IPL 2026, GT vs RR: Why is Shubman Gill not playing vs Rajasthan Royals?
Gujarat Titans missed captain Shubman Gill due to a muscle spasm, with Rashid Khan leading in his absence. Rajasthan Royals, led by Riyan Parag, chose to bat first on a high-scoring pitch. While Rajasthan entered with momentum, Gujarat aimed to recover from a poor start, with added pressure on their batting lineup without Gill.
NEW DELHI: Gujarat Titans were dealt a surprise blow ahead of their IPL 2026 clash against Rajasthan Royals as regular captain Shubman Gill missed the match due to a muscle spasm. In his absence, Rashid Khan stepped in to lead the side, assuring fans that the issue wasn’t serious and Gill should return soon. Rajasthan, led by Riyan Parag, won the toss and chose to bat first, aiming to put up a big total on a high-scoring pitch.
Explaining the situation, Rashid said, “We wanted to bowl first. Gill has a muscle spasm, hopefully he will be back soon. KK is playing his first game and look forward to see him play.
” On the other hand, Parag backed his team’s approach, saying, “We are going to be batting first. We got to assess and adapt to different conditions. Hopefully we will put up a good score around 210 and defend it later on.
” The pitch at the Narendra Modi Stadium looked good for batting, with an average score above 200, even though teams chasing have often struggled here. Rajasthan Royals came into the game with strong momentum after a convincing win, boasting a balanced squad with both solid batting and varied bowling options. Meanwhile, Gujarat Titans were looking to bounce back after a disappointing start, where overdependence on their top order and a weak middle order hurt their chances.