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PBKS vs GT Playing XI Today IPL 2026: Probable Lineups, Team News & Squad Updates
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The PBKS vs GT playing XI for tonight’s IPL 2026 Match 4 is expected to be confirmed at the toss (7:00 PM IST). The biggest team news: Lockie Ferguson is absent on parental leave, meaning PBKS will open their overseas pace slots differently than last season. GT, meanwhile, field a relatively settled XI with Mohammed Siraj making his debut in GT colours. Here are the probable lineups for both teams tonight at Mullanpur.
Punjab Kings (PBKS) Probable Playing XI
- Priyansh Arya — Opener (LHB)
- Prabhsimran Singh (wk) — Opener (RHB)
- Shreyas Iyer (c) — Middle Order (RHB)
- Cooper Connolly — Middle Order (LHB, Off-spin)
- Marcus Stoinis — Middle Order (RHB, RFM)
- Nehal Wadhera — Middle Order (LHB)
- Shashank Singh — Lower Order (RHB)
- Marco Jansen — All-Rounder (LHB, LFM)
- Arshdeep Singh — Bowler (LHB, LFM)
- Yuzvendra Chahal — Spinner (RHB, LBG)
- Ben Dwarshuis / Azmatullah Omarzai — Bowler (10th slot, pace or allround cover)
The interesting selection debate is at number 11 — whether PBKS go with Ben Dwarshuis (left-arm pace, Australian) for the extra pacer on this bounce-friendly surface, or Azmatullah Omarzai (Afghanistan allrounder) for additional batting depth. Given Mullanpur’s pace-friendly conditions and the absence of Ferguson, the pure pace option in Dwarshuis makes more tactical sense tonight.
Cooper Connolly plays a crucial role as a batting allrounder — his off-spin can be useful in the middle overs and he gives the XI useful depth from position 4. Shashank Singh, who has 218 runs at Mullanpur across 10 appearances (the ground’s top scorer for PBKS), is a certainty in the middle order.
Gujarat Titans (GT) Probable Playing XI
- Shubman Gill (c) — Opener (RHB)
- Sai Sudharsan — Opener (LHB)
- Jos Buttler (wk) — Top Order (RHB)
- Washington Sundar — Middle Order (RHB, OB)
- Glenn Phillips — Middle Order (RHB)
- Shahrukh Khan — Lower Order (RHB)
- Rahul Tewatia — Lower Order (LHB, LBG)
- Jason Holder — All-Rounder (RHB, RFM)
- Rashid Khan — Spinner (RHB, LBG)
- Prasidh Krishna — Bowler (RHB, RFM)
- Mohammed Siraj — Bowler (RHB, RFM)
The most anticipated XI in IPL 2026 so far. GT’s batting lineup is stacked at the top — Gill, Sudharsan, and Buttler as the top three might be the most dangerous combination in the competition. Washington Sundar at four gives them a genuine batting all-rounder who can also bowl 4 overs of off-spin in the middle.
The bowling attack is exceptional. Kagiso Rabada — the fixture’s leading wicket-taker with 10 scalps in 6 PBKS vs GT meetings — is notably absent from this XI based on current reports suggesting he may miss the early matches. Prasidh Krishna and Siraj form the pace pair, Rashid leads the spin, and Jason Holder provides the seam-all-round cover. If Rabada is fit and available, he’s the first name on the teamsheet and could push Holder or Phillips out of the XI.
Team News & Injury Updates
- Lockie Ferguson (PBKS): Absent — on parental leave. Expected to join the squad in the coming weeks. Xavier Bartlett and Ben Dwarshuis compete for his overseas pace slot.
- Kagiso Rabada (GT): Availability uncertain — some reports suggest he may miss the early games. If fit, he replaces Jason Holder or shifts the XI composition significantly. Holder remains the back-up option.
- Pat Cummins (SRH): Not relevant to this match but worth noting — GT’s bowling attack benefits from Rabada’s availability.
Key Changes from Last Match
- PBKS: Season opener — no previous XI to compare. First appearance of the Priyansh Arya + Prabhsimran Singh opening combination in 2026 after their successful 2025 partnership.
- GT: Season opener — Mohammed Siraj features for the first time in GT colours after his IPL 2026 transfer from SRH. He replaces pace resources from their previous years’ setup.
Head-to-Head: PBKS vs GT Playing XI Comparison
Batting: GT hold the edge on paper. Gill-Sudharsan-Buttler as a top three is as good as it gets in T20 cricket. PBKS have more all-round batting depth — Iyer, Stoinis, Connolly, and Shashank can all hit — but GT’s top order has greater match-winning potential.
Bowling: PBKS are stronger in pace conditions like Mullanpur. Arshdeep-Jansen-Dwarshuis on a bouncy surface is a formidable new-ball triple. GT counter with Siraj and Prasidh Krishna, while Rashid is a huge edge in the middle overs. If Rabada is playing, GT’s bowling matches or beats PBKS’s.
The XI comparison is genuinely close. PBKS look slightly stronger in conditions tonight — but GT have the firepower at the top of the order to take any game away from any bowling attack.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Punjab Kings playing XI today in IPL 2026?
Punjab Kings probable playing XI for today vs GT: Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh (wk), Shreyas Iyer (c), Cooper Connolly, Marcus Stoinis, Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, Marco Jansen, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal, Ben Dwarshuis. Lockie Ferguson is absent on parental leave.
What is Gujarat Titans playing XI today IPL 2026?
Gujarat Titans probable playing XI for today vs PBKS: Shubman Gill (c), Sai Sudharsan, Jos Buttler (wk), Washington Sundar, Glenn Phillips, Shahrukh Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Jason Holder, Rashid Khan, Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj. Kagiso Rabada’s availability is uncertain.
Is Lockie Ferguson playing today for Punjab Kings?
No, Lockie Ferguson is not playing today for Punjab Kings. He is on parental leave and is expected to miss PBKS’s early IPL 2026 matches. Ben Dwarshuis or Xavier Bartlett will fill the overseas pace slot alongside Marco Jansen tonight.
What changes have Punjab Kings made for today’s match?
It’s PBKS’s season opener, so there’s no direct change from a previous match. The key selection difference from their IPL 2025 setup is the absence of Lockie Ferguson (parental leave), with Ben Dwarshuis taking his overseas pace slot, and Cooper Connolly arriving as a new batting allrounder addition.
PBKS vs GT playing XI comparison — who is stronger today?
The XIs are evenly matched. GT have a stronger top-three batting lineup (Gill, Sudharsan, Buttler) and Rashid Khan’s middle-overs dominance gives them a bowling edge in spin. PBKS are stronger in pace conditions at Mullanpur, with Arshdeep-Jansen-Dwarshuis as their bowling core and more batting depth through the middle order.
The PBKS vs GT playing XI today in IPL 2026 sees both teams at near full strength despite Ferguson’s absence. The key battle tonight is PBKS’s pace attack exploiting Mullanpur’s conditions vs GT’s explosive top order — the team that wins the powerplay battle is most likely to win this match.
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