Our prediction: RCB will beat GT in Match 42 of IPL 2026.
IPL 2026 Match 42 brings Gujarat Titans (GT) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, on Wednesday, April 30, 2026, at 7:30 PM IST.
RCB are riding a destructive run of form, sitting 2nd on the points table with 12 points. GT bounced back with an 8-wicket win over CSK but still sit 5th with 8 points. With their bowling at full throttle and Kohli crossing 9,000 IPL runs, RCB look formidable.
IPL 2026 Match 42 GT vs RCB Match Info
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Match | Match 42, IPL 2026 (TATA IPL) |
| Teams | Gujarat Titans vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru |
| Date | Wednesday, April 30, 2026 |
| Time | 7:30 PM IST |
| Venue | Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad |
| Live Broadcast | Star Sports Network |
| Live Streaming | JioHotstar |
| GT Captain | Shubman Gill |
| RCB Captain | Rajat Patidar |
| GT Position | 5th (4W, 4L) – 8 Points |
| RCB Position | 2nd (6W, 2L) – 12 Points |
IPL 2026 Match 42 Odds for GT vs RCB
The odds paint a picture that most cricket fans can already see coming. RCB are slight favourites despite being the away side. Their recent form, with six wins from eight games and two dominant back-to-back victories, has impressed the market.
GT’s home advantage at the Narendra Modi Stadium keeps things closer than the points table might suggest. The Titans own a strong 4-0 record at home against MI and have been dominant here in the past. The toss market is nearly even; both captains will want to bowl first under lights.
| Platform | GT Win Odds | RCB Win Odds | Toss Odds (GT) | Toss Odds (RCB) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1xBet | 2.10 | 1.75 | 1.88 | 1.88 |
| Stake | 2.05 | 1.72 | 1.85 | 1.90 |
| 4RABET | 2.15 | 1.78 | 1.90 | 1.85 |
| BetVibe | 2.08 | 1.74 | 1.88 | 1.88 |
IPL 2026 Match 42 Toss Prediction for GT vs RCB
At the Narendra Modi Stadium, the toss is practically a pre-written script.
Dew plays a massive role in evening games at Ahmedabad. With temperatures touching 40°C during the day and dropping to 28–29°C by match time, moisture settles on the outfield from around the 14th–15th over of the second innings.
This makes the ball slippery and reduces the effectiveness of both seam and spin. Chasing teams have a distinct edge here.
In GT’s last home match (vs MI, Match 30), Shubman Gill won the toss and elected to bowl first before the Titans posted 199 batting first in an anomaly. Against CSK in Chennai (Match 37), GT again won the toss and bowled first.
Expect both captains to choose to bowl first if they win the toss.
Toss Prediction: The toss winner will opt to field first.
GT Predicted Playing XI for IPL 2026 Match 42
GT comes into this game riding high after an 8-wicket demolition of CSK at Chepauk on April 26. Sai Sudharsan smashed 87 off 46 balls, following up his century against RCB just two days earlier. The man is in ridiculous form.
The bowling attack, led by Kagiso Rabada (3/25 vs CSK) and Mohammed Siraj, has been the best new-ball pair in IPL 2026. Rashid Khan adds the spin threat, though he was expensive against CSK (21 off 6 balls).
Predicted XI:
| Rank | Player | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sai Sudharsan | Batter (Opener) |
| 2 | Shubman Gill (c) | Batter (Opener) |
| 3 | Jos Buttler (wk) | WK-Batter |
| 4 | Washington Sundar | All-rounder |
| 5 | Jason Holder | All-rounder |
| 6 | Shahrukh Khan | Batter |
| 7 | Rashid Khan | Bowler (Leg-spinner) |
| 8 | Arshad Khan | Bowler |
| 9 | Kagiso Rabada | Bowler |
| 10 | Mohammed Siraj | Bowler |
| 11 | Manav Suthar | Bowler (Left-arm spinner) |
| 12 (Impact) | Prasidh Krishna | Bowler |
Key note: Prasidh Krishna did not play the CSK match but could return as the impact player. He has 12 wickets in 5 innings this season and was in the Purple Cap race earlier.
