Gujarat Titans face Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2026 Qualifier 2 at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, New Chandigarh on 29 May at 7:30 PM IST — winner goes to the Ahmedabad final. GT arrive bruised from a 92-run hammering by RCB; RR arrive on the crest of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s 97 off 29 balls. Here are the sharpest Dream11 picks for tonight’s high-stakes eliminator.
Quick Pick — GT vs RR Dream11 Qualifier 2
Captain: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi — 480 runs in IPL 2026 at 235.29 SR, scored 97 off 29 just two nights ago. Vice-captain: Kagiso Rabada — 19 wickets in last 10 matches, 12.21 SR. Differential: Jason Holder (7.64 economy, 15 wkts, widely under-owned). Toss factor: Chasing teams have won 3 of RR’s 3 home matches here in IPL 2026 — bowl-first toss is significant.
हिन्दी: ड्रीम11 कप्तान — वैभव सूर्यवंशी (480 रन, 235.29 SR); उप-कप्तान — कागिसो रबाडा (19 विकेट)।
Mullanpur Pitch & Conditions
The Mullanpur surface offers pace and bounce in the powerplay, which benefits big-hitting openers and swinging new-ball bowlers alike. Once the ball softens past the 8th over, the pitch flattens significantly and totals routinely clear 200 — RR themselves posted 243/8 here just 48 hours ago. More importantly, heavy dew settles after 9 PM IST at this ground in late May, making the ball slippery for spinners and the chase considerably easier. RR have won all three of their matches here this IPL season, and toss-winning teams have shown a clear preference to bowl first. Expect anything under 185 batting first to be chased down comfortably. Check the Mullanpur New Chandigarh full pitch report for detailed venue history.
GT Probable Playing XI
Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (c), Jos Buttler (wk), Nishant Sindhu, Washington Sundar, Jason Holder, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Kagiso Rabada, Arshad Khan, Mohammed Siraj. Impact bench: Prasidh Krishna, Shahrukh Khan.
RR Probable Playing XI
Yashasvi Jaiswal, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Riyan Parag (c), Donovan Ferreira, Dasun Shanaka, Ravindra Jadeja, Jofra Archer, Nandre Burger, Brijesh Sharma, Yash Raj Punja. Impact bench: Sushant Mishra, Shubham Dubey, Tushar Deshpande.
Top Captain & Vice-Captain Picks
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (RR) — The 15-year-old has 480 runs in IPL 2026 at a strike rate of 235.29, including 97 off 29 balls in the Eliminator two days ago. He leads the Orange Cap standings and faces a GT bowling attack that conceded 243 in the Qualifier 1 loss — Sooryavanshi is the standout captain pick for both small and grand leagues.
Kagiso Rabada (GT) — The South African quick has 19 wickets in his last 10 matches at a strike rate of 12.21 and economy of 9.21. He takes the new ball and comes back at death, maximising his point-scoring opportunities across all four phases of his spell. Strong VC choice who’ll carry ownership below 50% given the general focus on RR batters.
Shubman Gill (GT) — Gill hit 84 off 44 when GT beat RR by 77 runs on 9 May in Jaipur, and scored 367 runs in the last 10 matches at a 162.38 SR. GT were destroyed in Qualifier 1, but Gill’s motivation after that humbling will be at its highest — he’s the premium differential captain for grand leagues (likely under 20% ownership).
Jason Holder (GT) — Fifteen wickets in nine matches at an economy rate of just 7.64 makes Holder the most economical frontline pacer in this fixture. He bowls in the powerplay and death, picks up wickets, and is heavily under-owned relative to his stats. Lock him in as a differential VC.
