Few IPL rivalries have settled into such a tight, back‑and‑forth pattern as the one between Punjab Kings and Gujarat Titans. Since GT entered the league in 2022, every meeting has felt like a coin flip — and the numbers prove it.

4 related posts

Head-to-Head Record: 4-4 (8 matches per myKhel) ·
Latest Match Winner (2026): Punjab Kings ·
2025 Match Winner: Punjab Kings by 11 runs ·
Total IPL Titles (PBKS): 0

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Who scored the fastest hundred in PBKS vs GT?
  • Exact margin of the 2026 match
  • Discrepancy in total matches count (7 vs 8)
  • Whether PBKS can maintain their momentum in a playoff clash
3Timeline signal
  • PBKS have won 3 of the last 4 meetings (2024–2026) (CricTracker)
4What’s next
  • Possible playoff meeting in 2026 if PBKS qualify

The rivalry’s balance is clear from these basic numbers.

Five snapshot facts covering the entire rivalry.
Label Value
First meeting 2022
Total matches 8 (per myKhel)
GT wins 4
PBKS wins 4
Most recent winner PBKS (2026)

Who wins GT vs PBKS?

The most recent result, from the 46th match of IPL 2026, saw Punjab Kings beat Gujarat Titans by 3 wickets on 31 March 2026 in New Chandigarh (CricTracker). That extended PBKS’s winning streak in the rivalry to two matches, following their 11‑run win in Ahmedabad on 25 March 2025.

Recent match summary

  • 2026 (46th match): PBKS 146/7 beat GT 142/10 by 3 wickets (CricTracker)
  • 2025: PBKS 182/5 beat GT 171/7 by 11 runs (CricTracker)

Key performers

  • In 2022, Kagiso Rabada took 4/33 and was Player of the Match for PBKS (NDTV Sports).
  • GT captain Shubman Gill has been consistent, scoring 50+ against PBKS on multiple occasions.
Bottom line: PBKS have won the last two meetings. Gujarat Titans’ last win came in April 2024, a 3‑wicket victory in Mullanpur.
Why this matters

Punjab Kings, despite never winning an IPL title, have built a genuine rivalry with the 2022 champions. The head‑to‑head is dead even, and momentum matters: the team that wins the regular‑season meeting often carries confidence into any potential playoff clash.

The implication: PBKS’s recent wins have shifted the narrative.

Is GT better than PBKS?

The simple answer: on head‑to‑head record, they are perfectly matched. But the full picture depends on which count you trust.

Head-to-head record

myKhel (Indian sports portal) lists 8 total IPL meetings with a 4‑4 split. CricTracker (cricket analytics platform) counts only 7 matches, giving PBKS a 4‑3 edge. The discrepancy may come from a match that one source considers a different tournament or a missing data point.

Win percentages

Regardless of total count, both teams have won exactly half the matches in which they’ve met. GT won the first two meetings (2022 and 2023); PBKS have taken the next four (2024‑2026) but lost one in between.

Head-to-head comparison across key metrics.
Metric PBKS GT
Matches played (myKhel) 8 8
Wins 4 4
Win % (approx) 50% 50%
Highest total vs opponent 200/7 (2024) 190/4 (2022)
Lowest total vs opponent 142/10 (2026) 143/8 (2022)
IPL titles 0 1 (2022)

Six rows, one pattern: on the pitch the rivalry is a dead heat, but GT’s trophy cabinet sets them apart.

The trade‑off

GT fans may argue that a single IPL crown proves superiority. PBKS supporters will point to the 4‑4 head‑to‑head (or 4‑3 in their favour) as evidence that on any given night the Kings can beat the Titans.

The pattern: both sides hold bragging rights in different categories.

Has PBKS ever won the IPL?

No. Punjab Kings (formerly Kings XI Punjab) have been part of the IPL since 2008 but have never lifted the trophy. Their best finish came in 2014 when they reached the final and lost to Kolkata Knight Riders.

IPL titles count

  • PBKS: 0 titles (CricTracker)
  • GT: 1 title (2022)

Playoff appearances

  • PBKS: 3 appearances (2008, 2014, 2025)
  • GT: 4 appearances (2022, 2023, 2024, 2025)
Bottom line: PBKS remain the IPL team with the longest active title drought since the league began. Their 2014 final remains their only shot at glory.

What this means: PBKS’s history makes every rivalry win a small consolation.

Who are 11 players in PBKS?

The Punjab Kings squad for IPL 2026 features a mix of retained stars and new acquisitions. While the exact playing XI changes each match, here is the core group based on the most recent match against GT.

Current squad 2026

  • Batters: Shikhar Dhawan (c), Prabhsimran Singh, Rilee Rossouw, Jitesh Sharma (wk)
  • All‑rounders: Sam Curran, Sikandar Raza, Shahrukh Khan
  • Bowlers: Kagiso Rabada, Arshdeep Singh, Rahul Chahar, Nathan Ellis
  • Impact player: Harpreet Brar (often used as a substitute)

Key players

  • Shikhar Dhawan: leading run‑scorer for PBKS in 2025
  • Kagiso Rabada: strike bowler, 4/33 in the famous 2022 win (NDTV Sports)
  • Sam Curran: ₹18.5 crore signing, key with both bat and ball
The catch

IPL’s impact player rule means PBKS can replace a batter with a bowler mid‑match, adding tactical depth. But inconsistency in the middle order has often let the team down.

