Punjab Kings face Gujarat Titans at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur, Chandigarh on Tuesday (2pm local). Both sides are yet to play a game in IPL 2026 – this is their season opener. PBKS at home, GT making the trip north. Six H2H meetings since 2022, perfectly split 3-3.

Venue – Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur

The Mullanpur ground averages 172.6 in the first innings – above T20 par, and a surface that rewards batters who set a target. The bat-first win rate of 58.3% is the most important number here: teams posting first have won more often than not, and with 15.6 sixes per game on average, this is a ground that produces a spectacle.

Spin is the key weapon: 7.68 economy compared to 9.34 for seam. GT have Rashid Khan and Sai Kishore – both will be dangerous. PBKS have Yuzvendra Chahal, who has 11 wickets at this ground, making him the top wicket-taker here among all players.

PBKS have a 3-7 record at Mullanpur, but the last three results here went their way – and Shashank Singh is their standout performer at this ground with 218 runs.

Form and H2H

Neither side has played a game in IPL 2026 yet – this is both teams’ season opener, so there is no current form to reference. The H2H record is the best guide we have.

Six meetings since 2022 and it’s perfectly locked at 3-3. PBKS have won the last three, including a 243/5 chase of GT’s 232 last March. Home advantage and recent head-to-head momentum both point PBKS’s way going into this one.

Predicted Lineups

Punjab Kings (likely XI): Prabhsimran Singh (wk), Priyansh Arya, Shreyas Iyer (c), Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Azmatullah Omarzai, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Vijaykumar Vyshak, and others based on conditions. Check the fixture page for confirmed changes after the toss.

Gujarat Titans (likely XI): Shubman Gill (c), Sai Sudharsan, Kusal Mendis (wk), Shahrukh Khan, Washington Sundar, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Sai Kishore, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, and others based on conditions. Check the fixture page for confirmed changes after the toss.

Lineups based on 2026 squad data. Check the Statz Cricket projections tab for any confirmed changes after the toss.

Key Players to Watch

Shubman Gill is the H2H runs leader with 329 from six meetings – more than 3x anyone else in this fixture. He’s GT’s engine and if he goes early, their chase threats dry up fast.

Sai Sudharsan is GT’s second-best H2H performer (256 runs) and the top scorer at this venue from the visiting side (112 runs). A consistent threat even when the rest of the GT batting misfires.

Yuzvendra Chahal is the dominant bowler at Mullanpur – 11 wickets at the ground overall. On a spin-friendly surface (7.68 economy vs 9.34 for seam), he’s the man PBKS will look to build pressure through the middle overs.

Shashank Singh is the home ground specialist – 218 runs at Mullanpur, 113 in H2H against GT. He’s the finisher PBKS rely on and a genuine threat in the final overs.

Verdict

PBKS at home, with three straight H2H wins and a ground that suits their spinners. GT are a quality side but this is a tough ask on the road against a team that knows how to win this fixture. The bat-first advantage at Mullanpur (58.3%) is also worth noting if PBKS win the toss.

PBKS to win, batting first if they take the toss.

Bet Builder Angles

Check the Statz Cricket Bet Builder for live player prop hit rates. Key angles:

• Yuzvendra Chahal to take 2+ wickets – 11 ground wickets, spin surface, GT can be susceptible in the middle overs
• Shubman Gill to score 30+ runs – 329 H2H runs, GT’s best batter by a distance
• Shashank Singh to score 25+ runs – 218 Mullanpur runs, 113 H2H against GT – a reliable finisher at home
• Match total over 320 – avg total of 332.9 at Mullanpur, both teams capable of posting 165+

All stats and projections from Statz Cricket. Check the upcoming fixtures page for the latest on all IPL 2026 matches.