GT vs RCB Match 42 Preview: Rashid Khan vs Kohli at Narendra Modi Stadium

Gujarat Titans take on Royal Challengers Bengaluru in IPL 2026 Match 42 at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad — and the playoff math is starting to bite. With Shubman Gill leading Gujarat Titans and Rajat Patidar leading Royal Challengers Bengaluru, this fixture is more than two points: it reshapes the top four. In this preview we cover the pitch, the predicted XIs, the key battles, Dream11 captain picks, and the one toss-call that could decide the match before the first ball is bowled.

Match Overview

Match: Gujarat Titans vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru — IPL 2026 Match 42 Date & time: Check the IPL 2026 schedule for start time Venue: Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad Broadcast: Star Sports Network, JioHotstar (free on mobile)

Current form & points table context

As of 2026-04-21, Punjab Kings sit unbeaten at the top of the table, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Rajasthan Royals and Sunrisers Hyderabad round out the top four, and both Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders are fighting from the bottom half. For the live standings, see our IPL 2026 points table and mid-season analysis.

Gujarat Titans form

Gujarat Titans come into Match 42 under Shubman Gill. Key players to watch: Shubman Gill, Jos Buttler, Rashid Khan, Mohammed Shami. Their death-overs unit has been a strength this season — see IPL 2026 death-overs specialists ranked for the data.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru form

Royal Challengers Bengaluru under Rajat Patidar bring their own firepower: Virat Kohli, Phil Salt, Rajat Patidar, Tim David. For how their impact player use compares to the rest of the league, read our impact-player rule breakdown.

Pitch report — Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad

Flat batting surface with true bounce. 180+ is chasable under dew. Big square boundaries (75–80m). Full Narendra Modi Stadium pitch report.

Key battles to watch

1. Shubman Gill vs Krunal Pandya — the marquee battle that decides the powerplay shape. For powerplay form, see IPL 2026 powerplay leaders.
2. Virat Kohli vs Sai Sudharsan — death-overs chess that decides the total.
3. Spin vs the wicket — especially in overs 8–14.

Predicted playing XIs

Gujarat Titans XI (predicted)

1. Shubman Gill (c)
2. Jos Buttler
3. Rashid Khan
4. Mohammed Shami
5. Sai Sudharsan
6. • 5 more from squad depth — track the Gujarat Titans squad analysis.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru XI (predicted)

1. Virat Kohli
2. Phil Salt
3. Rajat Patidar (c)
4. Tim David
5. Josh Hazlewood
6. Krunal Pandya
7. • 5 more from the full Royal Challengers Bengaluru squad.

Head-to-head records

For the all-time head-to-head between these two sides, bookmark our Gujarat Titans vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru all-time comparison. Short version: this is one of the more competitive match-ups in IPL history, with neither side dominating more than 55% of encounters.

Dream11 fantasy picks

Captain picks (in order of confidence):

1. Shubman Gill
2. Virat Kohli
3. Rashid Khan

Differential picks — for grand-league edge, read Dream11 batter differential picks IPL 2026 and powerplay bowlers differential picks.

Credits-efficient XI tips: see how to build a budget Dream11 team IPL 2026.

Prediction

Based on current form, venue trends and squad balance, the slight edge is with Gujarat Titans on paper — but IPL 2026 has been a season of upsets, and the side that wins the toss at this venue will have a real advantage because of the dew equation.

Where to watch

Star Sports 1 / 3 HD (English & Hindi), JioHotstar (free on mobile via app), CricJosh live score page.

Frequently Asked Questions

What time does Gujarat Titans vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru Match 42 start?

Match 42 follows the standard IPL 2026 schedule. Evening games start at 19:30 IST, afternoon double-header games at 15:30 IST. Confirm on our live IPL 2026 schedule.

Where can I watch Gujarat Titans vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru live?

Star Sports Network (TV) and JioHotstar (streaming, free on mobile). For live scorecard, visit our CricJosh live page.

Who is the captain of each team in Match 42?

Gujarat Titans are led by Shubman Gill. Royal Challengers Bengaluru are led by Rajat Patidar.

What is the venue and pitch type?

Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad. See the pitch report section above for batting-first average, dew factor and spin vs pace behaviour.

Who should I pick as Dream11 captain?

Top choices are Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli. For the full method, read our Dream11 captain-picks strategy.

The takeaway

Bookmark the IPL 2026 points table, check the live schedule, and use our Dream11 tools before you lock your fantasy team. CricJosh updates every hub after every match — no stale data.