The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 has reached a fever pitch as the Gujarat Titans (GT) take on the table-topping Punjab Kings (PBKS) in Match 46 at the iconic Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad this Sunday. With the playoff race tightening, every tactical move carries immense weight.
The toss saw GT skipper Shubman Gill opt to bowl first, citing the team’s recent success in chasing and the momentum of a top-notch bowling attack. However, the biggest talking point emerged from the team sheet: the absence of seasoned finisher Rahul Tewatia from the starting XI, replaced by debutant Nishant Sindhu.
Why Rahul Tewatia is not playing in starting XI against Punjab Kings in today’s match
During the toss, Gujarat Titans captain Gill opted to bowl first, citing the team’s recent success while chasing. While he was full of praise for the middle order’s recent performances, specifically mentioning Tewatia’s magnificent finishing in the previous game, he confirmed a significant tactical shift. The primary reason Tewatia is not in the starting XI is the strategic debut of Sindhu.
The 22-year-old Haryana all-rounder, Sindhu, has been handed his maiden IPL cap to provide a different balance to the spin-bowling department and middle-order stability against the table-topping Punjab Kings. However, it is important to note that Tewatia hasn’t been “dropped” in the traditional sense; he remains the focal point of the Impact Substitute list. By naming him as a sub, GT can utilize an extra specialist bowler while they are in the field and swap in the veteran finisher during the run-chase, effectively maximizing their tactical flexibility on an Ahmedabad pitch that Gill believes will offer early assistance to the bowlers.
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Playing XI and impact substitutes of both the teams
The lineups for this high-stakes encounter reflect the evolving strategies of the 2026 season. Punjab Kings, led by Shreyas Iyer, have opted for a balanced side, while the Titans have leaned into their bench strength.
Punjab Kings (Playing XI): Prabhsimran Singh (w), Priyansh Arya, Cooper Connolly, Shreyas Iyer (c), Marcus Stoinis, Suryansh Shedge, Nehal Wadhera, Marco Jansen, Xavier Bartlett, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal.
Impact Substitutes: Harpreet Brar, Vishnu Vinod, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Musheer Khan, Mitchell Owen.
Gujarat Titans (Playing XI): Shubman Gill (c), Sai Sudharsan, Jos Buttler (w), Washington Sundar, Nishant Sindhu (Debut), Jason Holder, Rashid Khan, Arshad Khan, Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj, Manav Suthar.
Impact Substitutes: Rahul Tewatia, Glenn Phillips, Anuj Rawat, Kulwant Khejroliya, Kumar Kushagra.
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