PBKS Vs GT Live Score, IPL 2026: Captains Shreyas Iyer And Shubman Gill Out For Toss

Lockie Ferguson will be unavailable for the Punjab Kings (PBKS) in their IPL 2026 opener against the Gujarat Titans today, March 31.

The New Zealand fast bowler is currently on paternity leave following the recent birth of his son. According to recent reports and statements from the player himself, he is expected to miss the initial phase of the tournament to spend time with his family in Auckland.

He is expected to miss at least the first seven league games for PBKS.

Cooper Connolly is set to make his IPL debut for the Punjab Kings (PBKS) against the Gujarat Titans. Multiple reports confirm that he is expected to bat at No. 3, filling the void left by Josh Inglis.

Connolly will play exclusively as a specialist batter for at least the month of April.

He is recovering from a back issue (suspected to be a stress fracture).

Cricket Australia’s medical team has explicitly directed him not to bowl his left-arm spin during the early part of the tournament to prevent further injury and ensure a full recovery.

Jason Holder (INR 7 Crore): The most significant acquisition for the Titans, the West Indian veteran provides much-needed balance as a seam-bowling all-rounder. His ability to bowl in the death overs and provide a lower-order cushion with the bat makes him a direct asset to the team's tactical flexibility.

Tom Banton (INR 2 Crore): The English wicketkeeper-batter adds explosive depth to the top order. While the Titans already have Jos Buttler, Banton serves as a high-quality backup or a potential middle-order aggressor if the team decides to shift their overseas combinations.

Luke Wood (INR 75 Lakh): The English left-arm pacer brings variety to an attack that is primarily right-handed. His ability to swing the ball at pace provides an alternative powerplay option alongside Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna.

Ashok Sharma (INR 90 Lakh): The young Rajasthan-based pacer was brought in to bolster the Indian fast-bowling stocks. Known for his discipline and ability to hit the deck hard, he provides a reliable rotation option for the long season.

Prithvi Raj Yarra (INR 30 Lakh): Another left-arm pace option, Yarra's recruitment emphasizes the team’s intent to have left-arm variety in their arsenal to exploit specific matchups against right-handed heavy batting lineups.

Kulwant Khejroliya was signed as a late replacement for the injured left-arm pacer Prithviraj Yarra, joining the squad at his base price of INR 30 lakh.

The match between Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur during the 2025 season is remembered as one of the most remarkable defensive efforts in IPL history. After being put in to bat, the Punjab Kings suffered a dramatic collapse, managing only 111 runs before being bowled out in 15.3 overs. KKR's bowling attack, led by Harshit Rana (3/25), Varun Chakaravarthy, and Sunil Narine, seemed to have put the game out of reach for the home side, especially as 111 represented the second-lowest team total of that season.

However, the second innings produced a historic turnaround as PBKS successfully defended the target, winning by 16 runs. KKR’s chase initially appeared comfortable at 62/2, with Angkrish Raghuvanshi (37) and Ajinkya Rahane looking set to finish the game. The momentum shifted entirely when Yuzvendra Chahal entered the fray, delivering a Player of the Match performance by taking 4/28. Chahal’s spell triggered a catastrophic collapse in the KKR middle order, accounting for key wickets including Rinku Singh and Venkatesh Iyer.

The match reached a tense climax as Andre Russell attempted to muscle KKR back into the contest with a series of boundaries. His efforts were cut short by Marco Jansen, who finished with figures of 3/17 and claimed the final wicket of Russell to bowl KKR out for just 95. This victory set a new record for the lowest total ever defended in a full 20-over IPL match, surpassing a record that had stood since 2009. The game remains a testament to the unpredictable nature of the Mullanpur surface, which offered variable bounce and significant turn that evening.

Shreyas Iyer has cemented a unique legacy as one of the most successful and versatile tacticians in IPL history, becoming the only captain to lead three different franchises to a tournament final. His leadership journey began with a mid-season takeover at Delhi Capitals in 2018, where he famously smashed unbeaten 93 on his captaincy debut before eventually guiding the team to their maiden final in 2020. This reputation for revitalizing squads continued at Kolkata Knight Riders, where he led the team to their third IPL title in 2024.

His high-value transition to Punjab Kings for the 2025 season further underscored his elite status. He immediately transformed the franchise's fortunes by leading them to the top of the table and into the 2025 final. Beyond the trophies, Iyer’s legacy is defined by his ability to build cohesive team cultures and his aggressive personal form under pressure.

Ahead of the Gujarat Titans' 2026 season opener, batting coach Matthew Hayden spoke extensively about Shubman Gill's maturation as both a player and a leader. He highlighted Gill’s clarity of thought and his ability to articulate the game as key indicators of a player who has reached a high level of maturity. Hayden noted that Gill’s experience across formats, particularly in Test cricket, has provided him with a deep understanding of the game that translates effectively into his captaincy.

The pitch at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur is expected to be a balanced surface that offers a fair contest between bat and ball. Featuring a mix of red and black soil, the track typically provides good bounce and carry early on, allowing top-order batters to play their shots freely during the powerplay. While the average first-innings score at this venue hovers around 165–173, the ground has seen totals exceeding 190, suggesting it can be quite lucrative for stroke-makers if they settle in.

The weather forecast for this evening’s clash between Punjab Kings and Gujarat Titans at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur looks very promising for a full game of cricket. While the afternoon saw some cloud cover with temperatures peaking around 31°C, conditions are expected to stabilize by the 7:30 PM IST start time. Currently, the temperature is hovering near 27°C with a light breeze from the southwest at 4 mph, providing a relatively comfortable environment for both the players and the fans in attendance.

As the match progresses into the night, the skies are expected to clear up completely, and the temperature will gradually dip toward a low of 17°C. Crucially for the teams, the chance of precipitation remains very low at just 10%, meaning rain is unlikely to cause any interruptions. However, the cooling temperatures and clear night sky suggest that dew could become a significant factor during the second innings. Captains will likely take this into account at the toss, as a slick outfield could make it more difficult for bowlers to grip the ball and for fielders to move efficiently in the latter half of the match.

The Punjab Kings vs Gujarat Titans IPL 2026 match live telecast will be available on the Star Sports Network channels. Fan can get the live streaming of the match in the JioHotstar mobile app and website.

The Gujarat Titans had a strong campaign in the IPL 2025 season, finishing in 3rd place in the league stage. However, their run ended in the playoffs after they lost to Mumbai Indians in the Eliminator by 20 runs.

GT faced Mumbai Indians at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh Stadium. Chasing a target of 229, GT managed 208/6 in their 20 overs, losing by 20 runs despite a valiant 80-run effort from Sai Sudharsan

Sai Sudharsan was the standout batter of the season, scoring 759 runs, which was the highest by any player in the tournament.

Prasidh Krishna led the bowling attack with 25 wickets, also the highest in the 2025 edition.

Punjab Kings once again begin their campaign with hope of finally ending their title drought. After falling short in two finals, including last season, they’ll be eager to go one step further this time. Gujarat Titans, however, know what it takes to win, having lifted the trophy in their debut season in 2022, and will look to rely on that experience.

Good evening, cricket fans! This is the start of our live blog covering the IPL 2026 match between PBKS and GT at the PCA Stadium. Stay tuned for pre-match updates and playing XIs as they are revealed.