Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: Two captains – Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer – will be eyeing their first points of IPL 2026 when Gujarat Titans take on Punjab Kings in Mullanpur on Tuesday.For Gill, India’s Test and ODI skipper, the season presents a big opportunity to reassert his place in T20 cricket. Despite being named T20I vice-captain at one stage, a dip in form saw him miss out on the T20 World Cup squad – a tournament India eventually went on to win. As a result, the spotlight will firmly be on how he adapts his game to the evolving demands of T20 batting.For Iyer, the aim will be to put the disappointment of the 2025 final behind him. After leading Kolkata Knight Riders to the title in 2024, he was released ahead of the IPL 2025 mega-auction despite that success.He was then bought by Punjab Kings for a whopping Rs 26.75 crore.
Will he finally go all the way and lead Punjab Kings to a title this time?Ahead of the mouth-watering 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 their right-left combination of Sai Sudharsan and captain Shubman Gill. Sai was last season’s leading run-scorer with 759 runs and returns after recovering from a rib injury. His recent domestic form, including a century and multiple half-centuries, suggests he could pick up where he left off. In 40 IPL matches so far, the left-hander has scored 1,793 runs at an average of 49.80 and a strike rate of 145.89.Shubman Gill: If he gets going, he can dismantle any attack in the world. While Gill has been among the most consistent performers in the IPL – second only to Virat Kohli in run-scoring since 2023 – questions around his scoring tempo remain. He had an impressive season last year, scoring 650 runs in 15 matches at a strike rate of 155.87 and averaging 50. Hungry to make a statement in the T20 format, Gill 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 also be keen to make a statement. He will want to begin IPL 2026 with both a win and a solid performance with the bat. After leading Punjab Kings to the final last year, he will be eager to cross the final 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 a 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. Alongside Prabhsimran Singh, he has the ability to dominate the Powerplay and provide explosive starts. He also recorded the fifth-fastest IPL hundred (39 balls) against CSK in his debut season. Punjab Kings will hope he continues his attacking form.Arshdeep Singh: Fresh from India’s T20 World Cup triumph, the left-arm pacer will be brimming with confidence. Arshdeep was Punjab Kings’ leading wicket-taker in the 2025 edition with 21 wickets in 17 matches and finished as 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. Arshdeep has taken 97 wickets in 82 IPL matches and is just three wickets away from reaching the 100-wicket mark.
