Dominance of batsmen or challenge of bowlers on Mullanpur pitch?

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PBKS vs GT: Exciting match of IPL 2026

The fourth match of the Indian Premier League 2026 will be played between Punjab Kings and Gujarat Titans. This important match will be held at the new Maharaja Yadvendra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur. Last season’s runner-up **Punjab Kings** is this time captained by Shreyas Iyer, while **Gujarat Titans** will be led by Shubman Gill, who would like to start their campaign with a win.

Nature of Mullanpur pitch

The pitch at Mullanpur is traditionally considered batsman-friendly. The uniform pace and excellent bounce on the surface here gives the batsmen the opportunity to play freely. Spectators can expect a high-scoring and exciting contest at this ground. The team which performs better in the powerplay will be able to strengthen its position in the match.

Important role of spinners

However, the pitch is not completely in favor of the batsmen. With the new ball, fast bowlers may get light swing initially, but as the game progresses, the role of spinners will become important.

toss strategy

Batting first on this wicket may prove to be a wise decision. If the team playing first is successful in scoring 180 or 200 runs, then the pressure on the team chasing the target will increase.

Captain would like to bowl first

Dew is always a challenge in T20 cricket. If there is a possibility of dew falling in the second innings, the spinners may face difficulty in controlling the ball due to it being wet. In such a situation, the captain who wins the toss can choose to bowl first.

The real game-changers of the match

Both teams have world-class players like Jos Buttler, Marcus Stoinis, Rashid Khan and Yuzvendra Chahal, who can single-handedly change the course of the match. In Mullanpur, the team which will be able to adapt quickly to the conditions will win the title.

Probable playing XI of both the teams:

Punjab Kings (PBKS): Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh (wicketkeeper), Shreyas Iyer (captain), Marcus Stoinis, Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, Harpreet Brar, Marco Jansen, Lockie Ferguson, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal.

Impact Player (Potential): Xavier Bartlett, Musheer Khan, Azmatullah Omarzai, Yash Thakur, Vishnu Vinod.

Gujarat Titans (GT): Shubman Gill (captain), Sai Sudarshan, Jos Buttler (wicketkeeper), Glenn Phillips, M Shahrukh Khan, Washington Sundar, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Kagiso Rabada, Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj.

Impact Player (Potential): Sai Kishore, Ishant Sharma, Jason Holder, Arshad Khan, Nishant Sindhu.