguson), Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal.

Shubman Gill gives it a flick and Shreyas calls Tails, but it lands as a Head. Gujarat Titans elect to BOWL first.

Time for the coin flip - It is coming to toss time in Ahmedabad. And the latest update from the GT huddle is that Nishant Sindhu has got his debut cap and is all set to play in this match. Both the captains, Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer are ready in the middle. Both look in a pretty good mood sharing smiles around. The ever-lively Danny Morrison is ready to lead the proceedings.

Coach's perspective - The Head Coach of Punjab Kings, Ricky Ponting, is up for a quick chat. On what the messaging was after the first loss of the season, Ponting shares that the talks were very positive. Details that a lot of these games are decided by thin margins and one or two balls either way can change the course of the game. Mentions that PBKS' batting performance in the last game was pretty good enough as they posted 222 on the board, but is quick to accept that they made a few errors in the execution with the ball. Mentions that the bowlers in this format of the game are under so much pressure that you need to cut them a bit of slack. Says that their performances, barring the last game, have been really strong across departments and hopes that they can bounce back in this one, giving a strong response. On being asked whether they have done something special to address the bowling concerns ahead of this game, Ponting nods and shares that they went back to the drawing board and analysed what went wrong, with the focus on making slight adjustments. Adds that the hardest thing for the bowlers in this tournament is that the lengths are changing from venue to venue. Details that when you break down the data, you understand how crucial bowling is on certain lengths at different venues. Says that the boys have worked hard on those adjustments and mentions that since it is a black-soil surface, it will probably have a good bit of bounce as compared to the previous game in Mullanpur. Credits the spinners by singling out Yuzvendra Chahal and says that he was outstanding in the last game, and Brar also did a good job. Says if these guys continue performing like that in this game, hopefully they will be on the right side of the result. On the recent catching issues, Ponting says it is one of those things that can be hard to address and that sometimes the more you talk about it, the harder it gets for the players. He mentions that they try to reinforce the hard work already put in, and that the players who dropped catches have probably done more catching practice than anyone else. Stresses that they have pulled them aside for individual work and hopes they hold on to everything tonight.

PITCH REPORT - Abhinav Mukund is inspecting the deck. He starts by saying that it is Pitch number 5 that is being used today. Talks a bit more about the diameters of the ground and says that the square boundaries are 70 meters and 64 meters on either side, and it is a 74-meter hit down the ground. Simon Katich joins him and gives insights on the playing surface. He starts by highlighting that two gun leg spinners are on show tonight and the average degree of turn on this pitch is the highest here, but the quicks will have a role to play as well. Katich adds that there are a few cracks, and it is a bit like a jigsaw puzzle and expects there to be a bit of movement with the new ball. Mukund informs that teams generally choose to bowl first, but the team batting first has won more matches at this venue since the last season. Katich ends by saying that both teams will still look to chase, as it is their strength.

Strolling to a victory - While we wait for the toss from this clash, down south in Hyderabad, Kolkata Knight Riders are in a very comfortable position in the afternoon game. Chasing 166 against Sunrisers Hyderabad, as per the latest update, KKR need just 33 runs off the last five overs with 8 wickets in hand. If they win, which looks highly likely, this will be a hat-trick of wins for KKR, and it will also bring an end to a five-match winning streak for the Sunrisers. You can follow all the updates from that game by switching tabs.

Under the scanner - Punjab Kings' bowling was put to the sword in Jaipur vs RR, and failing to defend 222 has left some uncomfortable questions in the dressing room. Arshdeep Singh is the name in the spotlight. He is getting wickets, and that counts for something, but 1/68 in 4 overs and a season economy of almost 11 so far is a difficult combination to overlook for a bowler carrying the weight of this attack on his shoulders. For Gujarat Titans, Jason Holder's inclusion has plugged some gaps and added genuine depth with both bat and ball. Rahul Tewatia got some game time last time around, but the middle order is still finding its rhythm as a unit. They are yet to chase 200 or more this season, and against a Punjab Kings side that can explode at any moment, tonight could be the night that question gets answered. All in all, it’s shaping up to be an absolute cracking contest. Stay tuned for the toss and team updates.

