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In the IPL 2026 match against Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Gujarat Titans` (GT) captain Shubman Gill has won the toss and elected to bowl first at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.
The Titans will enter the clash with two changes, where Prasidh Krishna will make way for Arshad Khan, and Manav Suthar will come in place of Rahul Tewatia.
After winning the toss, GT`s captain Gill said, “We`re gonna bowl first. It looks like a good wicket. On a wicket like this, it`s good to have a total on the board. (On the afternoon heat) Actually, not that bad. A good bit of breeze going on, so hopefully it wouldn`t be too tough on our bowlers. We`re doing a lot of the things right. It`s just about winning the small moments and I think in bowling when we`re leaking runs, we are leaking too many runs in that period of three to four overs. So it`s just about hitting that length ball consistently in the middle overs. And that`s what the talk has been about. (More aggressive in the powerplay?) Honestly, if the wicket is nice,that is our talk. If the wicket is well, get 70-80 in the powerplay, get as many actually in the powerplay but it`s very important to assess the conditions and if the wicket is a 170-180 wicket, really you got to assess that as well because I think at the end of the day, it`s important to play the conditions rather than something that has not happened”.
On the other hand, Urvil Patel will replace Sarfaraz Khan, and Mukesh Choudhary will make his appearance in place of Akeal Hosein.
CSK`s skipper Ruturaj said, “It`s a bit on the drier side and more often than not, it will remain the same, so we`re batting first really well and wouldn`t mind putting on the score again and defend it. The confidence is high looking at the margin of the runs that we won the last game. But again, this game starts fresh, starts from zero. We have to start assessing how the pitch is, bat accordingly, and then try and defend it. But obviously, confidence-wise, we are slightly getting better and better in terms of overall unit. It`s just that one or two areas where we need to click, we need to fire, and we`ll get better on from that. (On his own form) I`ve been getting starts and not able to convert it. It`s very rare, to be honest, but it doesn`t quite happen that often. But as I said, as long as I`m getting starts and as long as someone else is doing the job and we are getting over the line, it`s fine. But whenever I feel, I`m there, I`m set, and I feel that today`s my day, and I`ll have to make sure I`ll make it count, and I`m confident with that”.
IPL 2026, Gujarat Titans vs Chennai Super Kings: Confirmed Playing XIs
Gujarat Titans: Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (C), Jos Buttler (WK), Shahrukh Khan, Washington Sundar, Jason Holder, Rashid Khan, Arshad Khan, Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj, Manav Suthar.
Chennai Super Kings: Sanju Samson (WK), Ruturaj Gaikwad (C), Urvil Patel, Dewald Brevis, Shivam Dube, Kartik Sharma, Jamie Overton, Akeal Hosein, Noor Ahmad, Anshul Kamboj, Gurjapneet Singh.
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