Aakash Chopra Backs PBKS To Keep 1 Change In Pbks Vs Gt
pbks vs gt now points to continuity, not churn. Aakash Chopra backed Punjab Kings to stick close to their original XI for their IPL 2026 match against Gujarat Titans on Sunday, May 3, with Lockie Ferguson expected to stay ahead of Xavier Bartlett.
Aakash Chopra On Punjab Kings
Chopra said Punjab Kings could go back to the original team that played all the games, with one replacement. He backed Vijaykumar Vyshak to come in for Harpreet Brar, Shashank Singh to return for Suryansh Shedge, and Ferguson to continue in Bartlett’s place.
He also pointed to the numbers behind the call. Punjab Kings had the best strike rate in IPL 2026 at 186, had played the fewest dot balls with 224, had lost the fewest wickets, and had lost the fewest matches. Even after the defeat to Rajasthan Royals, Chopra argued they had done enough to keep the structure intact.
Punjab Kings XI And Batting Form
That faith was tied to a batting unit that had kept Punjab Kings near the top of the table before this fixture. They were on 13 points from eight matches, while Gujarat Titans sat fifth with 10 points from nine games.
Chopra also framed one matchup he wanted to see most: Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya against Kagiso Rabada and Mohammed Siraj. He said Shubman Gill gives his two fast bowlers three overs apiece at the start, which sets up a direct early test for Punjab’s openers.
Gujarat Titans Top Three
On the other side, Chopra said Gujarat Titans carried heavy reliance on their top three. He described Gill as slightly more aggressive, said Sai Sudharsan was batting well, and added that Jos Buttler was batting beautifully.
For Punjab Kings, the practical choice is simple: keep the shape that has produced 13 points in eight matches and only make the one switch Chopra expects. For Gujarat Titans, the pressure stays on the same trio to keep carrying the scoring load when pbks vs gt begins.
