IPL 2026: Unchanged RR elect to bat first against GT, Sai Kishore returns for Qualifier 2
New Chandigarh, May 29
An unchanged Rajasthan Royals won the toss and elected to bat first against the Gujarat Titans in the Qualifier 2 clash at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh on Friday. There was a re-spin of the toss by match referee Prakash Bhatt as the call wasn't loud enough from RR captain Riyan Parag.
The winner of this clash will meet Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the final, to be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday. RR arrive in Qualifier 2 after beating Sunrisers Hyderabad by 47 runs in the Eliminator, while GT come in after suffering a 92-run loss to RCB in Qualifier 1 in Dharamshala.
After winning the toss, RR skipper Riyan Parag said, "Pretty much the same wicket, but I think it slows down at the backend, and we have the bowlers for it. We just need to play better cricket for 40 overs, and the best team will win. The support staff have been incredible about recoveries and injuries."
GT skipper Shubman Gill said left-arm spinner R Sai Kishore is back in the playing eleven in place of Kulwant Khejroliya. "We would have batted first as well. Forty overs of cricket already on this wicket, and it won't behave differently. We have everything to play for; it's a now or never situation."
Playing XIs:
Gujarat Titans: B Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (captain), Jos Buttler (wk), Nishant Sindhu, Washington Sundar, Jason Holder, Rashid Khan, R Sai Kishore, Kagiso Rabada, Prasidh Krishna, and Mohammed Siraj
Impact substitutes: Rahul Tewatia, Glenn Phillips, Anuj Rawat, Kumar Kushagra, and Arshad Khan
Rajasthan Royals: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Riyan Parag (captain), Donovan Ferreira, Dasun Shanaka, Ravindra Jadeja, Jofra Archer, Nandre Burger, Brijesh Sharma, and Yash Raj Punja
Impact substitutes: Shubham Dubey, Sushant Mishra, Aman Rao Perala, Ravi Bishnoi, and Tushar Deshpande
— IANS
Reader Comments
Sach mai, Riyan Parag's captaincy is getting better and better. That re-spin of toss was funny - "loud enough"! 😂 But seriously, GT's bowling attack with Rabada, Siraj, and Rashid is scary. Should be a cracker of a match.
No Tewatia in playing XI? That impact sub rule ruining the natural flow. But bringing back Sai Kishore is correct - left arm spinner on this wicket will be key. GT missing a proper Indian batter though.
Eh, I'm more excited for the final in Ahmedabad! 🏏 Narendra Modi Stadium is going to be packed. But first, hope RR wins so my Jaiswal bhai can show his class. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi also looking good - him and Jaiswal opening is like watching poetry.
Honest opinion: RR's batting is too dependent on Jaiswal and Parag. If they lose early wickets, they'll crumble. GT have the better bowling attack on paper - Rashid vs RR middle order is going to be the battle. Let's see if Parag's gamble pays off.
As an Australian living in India, this IPL has been amazing. Jos Buttler back at his old stomping ground (though he's playing for GT now) adds spice. Expecting a 200+ total if RR bat well. The New Chandigarh stadium looks world-class btw.
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