Gujarat Titans will be hoping the return of captain Shubman Gill can lift their campaign as they face an in-form Delhi Capitals on Wednesday. Gill missed the last outing because of a muscle spasm, and opening partner Sai Sudharsan has now confirmed the skipper is back in the XI. The Titans will also be looking to shake off the disappointment of their most recent home defeat to Rajasthan Royals in Ahmedabad, where Rashid Khan led the side as stand-in captain.
Quick facts
- Match: Delhi Capitals vs Gujarat Titans (IPL 2026)
- Day/Date: Wednesday
- Venue: Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi
- Start time: 7:30 PM IST
- Head-to-head (7 matches): Delhi Capitals 3, Gujarat Titans 4
- Gill status: Returning after missing the previous game due to a muscle spasm
Delhi enter the contest with momentum after winning both of their matches, but the same theme has hovered over their batting. Their top order has continued to falter early, with both games seeing quick collapses. Those setbacks have often been rescued by Sameer Rizvi, who remained unbeaten on 70 and then followed it with a rapid 90 that swung outcomes in the team’s favour.
Even with wins on the board, Delhi’s biggest names have not yet delivered the impact they are expected to provide. KL Rahul and Nitish Rana are still searching for a breakthrough, yet the franchise has avoided making changes because the results have started well. That balance—surviving early trouble while relying on late accelerations—will be a key storyline against Gujarat.
Gujarat’s situation is different, but the pressure is just as real. The Titans have still found themselves on the losing side despite strong starts from the top of the innings. Their recurring problem has been the middle overs, where the batting has failed to convert promising positions into platforms, letting matches slip away.
Numbers four to seven have not delivered enough consistency, and Jos Buttler’s dip in form has only intensified the concerns. With both teams fighting separate battles—Delhi’s top-order instability and Gujarat’s middle-order collapse—this game becomes an early-season test of whether they can correct their main weaknesses quickly.
Head-to-head
They have met seven times in the IPL, with Delhi Capitals winning three and Gujarat Titans taking four. The matchup history tilts slightly towards the Titans, but the current form and the way each team handles its batting problems may decide the contest more than past meetings.
Pitch report
The Arun Jaitley Stadium surface is expected to play like a batter-friendly wicket, though recent rain in Delhi could bring some early movement. Pacers may get a touch of swing and seam at the start, but the ground is known for a flatter deck and short boundaries, typically supporting high scoring.
As the innings progresses, the pitch usually settles and stroke-making becomes easier, which increases the value of timing and shot selection. Dew often becomes a factor in the second innings, and that tends to make chasing the preferred option for the captain winning the toss. The average first-innings total at this venue is estimated to be in the 171 to 180 range.
New Delhi weather update
Afternoon showers could disrupt the build-up, with rain and thunderstorms forecast between 1 PM and 3 PM. There is a 51% chance of meaningful rainfall, which may affect pitch and outfield conditions if it arrives on time.
The outlook improves later, with a sunnier spell expected between 4 PM and 6 PM to help the ground dry. There is also a small chance of light showers, but crucially no rain is expected after 7 PM, when clear skies and strong winds are projected—conditions that should allow the match to run uninterrupted.
Predicted XIs
Delhi Capitals predicted XI: KL Rahul (wk), Pathum Nissanka, Nitish Rana, Sameer Rizvi, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Axar Patel (C), Vipraj Nigam, Lungi Ngidi, Kuldeep Yadav, T Natarajan. Impact Sub: Mukesh Kumar.
Gujarat Titans predicted XI: Shubman Gill (C), Sai Sudharsan, Jos Buttler (wk), Glenn Phillips, Washington Sundar, Shahrukh Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Kagiso Rabada/Jason Holder, Ashok Sharma, Mohammed Siraj. Impact Sub: Prasidh Krishna.
Where to watch
The Delhi Capitals vs Gujarat Titans clash will be played at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi, starting at 7:30 PM IST. The match will be broadcast on the Star Sports Network, with live streaming available on JioHotstar.
Squads
Delhi Capitals squad: KL Rahul (w), Pathum Nissanka, Nitish Rana, Sameer Rizvi, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Axar Patel (c), Vipraj Nigam, Lungi Ngidi, Kuldeep Yadav, T Natarajan, Mukesh Kumar, Ashutosh Sharma, Auqib Nabi Dar, Dushmantha Chameera, Karun Nair, Mitchell Starc, Kyle Jamieson, Ajay Jadav Mandal, Prithvi Shaw, Tripurana Vijay, Abishek Porel, Sahil Parakh, Madhav Tiwari.
Gujarat Titans squad: Sai Sudharsan, Kumar Kushagra, Jos Buttler (w), Glenn Phillips, Washington Sundar, Rahul Tewatia, Shahrukh Khan, Rashid Khan (c), Kagiso Rabada, Ashok Sharma, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Jason Holder, Manav Suthar, Anuj Rawat, Jayant Yadav, Shubman Gill, Luke Wood, Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore, Tom Banton, Kulwant Khejroliya, Arshad Khan, Gurnoor Brar, Nishant Sindhu, Ishant Sharma.
