New Delhi: Two captains. Shabman Gul And Shreyas Iyer – will be eyeing his first points of IPL 2026 when Gujarat Titans take on Punjab Kings in Multanpur on Tuesday.For Gill, India’s Test and ODI captain, this season presents a great opportunity to reassert his place in T20 cricket. Despite being named T20I vice-captain at one stage, a decline in form saw him miss out on the T20 World Cup squad – a tournament India eventually won. As a result, the spotlight will be firmly on how he adapts his game to the evolving demands of T20 batting.For Iyer, the goal will be to put the disappointment of the 2025 finals behind him. After leading Kolkata Knight Riders to the title in 2024, despite this success he was released before the IPL 2025 mega auction.He was then bought by Punjab Kings for Rs 26.75 crore.
Will he finally lead Punjab Kings to the title this time?Ahead of the clash between Gujarat Titans and Punjab Kings, here’s a look at five players who could change the course of the game:Sai Sudharsan: Gujarat Titans will be hoping for a solid opening stand from the right-left combination of Sai Sudharsan and skipper Shibman Gill. Sai was the highest run-scorer last season with 759 runs and returned after recovering from a rib injury. His recent domestic form, which includes a century and several half-centuries, suggests he can pick up where he left off. So far in 40 IPL matches, the left-hander has scored 1,793 runs at an average of 49.80 and a strike rate of 145.89.Shabman Gul: If he leaves, he can end any attack in the world. While Gayle has been among the most consistent performers in the IPL – second only to Virat Kohli in scoring runs since 2023 – questions remain about his scoring tempo. He had a brilliant season last year, scoring 650 runs in 15 matches at a strike rate of 155.87 and an average of 50. Hungry to make a statement in the T20 format, Gayle will look to adopt a more aggressive approach this season. He has scored 3,866 runs in 118 IPL matches at an average of 39.44 and a strike rate of 138.71, including four centuries.Shreyas Iyer: Like Gill, Iyer will be keen to make a statement. They will want to start IPL 2026 with both a win and a solid performance with the bat. After guiding Punjab Kings to the finals last year, they will be eager to cross the finals hurdle this time. In his IPL career, Iyer has played 133 matches, scoring 3,731 runs at an average of 34.22 and a strike rate of 133.34.Priyansh Arya: A fearless striker of the ball, Priyansh Arya has quickly made a name for himself and cemented his place as the regular opener for Punjab Kings. A product of the Delhi Premier League — where he famously hit six sixes in an over — he was PBKS’ third highest run-scorer in IPL 2025. Along with Prabhasmaran Singh, he has the ability to dominate the powerplay and provide explosive starts. He also scored the fifth fastest IPL century (39 balls) against CSK in his debut season. Punjab Kings will hope to continue their attacking form.Arsdeep Singh: Fresh off India’s T20 World Cup triumph, the left-arm pacer will be brimming with confidence. Arsdeep was the highest wicket-taker for Punjab Kings in the 2025 edition with 21 wickets in 17 matches and the sixth highest wicket-taker overall. Known for his ability to swing the ball and strike in the powerplay, he will be a key bowler this season. Arsdeep has taken 97 wickets in 82 IPL matches and is just three wickets away from reaching the 100-wicket mark.