RCB Predicted Playing XI for IPL 2026 Match 42
If there was ever a time when RCB’s bowling looked genuinely terrifying, it’s now.
Against DC on April 27, Josh Hazlewood (4/12) and Bhuvneshwar Kumar reduced Delhi to 8 for 6 in the powerplay. DC were bowled out for just 75. RCB chased it down in 6.3 overs with 9 wickets to spare. That is not a cricket score; that is a statement.
Virat Kohli crossed 9,000 IPL runs during that chase, finishing unbeaten on 23. He now has 297 runs in the IPL Season 2026 and has hit 28 boundaries in 8 matches.
One concern: Phil Salt appears to be nursing an injury and did not play against DC. Jacob Bethell replaced him and made 20 off 11 balls before getting out.
Predicted XI:
| Rank | Player | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jacob Bethell / Phil Salt | Batter (Opener) |
| 2 | Virat Kohli | Batter (Opener) |
| 3 | Devdutt Padikkal | Batter |
| 4 | Rajat Patidar (c) | Batter |
| 5 | Tim David | Batter |
| 6 | Jitesh Sharma (wk) | WK-Batter |
| 7 | Krunal Pandya | All-rounder |
| 8 | Romario Shepherd | All-rounder |
| 9 | Bhuvneshwar Kumar | Bowler |
| 10 | Josh Hazlewood | Bowler |
| 11 | Suyash Sharma | Bowler (Leg-spinner) |
| 12 (Impact) | Rasikh Salam / Venkatesh Iyer | Bowler / Batter |
Key update: If Phil Salt recovers, he replaces Bethell. Either way, RCB maintains four overseas players. Hazlewood’s return has been transformative. In his last two matches, he has taken 6 wickets at an economy of just 4.50.
Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad Pitch Report – IPL 2026
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Stadium | Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad |
| Capacity | 1,32,000 (world’s largest) |
| Pitch Type | Red and black soil blend; batting-friendly |
| Avg 1st Innings Score (IPL 2026) | ~195 runs |
| Avg 1st Innings Score (IPL overall) | ~181 runs |
| Boundary Size | Square: 61–67m; Straight: 73–89m |
| Best Strategy | Bat second (dew factor) |
| Pace vs Spin Wickets (IPL) | 67% pace, 33% spin |
What to expect on April 30:
The surface will likely be a batting belter consistent with the 195-run average first innings score this season. The red soil portion offers true bounce and rewards aggressive strokeplay.
Pacers can extract early zip and lateral movement with the new ball, particularly in the first 2–3 overs. This is where Hazlewood and Bhuvi could be deadly for RCB, or Rabada and Siraj for GT.
Once the ball softens, it becomes a run-fest. The black soil patches grip for spinners in the middle overs, giving Rashid Khan and Suyash Sharma something to work with.
The straight boundary (73–89m) is notably longer than the square boundary (61–67m). Big hitters target the square regions. Bowlers who can push batters into hitting straight have a better chance of containing runs.
Dew arrives heavily from the 14th to 15th over of the second innings, making it harder for bowlers to grip the ball. This is why chasing teams have a strong edge at this venue.
Ahmedabad Weather Report, April 30, 2026
Late April in Ahmedabad is scorching during the day but manageable by evening. No rain is expected.
| Weather Factor | Details |
|---|---|
| Condition | Clear skies, hot and dry |
| Daytime High | ~40–42°C |
| Evening Temperature | 28–31°C during match hours |
| Humidity | Low to moderate (~35–45%) |
| Wind Speed | Light winds, 10–15 km/h |
| Dew Factor | Significant dew expected from 14th–15th over of 2nd innings |
| Rain Probability | Less than 5%, virtually zero |
| Match Interruption Risk | Very Low, a full 40-over game is expected |
Dream11 team for GT vs RCB
GT vs RCB Head-to-Head – Last 5 Matches
Overall Head-to-Head (IPL History):
| Matches Played | GT Wins | RCB Wins | No Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 3 | 4 | 0 |
Including the April 24 match (Match 34), the head-to-head now stands at 4–3 in RCB’s favour. RCB broke the 3–3 deadlock with that five-wicket chase at Chinnaswamy.
