IPL 2026: ‘They will go back to the original team’ - Aakash Chopra backs PBKS to stick with winning formula

Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra believes Punjab Kings (PBKS) could consider a few tweaks to their playing combination for their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 clash against Gujarat Titans (GT). However, he also suggested that PBKS might stick with the same XI, with Lockie Ferguson likely to continue ahead of Xavier Bartlett.

PBKS are set to face GT on Sunday, May 3. They currently sit at the top of the points table with 13 points from eight matches, while GT are placed fifth with 10 points from nine games. Chopra highlighted that PBKS have been one of the most successful batting units in IPL 2026 and could revert to a near full-strength or original combination for the upcoming fixture.

"Who has the best strike rate (186) - Punjab Kings. Who has played the fewest dot balls (224) - Punjab Kings. Who has lost the fewest wickets - Punjab Kings. Which team has lost the fewest matches - Punjab Kings. So you need to continue in the same vein, although you lost the previous match against the Rajasthan Royals for sure," Chopra said on his YouTube channel.

"However, there won't be those changes this time. There was a slight unavailability issue. I feel Vijaykumar Vyshak will come in place of Harpreet Brar, Shashank Singh will return in place of Suryansh Shedge, and Lockie Ferguson will continue in place of Xavier Bartlett. They will go back to the original team, which played all the games, with one replacement. Lockie will play in place of Xavier Bartlett," he added.

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Chopra is particularly keen to watch the contest between the PBKS openers and the new-ball bowlers of GT. He further added that GT’s batting lineup appears heavily reliant on Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan, and Jos Buttler, making them somewhat overdependent on the top order.

"Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya vs Kagiso Rabada and Mohammed Siraj, I am extremely eager for this contest because Shubman Gill gives three overs apiece to his two fast bowlers at the start. He is very good with that, and the opposing batters will come looking to hit. The bowling will be wicket-taking. So it will be a good contest," Chopra said.

"Gujarat Titans, once again, have an overreliance on their top three. It's like a broken record. Even if there is any scope for change, they don't change. They continue in their own merry way, in which Shubman is getting slightly more aggressive, Sai Sudharsan is batting well, and Jos Buttler is also batting beautifully," he added.