Sunrisers Hyderabad won the toss and chose to bowl first against Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad, but both teams avoided any major shake-up in their starting XIs. That meant Prasidh Krishna and Harsh Dubey were not named in the first eleven for GT and SRH respectively. However, neither player has been ruled out of the match. Both are available in the Impact Player list, which means they can still be used later depending on how the game develops.

GT vs SRH: Prasidh Krishna kept as Gujarat’s impact option

Prasidh Krishna is not in Gujarat Titans’ starting XI because GT have stuck with their settled pace attack of Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj and Arshad Khan. Shubman Gill confirmed at the toss that Gujarat are playing the same team, backing the combination that has helped them win four matches in a row.

Prasidh is on GT’s bench as an Impact Player option. That gives Gujarat flexibility. If they feel the pitch has enough bounce and carry under lights, they can bring him in during the second innings while defending. If the surface grips or slows down, GT may instead look at someone like Sai Kishore.

So this is not an injury- absence. It is a tactical call shaped by the Impact Player rule and Gujarat’s desire to keep options open.

IPL 2026: Harsh Dubey also available as Hyderabad’s impact player

Harsh Dubey is also not out of the match. He has been listed among SRH’s Impact Player options. Pat Cummins chose to bowl first and went with the same starting XI, keeping extra batting depth in the first innings through names like Nitish Kumar Reddy, R Smaran and Salil Arora.

Dubey has often been used by SRH as a bowling Impact Player this season, and that could happen again if conditions suit spin later. However, he did have a tough outing in the previous match against Punjab Kings, conceding 36 runs in two overs, so SRH may want to judge the surface before deciding whether to use him.

Like Prasidh, Dubey’s absence from the starting XI is tactical, not due to injury.

The simple answer is that both players are still in the match-day plans. Prasidh Krishna is available as an Impact Player for Gujarat Titans, while Harsh Dubey is available as an Impact Player for Sunrisers Hyderabad.

GT wanted to keep their winning XI unchanged after a strong run of form. SRH also backed the same team after winning six of their last seven games. With both sides on 14 points and fighting for the top spot, neither captain wanted to disturb a successful combination at the toss.

GT vs SRH Playing XIs

Sunrisers Hyderabad (Playing XI): Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan(w), Heinrich Klaasen, Salil Arora, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Smaran Ravichandran, Pat Cummins(c), Shivang Kumar, Eshan Malinga, Sakib Hussain, Praful Hinge.

Gujarat Titans (Playing XI): Shubman Gill(c), Sai Sudharsan, Jos Buttler(w), Washington Sundar, Jason Holder, Nishant Sindhu, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Arshad Khan, Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj.