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Gujarat Titans Kick Off IPL 2026 Prep with Hayden in Ahmedabad

The Gujarat Titans have officially begun their pre-season training in Ahmedabad for the upcoming IPL 2026 season, guided by new batting coach Matthew Hayden. The team, led by Shubman Gill, will open its campaign against the Punjab Kings on March 31. Their strong performance in the 2025 season, driven by key batters, saw them reach the playoffs. The BCCI has announced the first-phase schedule for the tournament, which runs from March 28 to April 12.

Key Points: Gujarat Titans Start IPL 2026 Practice Under Hayden

  • Training begins under coach Matthew Hayden
  • Schedule includes opener vs Punjab Kings
  • Team reached 2025 playoffs
  • Full 2026 squad announced
2 min read

Gujarat Titans begin their IPL 2026 practice in Ahmedabad

Gujarat Titans begin IPL 2026 training in Ahmedabad. Get schedule, squad details, and insights from their 2025 playoff run.

"One of the overarching reasons for the Titans' journey to the playoffs was their top-order batters' sublime form. - Report"

Ahmedabad, March 18

Gujarat Titans commenced their preparations for the upcoming Indian Premier League 2026 season on Wednesday, with the newly-appointed batting coach Matthew Hayden guiding the team during the training session.

Gujarat Titans players Sai Sudharshan, Anuj Rawat, Washington Sundar and Shahrukh Khan, among others, participated in the team's training session on March 18.

With the schedule for the first phase of the IPL 2026 season announced, the Shubman Gill-led Gujarat Titans are set to play their campaign opener against the Punjab Kings in Mullanpur on March 31. Then, the Gujarat Titans are scheduled to play their first home game of the season on April 4 against the Rajasthan Royals at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

After the Rajasthan match, GT will head to Delhi to face off against the Delhi Capitals at Arun Jaitley Stadium on April 8. Then, the Gujarat-based franchise is slated to lock horns against Lucknow Super Giants on April 12 at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow.

Gujarat Titans reached the IPL 2025 playoffs but faced a defeat at the hands of the Mumbai Indians in the Eliminator clash. One of the overarching reasons for the Titans' journey to the playoffs was their top-order batters' sublime form. Sai Sudharsan (759 runs), Shubman Gill (650 runs) and Jos Buttler (538 runs) shone and made sure they helped Gujarat reach the playoffs.

Notably, since making their debut in 2022, the Gujarat Titans have been among the most consistent teams in the IPL, reaching the playoffs in three of their first four seasons and winning the title in their inaugural campaign.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced the schedule for the first phase of the IPL 2026, to be played from March 28 to April 12, 2026.

The 19th edition of the biggest T20 league will commence when defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) host Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.

Gujarat Titans full IPL 2026 squad:

Shubman Gill (c), Sai Sudharsan, Kumar Kushagra, Anuj Rawat, Jos Buttler, Nishant Sindhu, Washington Sundar, Arshad Khan, Shahrukh Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Ishant Sharma, Gurnoor Singh Brar, Rashid Khan, Manav Suthar, Sai Kishore, Jayant Yadav, Ashok Sharma, Jason Holder, Tom Banton, Prithvi Raj, Luke Wood.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Exciting times for GT fans! The schedule is tough early on, but if our bowlers like Siraj and Rabada fire, we can go all the way. Just hoping the middle order with Shahrukh and Tewatia steps up this season.
R
Rohit P
Consistency is key, and GT has shown that since 2022. But honestly, I'm a bit worried about the bowling depth beyond the main pacers. We need Rashid Khan to be fully fit and in form from game one.
S
Sarah B
As a neutral fan living in India, it's fantastic to see such a well-run franchise. Shubman Gill's captaincy will be interesting to watch. The opener against Punjab is going to be a cracker!
V
Vikram M
Good to see practice starting. But I have one respectful criticism: the article mentions the 2025 playoff loss but doesn't analyze *why* we lost to MI. Was it bowling in the death overs? We need to fix those small margins to win the trophy again.
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Nisha Z
So much local talent! Sai Sudharsan is a gem. Washington Sundar's all-round skills will be crucial. Hoping for a packed Narendra Modi Stadium for the home game. The atmosphere there is just something else! 💙

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