GT vs RCB IPL 2026 Match 42 Preview: Playing XI, Pitch Report, Head to Head & Prediction | April 30 Ahmedabad
🔵 GT vs RCB · Match 42 · April 30
🏏 Shubman Gill — 1,257 runs at this ground
🔴 Virat Kohli — 351 runs IPL 2026 · Avg 58
⭐ ALL 7 H2H — won by chasing team
🟡 Rashid Khan — 25 wkts at NMS · 2nd highest ever
🎯 Bhuvneshwar Kumar — Purple Cap · 14 wkts
🏟️ Pitch 6 · 75% red soil · Same as IPL 2025 final
📊 RCB — 2nd on table · 12 pts · Can go TOP
🔵 GT vs RCB · Match 42 · April 30
🏏 Shubman Gill — 1,257 runs at this ground
🔴 Virat Kohli — 351 runs IPL 2026 · Avg 58
⭐ ALL 7 H2H — won by chasing team
🟡 Rashid Khan — 25 wkts at NMS · 2nd highest ever
🎯 Bhuvneshwar Kumar — Purple Cap · 14 wkts
🏟️ Pitch 6 · 75% red soil · Same as IPL 2025 final
📊 RCB — 2nd on table · 12 pts · Can go TOP
IPL 2026 · Match 42 · Match Day Preview · April 30, 2026
GT
Gujarat Titans
L
W
L
W
W
MATCH 42 · PREVIEW
vsThu · April 30 · 7:30 PM IST
Narendra Modi Stadium
Ahmedabad, Gujarat
Ahmedabad, Gujarat
RCB
Royal Challengers Bengaluru
W
L
W
W
W
📺 Star Sports / JioHotstar · Toss 7:00 PM
🏟️ Pitch 6 · Red Soil · Andy Flower confirmed
⭐ ALL 7 H2H won by chasing team
🌡️ Clear · 32°C · Dew expected from over 12
🔴 RCB can go TOP with a win tonight
Gill’s Home Fortress vs
RCB’s Unstoppable Red Machine
At the world’s largest cricket stadium — where Shubman Gill has scored 1,257 runs across 27 innings and Rashid Khan has taken 25 wickets — Royal Challengers Bengaluru arrive with everything to play for. A win tonight takes them top of IPL 2026. Every previous meeting between these sides has been won by the team batting second. The toss, the dew, and the pressure of a playoff race will make this the defining match of April 30, 2026.
Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad — the world’s largest cricket ground (1,32,000 capacity). Shubman Gill has scored 1,257 runs here. Rashid Khan has taken 25 wickets. Tonight, Royal Challengers Bengaluru come here needing a win to go top of IPL 2026.
01
Match Overview
Match
IPL 2026, Match 42
Date & Time
Thu, Apr 30 · 7:30 PM IST
Venue
NM Stadium, Ahmedabad
GT Captain
Shubman Gill
RCB Captain
Rajat Patidar
GT Points
8 pts · 5th place · 4W 4L
RCB Points
12 pts · 2nd place · 6W 2L
If RCB Win
Jump to TOP of table ↑
🔴 Everything At Stake For RCB: Royal Challengers Bengaluru sit on 12 points from 8 matches. Punjab Kings (15 pts) have played 9 matches. If RCB win tonight, they move to 14 points from 9 matches — and with a superior NRR from the DC demolition — could temporarily go level with or above PBKS depending on further results. This is the most important match of RCB’s IPL 2026 season so far.
🔵 GT’s Playoff Position: Gujarat Titans are 5th at 8 points from 8 matches. A win keeps them in contention (10 pts) and meaningfully strengthens their NRR. A loss to a fourth straight defeat at home would be damaging — but at 4-4, GT are still mathematically very much alive in the playoff race. This is the definition of a must-win game for both teams — but for very different reasons.
