GT Vs KKR: ‘Do or die’ match for Kolkata, Gujarat eyes hat-trick of victory; Know the complete analysis before the match
GT vs KKR: IPL 2026 has entered its exciting phase and now every match is playing an important role in deciding the direction of the playoffs. In this series, the 25th match of the tournament will be played between Gujarat Titans (GT) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) today i.e. on Friday (April 17) at Narendra Modi Stadium in Gujarat. While Gujarat will try to make it to the top-4 in the points table by winning this match, for Kolkata this match has become like ‘do or die’.
The current situation of both the teams is completely opposite. Gujarat have had a balanced performance so far with 2 losses out of 4 and 2 consecutive wins and a win against KKR could put them in an even stronger position. On the other hand, after losing 4 out of 5 matches and having one match suspended, KKR is going through a phase of continuous defeats and now every match has become decisive for them.
Gujarat eyes top-4
Gujarat Titans (GT), led by Shubman Gill, has shown good balance this season. The team has depth in both its batting and bowling departments. If GT wins this match, it can directly enter the top-4, which will make the path to the playoffs easier.
The opening pair of Sai Sudarshan and Gill is giving a strong start to the team, while Jos Buttler and Glenn Phillips can provide momentum in the middle order. In bowling, experienced players like Rashid Khan, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna and Kagiso Rabada can challenge any batting order.
Last chance for a comeback for KKR?
This season has been very disappointing so far for Kolkata Knight Riders. The team is facing continuous defeats and remains at the bottom of the points table. In such a situation, this match has become very important for KKR.
Under the captaincy of Ajinkya Rahane, the team needs improvement in both batting and bowling. Although the team has match-winning players like Rinku Singh, Sunil Narayan and Cameron Green, but these players will have to perform collectively.
head to head record
In the 4 matches played so far between the two teams, Gujarat Titans have had the upper hand. GT has won 3 matches and KKR has won 1 match.
However, KKR has a memorable win story. In 2023, on the same ground, finisher Rinku Singh had given the team a historic victory by hitting five consecutive sixes in the last over, which is still fresh in the hearts of the fans.
Probable Playing XII
Gujarat Titans (GT):
Sai Sudarshan, Shubman Gill (captain), Jos Buttler (wicketkeeper), Washington Sundar, Glenn Phillips, Shahrukh Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Manav Suthar/Ashok Sharma
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR):
Ajinkya Rahane (captain), Sunil Narine, Tim Seifert (wicketkeeper), Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Cameron Green, Rinku Singh, Rovman Powell, Ramandeep Singh, Anukul Roy, Vaibhav Arora, Kartik Tyagi, Varun Chakraborty.
IPL 2026 Points Table (after 24 matches)
| rank | Team | match | Victory | Garland | NR | score | net run rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Punjab Kings (PBKS) | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 9 | +1.067 |
| 2 | Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 8 | +1.503 |
| 3 | Rajasthan Royals (RR) | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 8 | +0.889 |
| 4 | Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 4 | +0.576 |
| 5 | Delhi Capitals (DC) | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | +0.322 |
| 6 | Gujarat Titans (GT) | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | -0.029 |
| 7 | Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 4 | -0.804 |
| 8 | Chennai Super Kings (CSK) | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 4 | -0.846 |
| 9 | Mumbai Indians (MI) | 5 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 2 | -1.076 |
| 10 | Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) | 5 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 1 | -1.383 |
match equation
If seen on paper, Gujarat Titans look strong in this match. The team’s balance, form and confidence give it the edge. However, circumstances change rapidly in T20 cricket, and KKR also has players who can single-handedly change the course of the match.
If Kolkata has to win this match, it will have to perform better in every department. Gujarat would like to maintain its momentum and take a strong step towards the playoffs.
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