IPL 2026: Gujarat Titans opt to bowl vs Punjab Kings; Nishant Sindhu handed debut
Gujarat Titans opted to bowl first against Punjab Kings, aiming to leverage their recent chasing success and strong bowling. Skipper Shubman Gill highlighted the team's timely form and middle-order strength. Punjab's Shreyas Iyer acknowledged the pitch's dual nature, emphasizing focus despite a demanding schedule.
Both sides made bowling changes for this crucial encounter.
Gujarat Titans won the toss and elected to bowl first against Punjab Kings as the playoff race begins to heat up. Explaining the decision, skipper Shubman Gill said his side wanted to stick to what has worked recently. "We are gonna bowl first.
We have been chasing well in the past few games and our bowling is doing well, so will continue that momentum," he noted, adding that the surface could offer something early on. Gill also pointed to the team peaking at the right time and praised the middle-order finishing, especially Rahul Tewatia’s recent efforts. He confirmed one change, with Nishant Sindhu coming in for his debut.
Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer, meanwhile, felt the pitch looked good for batting but with enough assistance for bowlers. "It looks beautiful, some grass on the wicket and some bounce considering it is black soil," he observed. Iyer emphasised the challenges of a demanding schedule but maintained that his side remains focused.