IPL 2026 Live – PBKS vs GT Live Streaming Free – Star Sports Live Match – Punjab Kings vs Gujarat Titans, 4th Match Live Online

Punjab Kings vs Gujarat Titans, 4th Match, Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026Date: Tuesday, March 31, 2026
Time: 7:30 PM Local Time / 7:30 PM IST Venue: Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur (New Chandigarh), Punjab, India

The Mullanpur track in New Chandigarh is a balanced, high‑scoring surface that generally rewards batters once they clear the powerplay. The pitch offers steady bounce and carry, with early‑on assistance for seamers thanks to some lateral movement under lights.

Typical first‑innings scores hover around the 170–185 range, though big totals are not uncommon if the top order fires. Spinners can come into play in the middle overs if they bowl tight lines, but boundaries are relatively long, so timing and placement matter more than raw power. While chasing can be slightly easier due to dew, the pitch is not an outright batting paradise and still allows quality bowling to hold its own.

Expect a warm, clear evening in Mullanpur with no rain forecast. Dew is likely to increase marginally as the match progresses, which may tilt the toss decision towards teams preferring to chase. Temperatures will be comfortable for batting, with minimal wind interference.

This is the season‑opening clash for both teams in IPL 2026, so points are secondary to momentum and early‑season confidence. Last year, Punjab Kings finished as runners‑up, while Gujarat Titans are still chasing the consistency of their 2022 title‑winning campaign.

For Punjab, the script is about redeeming their “almost achieved” tag—they want to prove their 2025 final appearance was no fluke. For Gujarat, the aim is to recapture their original balance and show that adding overseas firepower has not diluted their core structure. This contest also sets the tone for both dressing rooms and could shape how the rest of the season unfolds for them.

PBKS vs GT Match Details

• Event: IPL 2026 4th T20
• Teams: Punjab Kings vs Gujarat Titans
• Date: 31 March 2026
• Time: 7:00 PM IST
• Venue: Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium

IPL Live streaming

IPL 2026 kicked off today, March 28, with the RCB vs SRH opener at Chinnaswamy Stadium. The tournament wraps up on May 31 in Bengaluru, featuring 84 league matches plus 4 playoffs for a total of 88 high-octane games.

League stage runs daily from March 28 through late May, with playoffs starting soon after—Qualifier 1 around May 24-25, leading to the grand final on May 31 at 7:30 PM IST

Punjab Kings (PBKS)
Punjab rode an explosive middle order and a strong spin‑cum‑all‑rounder core to the 2025 final. They have retained many of the same match‑winners, while adding a few fresh overseas names to back up Shreyas Iyer’s leadership. Their batting depth—especially from No. 3 down to No. 7—remains a standout feature, and they thrive in high‑scoring games where the equation stays in flux till the final overs.

However, their top‑order vulnerability against new‑ball swing and early‑phase leg‑spin has been exposed in patches. If Punjab loses early wickets, the pressure can mount on the middle order, even if they still have the firepower to chase or recover.

Gujarat Titans (GT)
Gujarat has evolved into one of the most balanced squads in the league, blending experience with young Indian talent. They reloaded their overseas quota with players like Jason Holder, Luke Wood, and others, giving their bowling attack more variety and control.

Their batting, built around Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan’s opening combo, is among the most settled in the tournament. Gujarat’s strength lies in their middle‑order composure and disciplined bowling, especially in the death overs. Their main concern remains occasional inconsistency lower down the order, where one or two collapses can significantly dent recoveries.

Key Talking Points

• Gill vs Iyer duel: Both captains are carrying the weight of opinion that they must finally win a T20 title in dominant fashion. How Shubman Gill handles Punjab’s spin‑heavy attack and how Shreyas Iyer counters the Titans’ pace‑spin mix will define the narrative.

• New‑ball contests: Gujarat’s pace attack, led by Mohammed Siraj and Kagiso Rabada, has the edge if the Mullanpur surface offers early movement. Punjab, in reply, will test them if they choose to bat first.

