IPL 2026 | Match 46: GT vs PBKS | Preview and Predictions

High on confidence after back-to-back wins, the Gujarat Titans (GT) host table-toppers Punjab Kings (PBKS) in Match 46 of the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) season.

The Kings come into this encounter having suffered their first loss of the season against the Rajasthan Royals (RR) and will be looking to get back to winning ways and get closer to securing a top-two spot. The Titans, meanwhile, will be aiming to move into those top-four spots to stay in the conversation for the play-offs.

For the game, here we present our preview and predictions.

Indian Premier League 2026 | Match 46: Gujarat Titans vs Punjab Kings | 19:30 IST, May 3, 2026

The Gujarat Titans, like a lot of the other IPL teams, have a very top-heavy batting order. They are over-reliant on Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan, and Jos Buttler, though the management will take some positives from the fact that their lower order finished off a nervy chase against Royal Challengers Bengaluru last time out.

While the total wasn’t a big one, GT did struggle against RCB, with their middle order failing to see home a relatively easy chase. The likes of Washington Sundar, Shahrukh Khan, and Jason Holder will need to take more responsibility going into the business end of the league stage. Rahul Tewatia getting some runs will be a big positive for GT, and the management will hope the rest of the middle order steps up as well. 

GT’s bowling unit has found more depth and a new dimension, with Arshad Khan joining the seam attack that comprises Kagiso Rabada and Mohammed Siraj. Jason Holder chipping in with wickets also helps the attack, while Rashid Khan is looking like his old self again, being economical and among the wickets regularly.

The Punjab Kings, on the other hand, suffered their first loss of the season last time out, and there are some serious questions being raised about Shreyas Iyer’s bowling unit. PBKS have now conceded 220+ totals in three of their last five games, with the seam attack of Arshdeep Singh and Marco Jansen leaking runs at the top and in the death overs.

They brought in the experienced Lockie Ferguson to shake things up, but even he had an expensive outing against the Rajasthan Royals, against whom spinners Yuzvendra Chahal and Harpreet Brar were the Kings’ only saving grace. Brar, playing his first game of the season, stood out with economical figures on a day everyone else travelled. He will be key at the Narendra Modi Stadium as well. 

There’s not much wrong with the PBKS batting unit apart from the fact that their lower middle order hasn’t provided a lot of runs, though those batters haven’t spent a lot of time in the middle either. The top four batters, Prabhsmiran Singh, Priyansh Arya, Cooper Connolly, and Shreyas Iyer, have simply been stellar, while Marcus Stoinis has provided the lusty blows at the end. 

With lots of runs on offer, along with assistance for the seam bowlers, the Ahmedabad ground will offer something to everyone in this crucial encounter between two top teams.

We should be in for a high-scoring game, with the Gujarat Titans’ all-round form and squad balance giving them the edge over their table-topping counterparts in this encounter.

Fantasy XI: Shubman Gill (c), Prabhsimran Singh (wk), Sai Sudharsan, Jos Buttler, Shreyas Iyer (vc), Marcus Stoinis, Jason Holder, Rashid Khan, Kagiso Rabada, Arshdeep Singh, Marco Jansen

Venue: Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
Winners Prediction: Gujarat Titans