GT vs RR Dream11 IPL 2026 — Best Team Today | CricJosh

IPL 2026 Match 9 brings together two heavyweights of the modern era as Gujarat Titans host Rajasthan Royals at the iconic Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad — the largest cricket ground in the world. Both sides have had strong starts to the tournament and will be looking to cement their positions in the top half of the standings early in the campaign. The GT vs RR rivalry has produced some of the most dramatic finishes in recent IPL history, making this clash a must-watch and a fantasy goldmine for Dream11 players.

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Match Info

Detail	Info
Match	Match 9, IPL 2026
Teams	Gujarat Titans (GT) vs Rajasthan Royals (RR)
Date	Saturday, 4 April 2026
Venue	Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
Time	7:30 PM IST
Format	T20 (20 overs per side)

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Pitch Report — Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad

The Narendra Modi Stadium is one of the most batting-friendly venues on the IPL circuit, though the nature of the pitch can vary depending on the time of day and the condition of the surface. Under the floodlights, evening dew can play a significant role in the second innings, offering assistance to slower bowlers and making life difficult for seamers trying to maintain grip on the ball.

Key Pitch Characteristics:

• Average 1st innings score: 175–190
• Average 2nd innings score: 165–175
• Pace or Spin? The pitch offers good carry early on for pace bowlers, but as the game progresses, spinners come into play — especially in the middle overs. The large outfield means boundaries can be tricky, but the short square boundaries are a big advantage for power hitters.
• Toss Advantage: Historically, teams chasing have won approximately 55% of games at this venue. Expect the captain winning the toss to elect to field first, using the dew factor in the second innings to their advantage. Fantasy tip: back your batters in the second innings lineup.

Weather Outlook: Clear skies expected in Ahmedabad on 4 April 2026, with temperatures around 32°C. Humidity will be moderate, and dew is expected to set in by the 14th over of the second innings.

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GT — Predicted Playing XI

Gujarat Titans are playing on home turf and will have the crowd firmly behind them. Their batting order is deep and versatile, and their bowling attack has the experience to exploit any pitch conditions.

#	Player	Role
1	Shubman Gill ⭐	Opening Batter (C)
2	Wriddhiman Saha	WK-Batter
3	Sai Sudharsan ⭐	Top-order Batter
4	Hardik Pandya ⭐	All-Rounder
5	David Miller	Middle-order Batter
6	Vijay Shankar	All-Rounder
7	Rahul Tewatia ⭐	All-Rounder
8	Rashid Khan ⭐	Spin All-Rounder
9	Mohammed Shami	Pace Bowler
10	Mohit Sharma	Pace Bowler
11	Noor Ahmad	Spin Bowler

Key Fantasy Players: Shubman Gill (consistent run-scorer at home), Rashid Khan (wickets + economy), Hardik Pandya (explosive lower-order hitting + wickets), Rahul Tewatia (slog-over finisher with big-hitting potential).

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RR — Predicted Playing XI

Rajasthan Royals come into this game with strong momentum, backed by their explosive top order and crafty bowling attack. Their balance of overseas stars and quality Indian players makes them a formidable unit.

#	Player	Role
1	Jos Buttler ⭐	WK-Batter (Overseas)
2	Yashasvi Jaiswal ⭐	Opening Batter
3	Sanju Samson	WK-Batter (C)
4	Shimron Hetmyer	Middle-order Batter
5	Riyan Parag ⭐	All-Rounder
6	Dhruv Jurel	WK-Batter
7	Ravichandran Ashwin ⭐	Spin All-Rounder
8	Trent Boult ⭐	Pace Bowler (Overseas)
9	Yuzvendra Chahal	Spin Bowler
10	Sandeep Sharma	Pace Bowler
11	Avesh Khan	Pace Bowler

Key Fantasy Players: Jos Buttler (attacking opener with massive ceiling), Yashasvi Jaiswal (in brilliant form), Trent Boult (new-ball wickets + economy points), Yuzvendra Chahal (leg-spin is deadly on Ahmedabad wickets), R. Ashwin (spin + batting bonus).