Grand League Picks
- Differential C: Shubman Gill (hungry after 92-run Q1 loss, low ownership)
- Differential VC: Jason Holder (7.64 economy — best death bowler in this match, often missed)
- Nandre Burger (3+ overs at Mullanpur, low roster share)
- Jos Buttler as WK differential (dangerous if GT chase)
Small League Safe Picks
- C: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (form, venue, career-best momentum)
- VC: Kagiso Rabada (19 wkts in 10, safe floor)
- Yashasvi Jaiswal (consistent top-order runs all season)
- Rashid Khan (wkt-taking spinner — effective in middle overs even with dew)
GT vs RR Dream11 Best Team (Grand League)
- Wicketkeeper: Dhruv Jurel (332 runs in last 10, 145.61 SR)
- Batters: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan
- All-rounders: Rashid Khan, Ravindra Jadeja
- Bowlers: Kagiso Rabada, Jofra Archer, Jason Holder, Nandre Burger
- Captain: Shubman Gill
- Vice-Captain: Jason Holder
Stat Insight
RR have won all three IPL 2026 matches at Mullanpur. GT’s loss to RCB by 92 runs came on a flat Dharamshala track — a different challenge. The key number to watch is whether GT’s openers can prevent RR taking the powerplay lead: Sooryavanshi averages a six every 4.1 balls in IPL 2026, and the GT vs RR head-to-head record shows Gill and Rabada as the two players who consistently alter outcomes when these sides meet. Whoever wins that personal battle may decide the Qualifier.
I’m backing RR to qualify for the final, but I’m not building my Dream11 entirely around that lean. GT’s bowling — Rabada, Holder, Siraj, Rashid — is the best attack remaining in the tournament, and after the embarrassment at Dharamshala, every one of those bowlers will come in angry. That’s actually ideal for fantasy: angry pacers on a Mullanpur surface that still offers early movement produce wickets, and wickets mean Dream11 points.
For grand league, I’m differentiating hard with Shubman Gill as captain. After a 92-run loss, he’ll be the first to the nets and the last to leave the field. His 84 off 44 against RR on 9 May proved he can dismantle this same bowling attack. Sooryavanshi is the safe pick — and he’ll dominate small leagues — but if Gill fires, your grand league team pulls clear of 90% of competitors.
GT vs RR Dream11 — FAQs
Who should be captain in GT vs RR Dream11 today?
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is the form pick — 480 IPL 2026 runs at a 235.29 SR, including 97 off 29 in the Eliminator. For grand leagues, Shubman Gill is the differential: his 84 off 44 against RR on 9 May shows he knows how to punish this attack, and his motivation after GT’s Qualifier 1 loss is sky-high.
Is Mullanpur good for batting or bowling in the IPL 2026 Qualifier 2?
Both, but batting wins at night. The surface offers pace and carry early on for swing bowlers in the powerplay, but flattens quickly once the ball softens. Add heavy dew after 9 PM IST, and the team batting second — especially if their openers are explosive — holds a clear structural advantage. RR hit 243/8 here two nights ago.
What is GT vs RR head-to-head record in IPL 2026?
GT led RR 6–3 in IPL 2026 league stage meetings. In the two most recent clashes, GT won by 77 runs on 9 May at Jaipur, while RR won by 6 runs on 4 April. Both teams are evenly matched, making this Qualifier 2 genuinely unpredictable — visit our GT vs RR full head-to-head breakdown for all-time stats.
What time does GT vs RR Qualifier 2 start on 29 May 2026?
The match starts at 7:30 PM IST, with the toss at 7:00 PM IST. It is played at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, New Chandigarh (Mullanpur). Live on JioHotStar and Star Sports Network.
Bottom Line
Build around Sooryavanshi and Rabada for safe floors, then differentiate with Gill captain in grand leagues. The dew at Mullanpur tips the scales toward the chasing side — toss is pivotal tonight, and if GT win it and bowl, back their pace unit hard. See where both sides sit in the IPL 2026 points table and track how the IPL 2026 playoff scenarios play out after this result.
Disclaimer: Fantasy cricket involves an element of skill. The Dream11 picks suggested in this article are based on form, conditions, and venue history at the time of publication. Players’ actual performance may vary. IPL Daily does not promote or facilitate any form of betting. Please play responsibly and only on legally permitted fantasy platforms in your region.
