IPL 2026: Gujarat Titans eyes hat-trick of wins as winless Kolkata Knight Riders visits

Gujarat Titans returns to the familiar comforts of the Narendra Modi Stadium with momentum on its side as it gears up to face Kolkata Knight Riders in Friday’s Indian Premier League clash.

Back-to-back away wins have lent a certain assurance to Shubman Gill’s side, and more importantly, its core has begun to click. Gill’s silken touch at the top has been complemented by Jos Buttler rediscovering his fluency – the duo laying the foundation for totals of substance. It has, in many ways, echoed Titans’ tried-and-tested template — a dominant top order setting the tone.

With the batters doing the heavy lifting, Rashid Khan’s return to the wickets column has further rounded off a unit that suddenly looks well-balanced. The Afghan leg-spinner’s knack of striking in the middle overs adds bite to an attack that thrives on control as much as it does on breakthroughs.

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With the top-three firing and Rashid regaining rhythm, Titans will fancy their chances of completing a hat-trick of wins.

If Titans arrive with wind in their sails, Kolkata Knight Riders finds itself searching for direction. The only winless team so far in IPL 2026, Ajinkya Rahane’s side has been hamstrung by injuries and an unsettled combination.

The lack of continuity has reflected in its performances, with neither the batting nor the bowling unit managing to stamp authority.

Much of the spotlight will be on Cameron Green to justify his hefty price tag with a match-defining contribution. With Matheesha Pathirana unavailable despite being cleared by Sri Lanka Cricket, KKR’s bowling responsibilities will rest heavily on Kartik Tyagi, who has shown promise, and the seasoned spin duo of Varun Chakaravarthy and Sunil Narine.

For KKR, rediscovering its spin chokehold could be the key. But against a Gujarat side finding its groove, the task at hand appears anything but straightforward.

Published on Apr 16, 2026