IPL 2026: GT vs RR Match 9 - Top player battles to watch out for

Gujarat Titans take on Rajasthan Royals in Match 9 of IPL 2026. This is the Titans’ first home game of the season and the first game of IPL 2026 at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad. GT are coming on the back of a fighting loss to Punjab Kings, where they failed to defend a total of 163, despite great bowling at the back end to pull the game back.

RR, on the other hand, crushed Chennai Super Kings in their opening game at the Barasapara Stadium in Guwahati. They bowled the Super Kings out for 127 before chasing it down with more than seven overs to spare.

Here are 3 key player battles for GT vs RR, Match 9, IPL 2026:

3. Jos Buttler vs Ravindra Jadeja

Ravindra Jadeja’s return to the pink of the Royal was a successful one, picking up two wickets in his first over, against the Chennai Super Kings. With all his experience, he is Rajasthan’s lead spinner and will be expected to carry on the performance from Guwahati. Up against him is Jos Buttler, coming off the back of a woeful T20 World Cup. The English wicketkeeper-batter did not look at his fluent best in his 38 against the Punjab Kings.

The pair have faced off in eight innings in the IPL, with the Englishman scoring 73 runs off 50 balls against the left-arm spinner. The runs have come at a strike rate of 132.07, and Jadeja has dismissed Buttler twice in that span.