Spicing up the ladder - If you look at the points table, there is a clear gulf between the top five and the bottom five. Gujarat Titans sit right at the dividing line, fifth on the table, one foot in each half. Their results from here could have consequences well beyond their own campaign. What is encouraging for GT is the timing of their ascent. The pieces are falling into place, slowly but surely, and they are finding form at exactly the right moment in the season. Punjab Kings, on the other hand, have spent most of IPL 2026 making the rest of the field look ordinary. The table toppers have rarely been tested, but Jaipur brought them their first real setback, ending an unbeaten streak that had begun to look unassailable. They will want to put that right, and quickly.

Contrasting T20 philosophies - Two teams, two completely different schools of thought. Gujarat Titans are a bit old-fashioned in the best possible sense, a side that believes in traditionality and patience. Punjab Kings operate on an entirely different frequency. They are known to start in fifth gear, bat without fear and never once look for the brake pedal. The 46th match of IPL 2026 brings us back to Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium. On that note, hello and welcome to our coverage. Hope you all are having a cracking weekend. If not, worry not. We are here for you with the dopamine dose.

... MATCH DAY ...

Battle for the playoffs continues - Match 46 of the Indian Premier League 2026 brings together Gujarat Titans and Punjab Kings at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, in what is shaping up to be a crucial clash. With the tournament entering its decisive phase, both teams are fighting for playoff positioning. PBKS sit at the top of the table with a strong win record, while GT are placed mid-table and are itching to find some consistency to break into the top four. For Punjab, a win would further solidify their grip on a playoff berth. For Gujarat, this match could define their season trajectory - either solidifying their position in the top of the table or pushing them into a must-win situation going forward. Who has the momentum coming into this clash? Punjab Kings have arguably been the most consistent side this season, winning six of their first eight matches and carrying strong momentum despite a recent loss. Their balanced lineup and ability to win in different conditions make them formidable opponents. Gujarat Titans, on the other hand, have had a mixed campaign with five wins in nine matches. While they have shown flashes of brilliance, including recent victories, their inconsistency, especially at home, remains a concern. Head-to-head record - The rivalry between GT and PBKS has been evenly contested. The overall head-to-head stands level at 3-3, underlining how closely matched these teams are. However, recent trends slightly favor Punjab Kings, who have won three out of the last four encounters between the two sides and even edged GT earlier this season. What about the pitch and conditions? The Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad typically offers a batting-friendly surface, with good bounce and pace aiding stroke play. Scores in the range of 175–200 are considered competitive, though bowlers, especially those who hit the deck hard, can extract assistance. Spinners are also expected to play a role in the middle overs, making this a well-balanced surface where both bat and ball can influence the game. Team strengths - GT’s core revolves around Shubman Gill, who anchors the innings, alongside the explosive Sai Sudharsan and Jos Buttler at the top. Their bowling attack is spearheaded by Rashid Khan and Kagiso Rabada, giving them both control and wicket-taking ability. Plus, the inclusion of Jason Holder has given them that three-dimensional ability in a single player and his game-winning performance against RCB showed just that. PBKS, on the other hand, boast a dynamic batting unit led by Shreyas Iyer and an explosive opening pairing of Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh, supported by all-rounders like Marcus Stoinis and Marco Jansen. Their bowling is strengthened by Arshdeep Singh and leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal, who has been key in the middle overs. Form - (Last 5 completed matches, recent first) - GT - WWLLW | PBKS - LWWWW. Predictions? This contest pits Punjab’s consistency and explosiveness against Gujarat’s firepower and recent momentum. PBKS appear slightly ahead due to their overall form, depth, and superior number of wins, but GT’s top-order strength and bowling attack make them dangerous, especially if they dominate the Powerplay. Expect a high-scoring, closely fought encounter where small margins, particularly in the first six overs and death overs, could decide the outcome. Who are you backing for the win?