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Head-to-Head Record

Gujarat Titans and Rajasthan Royals have produced some fiercely competitive encounters. Here is a look at their last 5 IPL meetings:

Match	Winner	Margin	Venue
IPL 2025	GT	6 wickets	Ahmedabad
IPL 2025	RR	12 runs	Jaipur
IPL 2024	GT	3 wickets	Ahmedabad
IPL 2024	RR	9 runs	Jaipur
IPL 2023	GT	5 wickets	Ahmedabad

Overall H2H (IPL): GT leads 7–5 against RR in IPL history. Gujarat Titans have a particularly strong home record against the Royals, winning 5 of 6 matches played at Ahmedabad.

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Top Fantasy Picks

Batters (Pick 2–3)

1. Shubman Gill (GT) ⭐ Gill is in sublime form and loves batting at the Narendra Modi Stadium. He averages over 48 at this venue in T20 cricket and consistently delivers 40–70-run knocks. A must-have in any Dream11 team.

2. Yashasvi Jaiswal (RR) ⭐ Jaiswal is one of the most explosive openers in the IPL right now. His ability to take on pace bowling in the powerplay makes him incredibly valuable in fantasy cricket. Expect him to go big if he gets a good start.

3. Jos Buttler (RR) Buttler is RR's most dangerous overseas batter. When he clicks, he can single-handedly win matches. His upside is enormous, making him a strong differential pick for mega contests.

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All-Rounders (Pick 2–3) — MOST IMPORTANT for Dream11

1. Rashid Khan (GT) ⭐ Rashid Khan is arguably the best pick in this match regardless of format. He contributes with both bat and ball consistently, picking up 1–3 wickets per game while scoring crucial lower-order runs when needed. Essential pick.

2. Hardik Pandya (GT) ⭐ Back home at Ahmedabad, Pandya is expected to be fired up. He is capable of a 30-ball 50 and 2–3 wickets in a single game — the ideal Dream11 all-rounder. High ownership expected but fully justified.

3. Riyan Parag (RR) Parag has developed into a genuine all-round threat — his medium-pace has improved significantly and his batting in the middle order is explosive. A value pick with good upside at a lower credit cost.

4. R. Ashwin (RR) — Differential Ashwin's batting has improved considerably and his off-spin is always dangerous on Indian pitches. He is an underrated fantasy pick who can contribute across all departments.

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Bowlers (Pick 2–3)

1. Trent Boult (RR) ⭐ Boult is a powerplay specialist who consistently takes wickets in the first six overs. He also delivers at the death, making him one of the highest-value bowlers in this match.

2. Yuzvendra Chahal (RR) ⭐ Ahmedabad's pitch often assists leg-spin, especially in the middle overs. Chahal's ability to pick up 2–4 wickets in a match makes him a strong fantasy pick. He has a stellar record against GT batters.

3. Mohammed Shami (GT) Shami is one of the best fast bowlers in the IPL and thrives at home in Ahmedabad. His ability to swing the ball in the powerplay and bowl effective yorkers at the death gives him a high floor and ceiling.

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Wicket-Keepers (Pick 1)

Jos Buttler (RR) ⭐ — Buttler is the standout WK pick. He scores batting points in addition to glove work behind the stumps, and his upside is unmatched in this slot. If you're looking for a differential WK, Wriddhiman Saha (GT) is a lower-credit option with good value.

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Dream11 Team Suggestions

Small League Team (Safe, High Ownership)

Strategy: Maximize points floor with proven performers. Ideal for Head-to-Head and smaller leagues.

