KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane and GT captain Shubman Gill (Pic credit: IPL) NEW DELHI: Winless and under mounting pressure, Kolkata Knight Riders made a bold call to the toss, bringing in Tim Seifert for Finn Allen as they opted to bat first against Gujarat Titans in their Indian Premier League match at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Friday.With four defeats to start their IPL 2026 campaign, KKR are desperate to turn things around and skipper Ajinkya Rahane has made it clear that the team is looking to change its approach.IPL 2026: GT vs KKR Live Score
Seifert comes as KKR shuffle XI
The biggest point before the match was KKR’s change at the top with Seifert replacing Allen in the playing eleven. The move signals a shift in strategy as the franchise looks for a spark in its languishing batting unit.“Just one change. Tim Seifert comes in for Finn Allen,” confirmed Rahane at the toss, underscoring the importance of fresh energy in a struggling line-up.KKR have tried several combinations in both batting and chasing scenarios this season but the results have not been forthcoming. Seifert’s inclusion is seen as an attempt to stabilize the top order while adding experience and balance.
‘Play fearless cricket’: Rahane’s message
Rahane explained the decision to bat first, emphasizing freedom and purpose as the underlying philosophy.“We just want our batsmen to play freely, with freedom. The type of tournament we’ve had so far, we’ve tried everything. I thought giving that freedom to the batsmen and then defending the whole would be a good approach,” he said.He also emphasized the importance of thinking beyond data. “Sometimes you don’t have to rely too much on the stats. It’s about how you feel as a team. We just want to turn it around.”Rahane backed his players despite the poor run, adding: “It’s about maintaining confidence, supporting each other in tough times. We have good characters. T20 is about momentum – winning small moments. We want to play fearless cricket today.”
GT sticks to a winning formula
Gujarat Titans captain Shubman Gill, meanwhile, admitted he would have preferred to bowl first, citing possible dew later in the evening.“Honestly, we’d bowl first. As the weather gets warmer, there might be some dew,” said Gill, while pointing to the middle-order collapse on their previous outing.“It’s about doing the simple things consistently. Don’t overcomplicate it,” he added, confirming that the GT will not change for the clash.
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Will KKR secure their first win in IPL 2026 against Gujarat Titans?
With GT eyeing the top four and KKR chasing their first win, the stakes couldn’t be higher as Rahane’s men look to justify their bold call and new combination.GT vs KKR Playing XIs:
- Gujarat Titans: Shubman Gill(c), Sai Sudharsan, Jos Buttler(w), Washington Sundar, Glenn Phillips, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Ashok Sharma, Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna
- Kolkata Knight Riders: Tim Seifert, Sunil Narine, Ajinkya Rahane(c), Cameron Green, Angkrish Raghuvanshi(w), Rovman Powell, Rinku Singh, Ramandeep Singh, Anukul Roy, Vaibhav Arora, Kartik Tyagi
GT vs KKR Impact Subs:Kolkata Knight Riders: Starring: Varun Chakaravarthy, Finn Allen, Tejasvi Dahiya, Navdeep Saini, Manish PandeyGujarat Titans: Jason Holder, Shahrukh Khan, Manav Suthar, Kulwant Khejroliya, Anuj Rawat