Last 5 Matches:
| Season | Date | Winner | Margin | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IPL 2026 | Apr 24, 2026 | RCB | 5 wickets | M. Chinnaswamy, Bengaluru |
| IPL 2025 | Apr 1, 2025 | GT | 8 wickets | Narendra Modi, Ahmedabad |
| IPL 2024 | Apr 24, 2024 | RCB | 4 wickets | M. Chinnaswamy, Bengaluru |
| IPL 2024 | Mar 30, 2024 | RCB | 9 wickets | Narendra Modi, Ahmedabad |
| IPL 2023 | May 21, 2023 | GT | 6 wickets | M. Chinnaswamy, Bengaluru |
Rivalry Highlights Worth Knowing
Virat Kohli is the top run-scorer in this fixture with 344+ runs across 7 matches. He scored 81 off 44 balls in the most recent clash (Match 34), steering RCB’s chase of 206.
Shubman Gill scored the highest individual score in this rivalry: 104* off 52 balls (IPL 2023 at Chinnaswamy).
Sai Sudharsan hammered 110 off 58 balls (IPL 2026 Match 34) but it went in vain as Kohli and Padikkal overhauled the target.
At the Narendra Modi Stadium specifically, RCB won the only previous meeting (IPL 2024) by 9 wickets as Will Jacks smashed a 41-ball century to chase down 200 in just 16 overs. GT will be desperate to correct that record at home.
Our Prediction: RCB Has Better Chances to Win Against GT in IPL 2026 Match 42
Bottom line up front: RCB win, likely chasing a target in the 185–205 range.
Why RCB Win This
RCB’s bowling is peaking at the right time. Hazlewood (4/12 vs DC) and Bhuvneshwar Kumar have combined to pick up wickets in the powerplay consistently. Against DC, they reduced the opposition to 8 for 6. That kind of new-ball devastation travels well, even to Ahmedabad.
Virat Kohli is the highest run-scorer in GT vs RCB matches. He scored 81 in the last meeting and crossed 9,000 IPL runs. The Narendra Modi Stadium’s true bounce suits his game perfectly.
RCB sit 2nd on the IPL 2026 points table with 12 points, four clear of GT. The defending champions have won three matches in a row, and their net run rate is a healthy +1.101. Momentum is firmly on their side.
Suyash Sharma’s spin has been effective on turning surfaces. Against DC, the ball was gripping and turning. The black soil patches at the Narendra Modi Stadium could give him similar assistance in the middle overs.
Why GT Could Spring an Upset
Home advantage matters. GT has a strong record at the Narendra Modi Stadium. They are 4-0 against MI at this venue and just chased down 159 at Chennai, so confidence is high.
Sai Sudharsan is in the form of his life. He scored 110 vs RCB (Match 34) and followed it up with 87 vs CSK (Match 37). Back-to-back game-defining knocks from a player who just turned 23.
Rabada and Siraj with the new ball are just as lethal as Hazlewood and Bhuvi. Rabada’s 3/25 at Chepauk showed he can be devastating on any surface. If they remove Kohli early, RCB’s chase could unravel.
Final Verdict
This will be closer than the points table suggests. GT’s home record and Sudharsan’s form make them dangerous. But RCB’s bowling depth, Kohli’s consistency, and their overall squad balance give them the edge.
RCB is the more complete side right now. They defend well, they chase better, and they have match-winners across all departments. GT needs everything to click simultaneously. RCB just need Hazlewood and Kohli to show up. Which they tend to do.
Predicted Winner: Royal Challengers Bengaluru
This prediction is based on publicly available squad data, injury reports, venue stats, betting odds, and historical records as of April 28, 2026. Official playing XIs will be confirmed at the toss.