02
Pitch Report — Narendra Modi Stadium, Pitch 6
🏟️ Narendra Modi Stadium — Pitch No. 6 (75% Red Soil) — Confirmed by RCB Head Coach Andy Flower
190-200
Expected Par Score
233/3
Highest IPL Team Score Here (GT vs MI)
100%
H2H — 7/7 Won by Chasing Team
1,257
Gill’s All-Time Runs Here
25
Rashid’s IPL Wickets at NMS
32°C
Temperature · No Rain
RCB head coach Andy Flower’s exact words: “We’re playing on pitch six, which is a 75% red soil. It’s the same strip that we played the final on last year. And it usually plays very well, that strip. So we’d anticipate it playing very well again.” The pitch offers true bounce, consistent carry and excellent stroke play opportunities. New-ball seamers (Hazlewood, Bhuvneshwar, Rabada, Siraj) get lateral movement in the first 3 overs. Spinners (Rashid especially) are highly effective with flight and variations in the middle overs on large boundaries. Dew settles significantly from over 12 onwards — making death bowling difficult and chasing advantageous. Both captains will want to bowl first.
03
Head-to-Head Record
4
Royal Challengers Bengaluru
7
Total Played
3
Gujarat Titans
| Key Stat | Details |
|---|---|
| 100% — ALL 7 matches won by chasing team | The most significant statistical pattern in this rivalry |
| At Narendra Modi Stadium | RCB won — their only previous meeting in Ahmedabad |
| Last meeting (April 24, Chinnaswamy) | RCB won by 5 wkts — Kohli 81, Padikkal 55, GT 205/3 |
| RCB form last 4 matches | W W W W (including 9-wkt win over DC) |
| GT form last 3 matches | W W W (CSK by 8 wkts most recently) |
| Toss Winner Decision | Bowl first — 100% of H2H matches won by chasing team |
⚡ The Most Important Stat of Tonight’s Match: Every single one of the 7 previous meetings between GT and RCB in IPL history has been won by the team batting second. This statistic — combined with the Ahmedabad dew factor from over 12 — means the toss is arguably the most important moment of tonight’s match. Whichever captain wins the toss and bowls first holds a significant structural advantage.
04
Probable Playing XIs
🔵 Gujarat Titans
1Sai SudharsanBAT
2Shubman Gill (c)BAT ⭐
3Jos Buttler (wk)WK
4Washington SundarALL
5Shahrukh KhanBAT
6Jason HolderALL
7Rahul TewatiaALL
8Rashid KhanALL 🟡
9Manav Suthar / Arshad KhanBOWL
10Kagiso RabadaBOWL
11Mohammed SirajBOWL
Impact Sub: Prasidh Krishna / Nishant Sindhu
🔴 Royal Challengers Bengaluru
1Jacob BethellBAT/ALL
2Virat KohliBAT ⭐
3Devdutt PadikkalBAT
4Rajat Patidar (c)BAT
5Jitesh Sharma (wk)WK
6Tim DavidBAT
7Romario ShepherdALL
8Krunal PandyaALL
9Bhuvneshwar KumarBOWL 🟣
10Josh HazlewoodBOWL
11Rasikh Salam DarBOWL
Impact Sub: Suyash Sharma / Devdutt Padikkal
⚠️ GT Selection Watch: Arshad Khan vs Manav Suthar — GT may opt for the extra seamer on a pitch that favours pace early. Prasidh Krishna’s return as impact player (he is the Purple Cap leader at 11 wkts) would significantly strengthen their death bowling. Washington Sundar’s middle-over spin on this pitch is underrated. RCB Watch: Jacob Bethell confirmed as opener alongside Kohli — his left-arm angle disrupts Rabada’s outswing line. Suyash Sharma’s leg-spin as impact player on a large-boundary venue has been effective in previous away games.
05
The Night’s Defining Battle
⚔️ Virat Kohli vs Rashid Khan — The Clash of Titans
Virat Kohli
RCB · Opener · 9000+ IPL Runs
351 runs IPL 2026 · Avg 58 · SR 162
First batter in IPL history to 9000 runs
2 sixes, 1 dismissal vs Rashid this IPL
First batter in IPL history to 9000 runs
2 sixes, 1 dismissal vs Rashid this IPL
vs
Rashid Khan
GT · Leg-Spinner · 25 NMS Wickets
25 wickets at NMS — 2nd highest all-time
Economy 6.8 vs Kohli in career T20s
Dismissed Kohli 4× in IPL career
Economy 6.8 vs Kohli in career T20s
Dismissed Kohli 4× in IPL career
This is the defining battle of Match 42. Rashid has dismissed Kohli four times in their IPL career encounters — more than any other bowler. At this specific ground, his 25 wickets are the most by any non-MI spinner in the venue’s history. But Kohli is in the form of his career (351 runs, avg 58, two 80+ scores in his last three innings), and is fresh off a 9000-run landmark. The overs 8–14 phase — when Rashid typically operates — will determine whether this match is close or one-sided.