Role	Player	Points Potential
WK	Jos Buttler	65–110
BAT	Shubman Gill C	75–130
BAT	Yashasvi Jaiswal VC	65–120
BAT	Sai Sudharsan	45–85
ALL	Rashid Khan	65–115
ALL	Hardik Pandya	60–110
ALL	Riyan Parag	40–80
ALL	R. Ashwin	40–75
BOWL	Trent Boult	55–100
BOWL	Yuzvendra Chahal	50–95
BOWL	Mohammed Shami	45–90

Captain (C): Shubman Gill — Home ground advantage, in-form, high run-scoring probability. Vice-Captain (VC): Yashasvi Jaiswal — Explosive opener, consistent points scorer.

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Mega League Team (Differential, Low Ownership)

Strategy: Use low-ownership picks for C/VC to differentiate from the field in large tournaments.

Role	Player	Points Potential
WK	Wriddhiman Saha	35–75
BAT	Shubman Gill	75–130
BAT	Jos Buttler VC	65–110
BAT	David Miller	45–90
ALL	Rashid Khan C	65–115
ALL	Hardik Pandya	60–110
ALL	Rahul Tewatia	40–80
ALL	R. Ashwin	40–75
BOWL	Trent Boult	55–100
BOWL	Yuzvendra Chahal	50–95
BOWL	Noor Ahmad	35–70

Captain (C): Rashid Khan — Low ownership differential C pick. If he has a 2-wicket + 20-run game, this team skyrockets up the leaderboard. Vice-Captain (VC): Jos Buttler — Huge ceiling, slightly lower ownership than Gill. Perfect mega-league VC.

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Captain & Vice-Captain Choices

Top Captain Pick — Shubman Gill (GT)

Gill is the standout captain choice for this match. He is in superb form, playing at his home ground, and has the ability to score 60–90 runs in a single innings. The Narendra Modi Stadium brings out the best in him — he has scored three fifties in his last four IPL innings here. Expected ownership: 35–45%.

Top Vice-Captain Pick — Rashid Khan (GT)

Rashid is the safest VC pick given his dual-threat contribution. He rarely has a blank game, and on a pitch that assists spin, expect him to return 2–3 wickets. His batting in the lower order can add bonus points, making him a near-perfect VC. Expected ownership: 30–40%.

Differential Captain Pick — Trent Boult (RR)

If you want to take a bold punt in mega leagues, Boult as captain is a high-risk, high-reward move. If he runs through the GT top order in the powerplay (3+ wickets), he could return 100+ fantasy points, catapulting your team to the top of the leaderboard. Expected ownership: 5–8%. Use only in one of your mega-league teams.

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Match Prediction

Gujarat Titans enter this match as slight favorites given their home advantage and the strong record they have against Rajasthan Royals at the Narendra Modi Stadium. Their bowling unit, led by Rashid Khan and Mohammed Shami, is capable of defending any total on this surface. However, Rajasthan Royals' top order — Buttler and Jaiswal — is one of the most explosive in the competition, and if they get going in the powerplay, RR can chase down any target.

GT's familiarity with local conditions and the backing of a passionate home crowd is expected to make the difference. Expect a close contest, but Gujarat Titans are predicted to win by 12–15 runs or 1 wicket in a nail-biter. Predicted final score: GT 185/6 (20 overs) | RR 170/8 (20 overs).

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FAQs

Who will win GT vs RR, Match 9, IPL 2026? Based on current form, home advantage, and historical head-to-head records at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Gujarat Titans are the narrow favorites to win Match 9. However, Rajasthan Royals' explosive batting lineup makes this a genuinely unpredictable contest.

Who is the best captain pick for GT vs RR Dream11? Shubman Gill is our top captain recommendation for safe/small leagues due to his consistent run-scoring at home. For mega leagues, Rashid Khan is the top differential pick who can deliver massive returns through wickets and lower-order batting.

What time does the GT vs RR IPL 2026 match start? The match starts at 7:30 PM IST on Saturday, 4 April 2026, at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad. The toss will take place 30 minutes before the start at 7:00 PM IST.