Match Prediction
Kolkata Knight Riders visit Ahmedabad needing a win to stay alive in the IPL regular season. With one point from five games, KKR face hosts Gujarat Titans, who have won their last two matches and aim for a third straight victory. GT’s top order of Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan, and Jos Buttler has regained form, while Rashid Khan and Prasidh Krishna have been effective with the ball. The match will be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Friday night.
Toss & Conditions
The match will be played on pitch number 6 at the Narendra Modi Stadium. The surface offered good bounce for pacers during the T20 World Cup, with early swing that fades quickly and minimal assistance for spinners. Batting conditions are expected to be strong, and teams winning the toss are likely to prefer chasing.
Head-to-Head
Gujarat Titans have won two of the last three matches against Kolkata Knight Riders.
Gujarat Titans
Gujarat Titans are sixth in the IPL regular season with four points from four matches and a net run rate of -0.029. They have won their last two games, including victories over Lucknow Super Giants and Delhi Capitals.
Kolkata Knight Riders
Kolkata Knight Riders are tenth in the IPL regular season with one point from four matches and a net run rate of -1.383. They have lost all their last three matches against Chennai Super Kings, Lucknow Super Giants, and Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Playing XI
News & Facts
- Matheesha Pathirana will not be available for this match due to logistical reasons despite receiving his NOC from Sri Lanka Cricket.
- Rashid Khan’s economy rate of 6.9 in IPL 2026 is his best for Gujarat Titans; it rises from 7.0 in wins to 8.4 in losses.
- Since 2023, Sunil Narine’s economy rate of 7.39 is 0.78 better than other spinners in the same matches.
- Jos Buttler had a strike rate of 92 against left-arm fingerspin from January 2026 to the end of the T20 World Cup and was dismissed four times by that bowling type.
- This will be the first match played on pitch number 6 at the Narendra Modi Stadium.
Key Stats
Verdict
Key stats favor Gujarat Titans 6–2, with advantages in points, NRR, Elo rating, recent win rate, and head-to-head record, while KKR lead in powerplay and death-over economy. All four predictive models favor GT, with an average probability of 68% versus 32% for KKR. Bookmakers align with the models, pricing GT at 1.61 odds (60%) and KKR at 2.34 (40%). GT’s superior form and bowling balance are key factors, while KKR must improve their death bowling to challenge.
PBKS
5
4-0
9
RCB
5
4-1
8
RR
5
4-1
8
SRH
5
2-3
4
DC
4
2-2
4
GT
4
2-2
4
LSG
5
2-3
4
CSK
5
2-3
4
MI
5
1-4
2
KKR
5
0-4
1
PBKS
5
4
0
1
+1.067
9
RCB
5
4
1
—
+1.503
8
RR
5
4
1
—
+0.889
8
SRH
5
2
3
—
+0.576
4
DC
4
2
2
—
+0.322
4
GT
4
2
2
—
-0.029
4
LSG
5
2
3
—
-0.804
4
CSK
5
2
3
—
-0.846
4
MI
5
1
4
—
-1.076
2
KKR
5
0
4
1
-1.383
1
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