06
Team Analysis
Gujarat Titans — Home Advantage and Rashid’s Magic
GT enter tonight on the back of three consecutive wins — including a dominant 8-wicket win over CSK where Sai Sudharsan made 87 off 46 balls and Rabada took 3/25. Their combination of Sudharsan’s excellence (back-to-back centuries), Gill’s home-ground mastery, and Rashid Khan’s middle-overs threat makes them genuinely dangerous.
The concern: the middle order has been consistently unreliable. After Gill, Sudharsan and Buttler, the batting drops to Shahrukh Khan (SR 112 this IPL), Washington Sundar (effective but not a match-winner against quality bowling) and Jason Holder. If RCB’s powerplay bowling — Bhuvneshwar and Hazlewood — can remove two of the top three early, GT’s total is unlikely to challenge 190.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru — The Team That’s Frightening Everyone
As Yahoo Sports put it this morning: “Truthfully, it is difficult to make a case for Gujarat Titans on Thursday evening.” RCB arrive on the back of four consecutive wins, a DC demolition that produced one of the great bowling spells (Bhuvi 3/5, Hazlewood 4/12), and a batting lineup that can chase anything under 220 at this venue.
Their powerplay bowling is the best in the tournament. Bhuvneshwar Kumar (Purple Cap, 14 wickets, economy 7.8 in powerplay) and Josh Hazlewood (12 wickets) have not conceded more than 9 runs an over in any powerplay this season. Against a GT top order that has been built on powerplay momentum, this represents a fundamental threat. If Bhuvi and Hazlewood take 2 wickets in the first 6 overs, GT are already under pressure at a venue where recovery from 40/2 is difficult.
📊 The Key Number: RCB’s last 4 innings batting second — 206/5, 77/1, 229/5, 244/4 (avg run rate: 12.6 per over). Their chasing record in IPL 2026 is now the best in the tournament alongside RR. Given that all 7 GT vs RCB meetings have been won by the chasing team, whoever wins the toss and bowls first is the statistical favourite to win tonight’s match.
07
Key Players to Watch
Shubman Gill
GT · Captain · Home King
1,257 runs at NMS · Avg 52 · SR 164
His record at this ground is the most imposing statistical fact entering tonight’s match. 27 innings, 1257 runs, average 52. GT’s entire batting strategy — and ultimately their total — depends on Gill surviving the powerplay and building through the middle overs. If Hazlewood or Bhuvneshwar remove him early, GT’s innings rarely recovers to 190+.
Sai Sudharsan
GT · Batter · In-form Opener
100(58) vs RCB · 87(46) vs CSK · Back-to-back
Two consecutive massive scores. His 100 off 58 vs RCB at Chinnaswamy (April 24) was his first IPL century. This week he followed it with 87 off 46 vs CSK. He is the in-form batter of the IPL 2026 second half — and tonight, he faces Bhuvneshwar’s outswing and Hazlewood’s short ball in the first six overs. A third successive 80+ would be GT’s path to victory.
Rashid Khan
GT · Leg-Spinner · Kohli’s Nemesis
25 NMS wickets · Dismissed Kohli 4× IPL
On a pitch where spinners have historically been decisive in the middle overs, Rashid’s 25 wickets at this specific venue (2nd highest all-time, just 4 behind Mohit Sharma) make him GT’s most dangerous bowler by a distance. His battle with Kohli in overs 8-14 is the match’s defining individual contest. If Rashid dismisses Kohli cheaply, GT have a genuine chance.
Virat Kohli
RCB · Opener · 9000+ IPL Runs
351 runs IPL 2026 · Avg 58 · SR 162
In the form of his career. Three 50+ scores in his last four innings. First batter to 9,000 IPL runs. Tonight he faces Rashid Khan — the bowler who has dismissed him more than any other in IPL cricket — in the middle overs at a ground where Rashid has taken 25 wickets. The outcome of this individual battle decides the match.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar
RCB · Purple Cap Holder · Swing Bowler
14 wkts IPL 2026 · Econ 7.8 powerplay
Purple Cap leader with 14 wickets. His 3/5 against DC was one of the great individual powerplay spells in IPL history. At Narendra Modi Stadium — which offers lateral movement with the new ball — Bhuvneshwar’s outswing to both right and left-handers will trouble Sudharsan (left) and Gill (right) in the opening overs. Gill’s early dismissal = RCB victory probability jumps 20%.
