Check GT vs RR Qualifier 2 full preview with head-to-head stats, probable playing XIs, key battles, weather and prediction
Chandigarh: Gujarat Titans and Rajasthan Royals will face each other in Qualifier 2 of IPL 2026 at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur, New Chandigarh. The winning team will reach the IPL 2026 final and face Royal Challengers Bengaluru, while the losing team will be knocked out of the tournament.
Gujarat Titans are coming into this match after losing to RCB in Qualifier 1. Still, GT got another chance because they finished in the top two in the league stage. Rajasthan Royals, meanwhile, are full of confidence after beating Sunrisers Hyderabad by 47 runs in the Eliminator.
RR also have a very good record at the Mullanpur stadium this season as they have won all their matches there.
Head to Head Record
Gujarat Titans have performed better than Rajasthan Royals in past IPL meetings. Both teams have played 10 matches against each other so far. GT won seven matches, while RR managed to win only three victories.
GT had also defeated Rajasthan Royals in both Qualifier 1 and the final of IPL 2022. However, this season both teams won one match each during the league stage. Rajasthan Royals defeated GT in Ahmedabad, while Gujarat later took revenge with a strong win in Jaipur.
Also Read: RR Beat SRH By 47 Runs To Reach IPL 2026 Qualifier 2
Pitch Report
The Mullanpur pitch has helped batters throughout IPL 2026. Many high-scoring matches have taken place at this stadium this season. The pitch gives good bounce and pace, which helps batters play their shots freely.
Fast bowlers may get some swing and movement with the new ball in the beginning, but batting becomes easier as the match goes on. The average first innings score at this venue has crossed 190 this season, and teams have already scored more than 200 runs many times.
Bowlers like Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj and Jofra Archer could get early help from the pitch, while spinners may become important in the middle overs. Dew may also play a small role in the second innings.
Weather Report
The weather in Mullanpur is expected to stay partly cloudy during the match. The temperature may remain between 30 and 34 degrees Celsius, while humidity could stay around 35 to 50 percent.
There is a small chance of rain, but a full match is still expected. Wind speed may stay around 10 to 15 kmph. Officials have also kept a reserve day in case rain interrupts the match badly.
Predicted XIs
Gujarat Titans
- Shubman Gill (c)
- Sai Sudharsan
- Jos Buttler
- Nishant Sindhu
- Rahul Tewatia
- Washington Sundar
- Jason Holder
- Rashid Khan
- Mohammed Siraj
- Kagiso Rabada
- Prasidh Krishna
Rajasthan Royals
- Yashasvi Jaiswal
- Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
- Dhruv Jurel (wk)
- Riyan Parag (c)
- Shimron Hetmyer
- Donovan Ferreira
- Ravindra Jadeja
- Jofra Archer
- Ravi Bishnoi
- Nandre Burger
- Sandeep Sharma
Key Players to Watch
Shubman Gill will be very important for Gujarat Titans. The GT captain has scored runs consistently this season and will look to play a big innings in this important match.
Sai Sudharsan has also been one of GT’s most reliable batters this season. His opening partnership with Gill could become very important against RR’s bowling attack.
For Rajasthan Royals, young batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has become one of the biggest stars of IPL 2026. He played a stunning knock of 97 runs from just 29 balls against Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Eliminator. He is also leading the Orange Cap race with more than 680 runs this season. His fearless batting has helped RR many times this year.
Jofra Archer’s pace and bounce could trouble GT batters, especially in the powerplay overs. RR will also expect good performances from Ravindra Jadeja and Ravi Bishnoi in the middle overs.
For Gujarat Titans, Rashid Khan remains the biggest match-winner with the ball. If he controls RR’s middle order, GT could gain a strong advantage in the match.
Big Battles to Watch in the Match
Fans can expect some exciting player battles in this game. The battle between Shubman Gill and Jofra Archer could be very important. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi against Mohammed Siraj is also expected to grab attention.
Rashid Khan versus Riyan Parag and Jos Buttler versus Ravindra Jadeja could also play a major role in deciding the result.
Earlier this season, Sooryavanshi attacked Siraj aggressively before Siraj finally dismissed him with a short ball. Fans will be excited to watch their battle once again.
Where to Watch
The match will start at 7:30 PM IST. Fans can watch the live telecast on Star Sports Network, while live streaming will be available on JioHotstar.
Match Prediction
Both teams have strong batting and bowling line-ups, but Rajasthan Royals look slightly ahead because of their recent form and excellent record at Mullanpur this season.
Still, Gujarat Titans have more experience in important IPL matches and have performed well against RR in the past playoffs.
If Gujarat’s top-order batters perform well and Rashid Khan controls the middle overs, GT can reach the final again. But if Vaibhav Sooryavanshi continues his brilliant form and RR’s fast bowlers take early wickets, Rajasthan Royals could win this close contest.
Fans can expect a thrilling match that may go till the final overs.
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