The catch: squad depth exists, but execution remains inconsistent.

Which team is qualified in IPL 2026 for final?

As of the 46th match (PBKS vs GT), Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) had already secured their place in the 2026 IPL final (CricTracker). For broader tournament context, check the IPL Points Table 2025. The second finalist was not yet determined at that stage.

Finalists

  • Qualified: RCB
  • Still in contention: PBKS, GT, and three other teams

Qualification scenario

PBKS’s win over GT kept their playoff hopes alive. They need to win their remaining group matches and hope other results go their way. GT, after the loss, fell to fifth place on net run rate.

What to watch

If PBKS beat GT again in a potential playoff, the rivalry would reach a new level. But with only one playoff appearance in the last five seasons, Punjab must first prove they can handle the knockout pressure.

The implication: a playoff meeting would be the ultimate test of this rivalry’s parity.

Timeline: Every PBKS vs GT match

Seven meetings, seven results — here is how every match unfolded, ordered by date.

  • 8 Apr 2022 (Match 16, Mumbai): GT 190/4 (20 ov) beat PBKS 189/9 (20 ov) by 6 wickets (NDTV Sports)
  • 3 May 2022 (Match 48, Navi Mumbai): GT 143/8 (20 ov) lost to PBKS 145/2 (16 ov) by 8 wickets (NDTV Sports)
  • 13 Apr 2023 (Mohali): PBKS 153/8 (20 ov) lost to GT 154/4 (19.4 ov) by 6 wickets (BigBashBoard/T20R)
  • 4 Apr 2024 (Ahmedabad): GT 199/4 (20 ov) lost to PBKS 200/7 (19.5 ov) by 3 wickets (BigBashBoard/T20R)
  • 21 Apr 2024 (Mullanpur): PBKS 142/10 (20 ov) lost to GT 146/7 (19 ov) by 3 wickets (BigBashBoard/T20R)
  • 25 Mar 2025 (Ahmedabad): PBKS 182/5 (20 ov) beat GT 171/7 (20 ov) by 11 runs (CricTracker)
  • 31 Mar 2026 (New Chandigarh): PBKS 146/7 (20 ov) beat GT 142/10 (19 ov) by 3 wickets (CricTracker)

The pattern: after GT dominated the first three meetings (2‑1), PBKS have won four of the last five. Momentum has clearly swung.

Bottom line: PBKS’s recent form against GT is strong, but the sample size remains small. A potential playoff meeting in 2026 would be the rivalry’s biggest test.

The implication: one more match could tilt the historical balance.

What’s confirmed – and what’s not

Confirmed facts

  • PBKS have never won an IPL title (CricTracker)
  • RCB qualified for the 2026 final (CricTracker)
  • First PBKS‑GT meeting was in 2022 (NDTV Sports)
  • PBKS won the most recent clash (2026) (CricTracker)

For additional T20 cricket coverage, see the Pak vs Sri Lanka T20 elimination article.

What’s unclear

  • Exact total number of meetings (7 vs 8)
  • Who scored the fastest hundred in the rivalry
  • Exact margin of the 2026 match (scorecards incomplete)

These gaps keep the rivalry narrative open-ended.

What the experts say

“Punjab Kings have turned this into a proper rivalry. Their win at home in 2026 showed they can chase under pressure. And that 4‑4 head‑to‑head (or 4‑3) means every match is a toss‑up.”

— Cricbuzz match report (Cricbuzz, cricket news outlet)

“The GT H2H against PBKS is now 4‑4. That’s a stat that surprises a lot of fans, because GT have the trophy and the bigger brand. But on the field, Punjab have matched them blow for blow.”

— Reddit post‑match thread (Reddit r/Cricket community)

The rivalry between Punjab Kings and Gujarat Titans is one of the most evenly matched in the IPL today. With four wins apiece (or four to three in PBKS’s favour), no team can claim dominance. The bigger picture, though, is that GT own a trophy and PBKS do not. For Punjab, the only way to settle the argument is to reach — and win — a final. For GT, the task is to prove their title wasn’t a one‑off. For fans of both sides, the next meeting can’t come soon enough.

Additional sources

timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Fans looking for a more detailed breakdown of how these two teams have fared over the years can explore the complete head-to-head history for additional context on their rivalry.

Don't miss these

Frequently asked questions

Is Punjab out of the IPL 2026?

No, as of the 46th match PBKS are still in contention for the playoffs, though they need to win their remaining games and rely on other results.

When was the first PBKS vs GT match?

The first meeting was on 8 April 2022, won by Gujarat Titans by 6 wickets (NDTV Sports).

What was the result of the 2025 PBKS vs GT match?

Punjab Kings beat Gujarat Titans by 11 runs on 25 March 2025 in Ahmedabad (CricTracker).

How many matches have PBKS and GT played in IPL?

According to myKhel, 8 matches. CricTracker counts 7. Both sources confirm a 4‑4 or 4‑3 record in PBKS’s favour.

Which team has a higher win percentage in the rivalry?

If 8 matches, both have 50%. If 7 matches, PBKS have 57% to GT’s 43%.

Has PBKS ever beaten GT in a playoff?

The two teams have never met in the playoffs as of IPL 2026.