Josh Hazlewood
RCB · Fast Bowler · MOTM vs DC
12 wkts IPL 2026 · 4/12 vs DC · Man of Match
The 4/12 against DC in Match 39 was a career-defining IPL spell. On a true Ahmedabad pitch with good bounce and carry, Hazlewood’s back-of-a-length deliveries to Gill — who plays mostly off the front foot — have historically caused him trouble. His first over against GT’s openers will set the tone for RCB’s entire bowling performance tonight.
08
Match Prediction
Win Probability Tonight
RCB are clear favourites — and the numbers support this emphatically. Superior form (4W in a row vs GT’s recent 3W), the best powerplay bowling attack in IPL 2026 (Bhuvi + Hazlewood), Kohli in 351-run season form, and a chasing record that has not been bettered by any team in this tournament.
But the toss is everything tonight. All 7 previous GT vs RCB meetings have been won by the chasing team. If GT win the toss and bowl first, they are immediately 10% more likely to win. If RCB win the toss, they bowl first (obviously), disrupt Sudharsan and Gill in the powerplay, and then chase with dew in the 13th over onwards. That template is RCB’s dominant mode this season.
GT’s best-case scenario: Toss win → bowl first → Rashid dismisses Kohli in the 10th over → GT limit RCB to 165–170 → Sudharsan-Gill opening stand of 100+ → GT win in the 18th over.
RCB’s most likely outcome: Toss win → bowl first → Bhuvneshwar removes Sudharsan (or Gill) in overs 2–4 → GT post 180–185 → Kohli-Bethell powerplay 60+ → Kohli 70+ with Padikkal (50+) → RCB win with 6+ balls to spare.
Prediction: RCB to win by 5–6 wickets or 15–20 runs. Virat Kohli to be Man of the Match. Bhuvneshwar Kumar to take 2+ wickets. Rashid Khan to take 1 (Kohli or Patidar).
09
IPL 2026 Points Table (Before Match 42)
| # | Team | M | W | L | NR | Pts | NRR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | PBKS Punjab Kings | 9 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 15 | +2.1 |
| 2 | RCB Royal Challengers Bengaluru TONIGHT | 8 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 12 | +1.919 |
| 3 | RR — Rajasthan Royals | 9 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 12 | +0.8 |
| 4 | SRH — Sunrisers Hyderabad | 9 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 12 | +0.7 |
| 5 | GT Gujarat Titans TONIGHT | 8 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 8 | -0.2 |
| 6 | DC — Delhi Capitals | 8 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 6 | -1.060 |
| 7 | CSK — Chennai Super Kings | 8 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 6 | -0.5 |
| 8 | MI — Mumbai Indians | 8 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 4 | -1.2 |
| 9 | LSG — Lucknow Super Giants | 8 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 4 | -0.9 |
| 10 | KKR — Kolkata Knight Riders | 8 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 2 | -1.4 |
📈 Playoff Scenarios: RCB win tonight → 14 pts from 9 matches — possible table-toppers temporarily (depending on NRR vs PBKS). GT win → 10 pts from 9 matches — jump to 5th but still in playoff contention. The top-4 race: PBKS 15, RCB/RR/SRH all on 12 — four teams separated by 3 points with matches in hand. The tightest top-4 race in IPL 2026 history at this stage.