• Spin vs middle order: Punjab’s spin‑all‑rounders and Gujarat’s Rashid Khan will look to choke the middle overs. Whoever wins the battle in overs 7–15 is likely to control the match.

• Death‑overs execution: With Gujarat’s tight bowling plans and Punjab’s explosive finishers, the final 4–5 overs could decide the contest in a flash.

Head‑to‑Head Summary

• Total IPL meetings (PBKS vs GT): 6 matches (as of IPL 2025).

• Gujarat Titans wins: 3

• Punjab Kings wins: 3

Last 5 meetings (IPL 2022–2025):

1. IPL 2022, Navi Mumbai (May 3): Punjab Kings won by 8 wickets.

2. IPL 2022, Mumbai (April 8): Gujarat Titans won by 6 wickets.

3. IPL 2023, Mohali (April 13): Gujarat Titans won by 6 wickets.

4. IPL 2024, Ahmedabad (April 4): Punjab Kings won by 3 wickets.

5. IPL 2024, Mullanpur (April 21): Gujarat Titans won by 3 wickets.

This history shows a tight, back‑and‑forth rivalry with both sides capable of winning at home and away. No team has a clear psychological edge statistically, which makes this 2026 opener even more unpredictable.

Team Analysis

Punjab Kings – Strengths, Weaknesses, Key Players

• Strengths:

  • Deep batting from No. 3–7, with explosive finishers.

  • Quality spin‑leaning attack with all‑rounders who can bowl death overs.

  • Strong big‑moment temperament after the 2025 final run.

• Weaknesses:

  • Occasional top‑order fragility early in the innings.

  • Over‑reliance on a few key batters if wickets fall cheaply.

• Key players:

  • Shreyas Iyer (captain, batter): Anchors and accelerates the middle order.

  • Prabhsimran Singh (wicket‑keeper): Provides quick starts at the top.

  • Marcus Stoinis / Azmatullah Omarzai: Power‑hitting all‑rounders and death‑bowling options.

  • Rahul Chahar / Harpreet Brar: Spin duo crucial on Mullanpur’s flat surface.

Gujarat Titans – Strengths, Weaknesses, Key Players

• Strengths:

  • One of the most stable top‑order pairs in the league (Gill–Sudharsan).

  • Balanced bowling with fast‑bowling variety and Rashid Khan’s leg‑spin.

  • Strong middle‑order composure and tactical discipline under pressure.

• Weaknesses:

  • Inconsistent finishes when the top order is pegged back.

  • Occasional gaps in overseas‑all‑rounder effectiveness if conditions don’t suit them.

• Key players:

  • Shubman Gill (captain, batter): Consistent, stylish opener who can carry the innings.

  • Sai Sudharsan: Reliable technical left‑hander, ideal partner for Gill.

  • Rashid Khan: Match‑up breaker in middle overs and late‑order hitter.

  • Mohammed Siraj / Kagiso Rabada: Pace spearheads who can exploit early movement.

Probable Playing XI

Punjab Kings (PBKS – Probable XI):
Prabhsimran Singh (WK), Priyansh Arya, Cooper Connolly, Shreyas Iyer (C), Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rahul Chahar, Harpreet Brar, Arshdeep Singh.

Gujarat Titans (GT – Probable XI):
Shubman Gill (C), Sai Sudharsan, Jos Buttler, David Miller, Rahul Tewatia, Shahrukh Khan, Rashid Khan, Washington Sundar, R Sai Kishore, Mohammed Siraj, Kagiso Rabada.

Match Prediction

This is likely to be a high‑scoring, balanced contest on a pitch that rewards both bat and ball. Gujarat’s more settled top order and tighter bowling plans give them a slight edge, especially if they win the toss and choose to chase under lights. Punjab’s explosive middle and death‑overs prowess means they can always counter‑attack, but Gujarat’s all‑round balance and recent record at Mullanpur make them marginal favourites.

Prediction: Gujarat Titans to win by 8–15 runs or 4–6 wickets, depending on whether Punjab bats first or chases. If the top order of either side holds firm, the total may cross 190, and the side managing better control in overs 7–15 will likely pocket the two points.