10
Dream11 Fantasy Cricket Tips
| Role | Player | Team | Why Pick? |
|---|---|---|---|
| ⭐ Captain | Virat Kohli | RCB | 351 runs IPL 2026 · Avg 58 · Last 3 games: 81, 23*, 0 — back on form · 9000 runs milestone form |
| ⭐ V-Captain | Shubman Gill | GT | 1,257 runs at NMS · Avg 52 — highest ceiling on any batter at this ground |
| WK-Batter | Jitesh Sharma | RCB | Dangerous finisher — 3 sixes in 6 balls possible at Ahmedabad’s boundary sizes |
| Batter | Sai Sudharsan | GT | Back-to-back 80+ innings (100 + 87) — can make it 3 in a row |
| Batter | Devdutt Padikkal | RCB | 55 off 27 vs GT last game · SR 203 against this bowling attack · Rashid dismissed him though |
| Batter | Tim David | RCB | Best T20 finisher in the world · 1000 IPL runs · Huge ceiling if chase requires 40 in 3 |
| All-rounder | Rashid Khan | GT | 25 NMS wickets · 4 Kohli dismissals · Bat + bowl dual value · Low pick % = high risk-reward |
| All-rounder | Krunal Pandya | RCB | Middle-over spin + lower-order hitting — consistent dual contributor all season |
| Bowler | Bhuvneshwar Kumar | RCB | Purple Cap (14 wkts) · 3/5 vs DC · Swing vs Sudharsan’s left-arm attack in overs 1-4 |
| Bowler | Kagiso Rabada | GT | 3/25 vs CSK last match · Powerplay threat against Bethell and Kohli in first 6 overs |
11
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where is GT vs RCB IPL 2026 Match 42? +
Thursday, April 30, 2026 at 7:30 PM IST at Narendra Modi Stadium (Motera), Ahmedabad, Gujarat. Toss at 7:00 PM IST. This is Match 42 of IPL 2026. Live on Star Sports (TV) and JioHotstar (streaming). RCB head coach Andy Flower confirmed Pitch No. 6 (75% red soil) will be used.
What is the GT vs RCB head-to-head record? +
RCB lead 4-3 in seven IPL meetings. The most remarkable statistic: all 7 previous encounters between these two sides ended with the chasing team winning. At Narendra Modi Stadium specifically, RCB won their only previous meeting. RCB also won the most recent meeting (Chinnaswamy, April 24) by 5 wickets.
What pitch will be used tonight? What is the pitch report? +
Pitch No. 6 — a 75% red soil strip — confirmed by RCB head coach Andy Flower. He described it as “the same strip that we played the final on last year” and expects it to “play very well.” True bounce, consistent carry, favours batters. Seamers effective with new ball in first 3 overs. Rashid Khan’s spinners very effective in middle overs. Heavy dew from over 12 — favours chasing team. Expected par score: 190-200.
How many runs has Shubman Gill scored at Narendra Modi Stadium? +
Shubman Gill has scored 1,257 runs from 27 matches at Narendra Modi Stadium at an average of 52.37 and strike rate of 164. He is the all-time leading run-scorer at this venue and holds the highest individual score here in IPL. His record at this ground makes him the most dangerous home advantage batter in IPL 2026.
Can RCB go top of the IPL 2026 table by beating GT? +
Yes. If RCB win tonight (Match 42), they move to 14 points from 9 matches. Punjab Kings have 15 points from 9 matches (having played one extra game). RCB’s NRR (+1.919 after DC demolition) is significantly stronger than most other teams. A win puts RCB in a very strong position to compete for the top spot in the table, and guarantees them a near-certain playoff place.
Who will win GT vs RCB tonight? +
RCB are clear favourites at 65% probability. Superior form (4 consecutive wins), best powerplay bowling (Bhuvi + Hazlewood), Kohli in career-best IPL form, and a chasing record that suits the H2H pattern (all 7 previous meetings won by chasing team). GT have home advantage, Gill’s ground record (1257 runs) and Rashid’s 25 NMS wickets as counters. Prediction: RCB win by 5–6 wickets or 15–20 runs. Toss is critical.
What happened in the last GT vs RCB meeting? +
The last meeting was on April 24, 2026 at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru (Match 34). GT posted 205/3 — Sai Sudharsan scored his first IPL century (100 off 58 balls). RCB chased it down in 18.5 overs by 5 wickets — Virat Kohli made 81 off 44 balls and Devdutt Padikkal made 55 off 27 (6 sixes). Krunal Pandya sealed it with 23 off 12 in the death overs. The chasing team won — continuing the 7/7 H2H pattern.
Where to watch GT vs RCB live tonight? +
Live telecast on Star Sports 1, Star Sports 2, Star Sports 3 and Star Sports HD. Live streaming on JioHotstar — app (Android/iOS), website, Smart TV and streaming devices. Toss at 7:00 PM IST, match starts 7:30 PM IST. Multi-language commentary available including English, Hindi, Gujarati and Kannada.
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