The Gujarat Titans and Kolkata Knight Riders have built an interesting IPL matchup despite having a relatively short history against each other. Gujarat Titans entered the Indian Premier League in 2022, immediately becoming one of the competition’s most competitive new franchises. Kolkata Knight Riders, meanwhile, had already established themselves as one of the league’s recognised teams.
The Gujarat Titans vs Kolkata Knight Riders timeline begins in IPL 2022 and includes close finishes, dramatic chases, explosive batting performances and some memorable individual displays. Unlike older IPL rivalries that stretch back more than a decade, GT and KKR have met only a handful of times, which makes every encounter particularly easy to track season by season.
Their first meeting came in April 2022, when Gujarat Titans won a last-over thriller by eight runs. The teams then met twice in 2023, split the results in 2025, and produced two completely different contests in 2026. The first 2026 meeting was a successful GT chase, while the second became a massive run-fest won by KKR.
This article reviews the Gujarat Titans KKR matches from their first encounter through the latest available IPL meetings, covering match results, important performances, head-to-head numbers, memorable moments and how the matchup has evolved.
Gujarat Titans vs KKR Rivalry at a Glance
The GT vs KKR history is still relatively short, but it has already produced several matches that stand out because of their competitive nature.
As of the end of IPL 2026, the teams have met six times in the league. Gujarat Titans have won four of those meetings, while Kolkata Knight Riders have won two. The first five meetings listed in the IPL’s head-to-head archive show GT victories in 2022, 2023 and 2025, alongside KKR’s win in April 2023; the two 2026 matches then added one win for each side.
| Season | Match | Winner | Margin | Main Highlight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | KKR vs GT | Gujarat Titans | 8 runs | Hardik Pandya 67 |
| 2023 | GT vs KKR | Kolkata Knight Riders | 3 wickets | KKR chased 205 |
| 2023 | KKR vs GT | Gujarat Titans | 7 wickets | GT chased 180 |
| 2024 | No meeting | — | — | Teams did not face each other |
| 2025 | KKR vs GT | Gujarat Titans | 39 runs | GT made 198/3 |
| 2026 | GT vs KKR | Gujarat Titans | 5 wickets | Shubman Gill 86 |
| 2026 | KKR vs GT | Kolkata Knight Riders | 29 runs | Finn Allen 93 |
This table shows an important feature of the rivalry: there has not been one uninterrupted period of dominance. GT won the early encounters, KKR produced a dramatic comeback in 2023, and the teams traded victories again in 2026.
Gujarat Titans vs Kolkata Knight Riders Timeline: 2022
The rivalry started on 23 April 2022 at the DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai. It was only Gujarat Titans’ first season in the IPL, making the encounter an early opportunity to see how the new franchise would perform against an established side such as KKR.
Gujarat Titans batted first and posted 156/9. Hardik Pandya was the central figure with the bat, scoring 67 runs, while David Miller added 27. KKR’s Andre Russell produced an extraordinary bowling spell, taking four wickets for only five runs. Despite that late assault, Gujarat had enough runs on the board.
KKR’s chase never developed smoothly. Gujarat’s new-ball attack created pressure early, with Mohammad Shami taking two wickets. KKR were reduced to 34/3 during the powerplay, forcing their middle order to rebuild rather than attack immediately.
Andre Russell then became important with the bat as well, scoring 48. Rinku Singh contributed 35, but the target remained just beyond KKR’s reach.
Gujarat Titans eventually defended 156/9, restricting KKR to 148/8 and winning by eight runs.
Why the 2022 Match Was Important
The first GT vs KKR match immediately established a pattern that would appear repeatedly in their later encounters: one side could build momentum, but the other could quickly change the match through aggressive batting.
For Gujarat, Hardik Pandya’s leadership and all-round contribution were particularly significant. He scored the highest individual total in the match and helped the new franchise handle a difficult late-innings situation.
For KKR, Russell’s performance demonstrated how much individual brilliance could influence the contest. His 4/5 with the ball almost completely changed the final overs, but KKR still fell eight runs short.
Looking back, the first meeting was a useful introduction to the rivalry because it combined pressure, late wickets and a relatively narrow winning margin.
Gujarat Titans vs KKR Timeline: 2023
The 2023 season brought two meetings between the teams, and the contrast between them was remarkable.
First Meeting – April 9, 2023
The first encounter took place at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Gujarat Titans made 204/4, setting KKR a challenging target.
Instead of simply trying to survive the chase, Kolkata attacked the target aggressively and reached 207/7, winning by three wickets. The result became one of the most dramatic matches in the early GT vs KKR match history.
A target above 200 usually requires a strong start and continued momentum through the middle overs. KKR managed to maintain that pressure and eventually crossed the finish line with three wickets remaining.
The match also demonstrated that the Narendra Modi Stadium could produce high-scoring contests between these two teams. The previous year’s eight-run thriller had been much more bowling-oriented, whereas the 2023 encounter became a batting-heavy contest.
Second Meeting – April 29, 2023
Just a few weeks later, the teams met again at Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
This time Gujarat Titans came out on top. GT scored 180/3, while KKR managed 179/7, giving Gujarat a seven-wicket victory.
The significance of this result was not simply that GT won. It also showed how quickly the matchup could change. KKR had successfully chased more than 200 in the previous meeting, but GT’s bowling and controlled batting approach prevented a repeat.
The two 2023 results therefore provide one of the clearest examples of the competitive nature of the rivalry:
- KKR won a high-scoring three-wicket thriller.
- GT responded with a seven-wicket victory.
- Both teams scored around 180 or more.
- Neither side managed to sweep the season’s meetings.
For anyone studying the Gujarat Titans vs KKR history, 2023 is arguably the season that gave the matchup its clearest identity.
Gujarat Titans vs KKR Timeline: 2024
There was no Gujarat Titans vs Kolkata Knight Riders IPL match in 2024.
This is an important detail because a season-by-season timeline should not imply that every IPL season automatically produced a meeting between these franchises.
After their two encounters in 2023, the teams did not face each other during IPL 2024. Consequently, there is no GT vs KKR scorecard, match result or winning margin to include for that season.
The absence of a meeting also creates a natural break in the rivalry. Their next league encounter came in 2025, when Gujarat Titans returned to the matchup with another strong batting performance.
Gujarat Titans vs KKR Timeline: 2025
The next meeting came on 21 April 2025 at Eden Gardens.
This match was another example of Gujarat’s ability to build a large total against KKR. GT scored 198/3, while Kolkata Knight Riders were restricted to 159/8. Gujarat therefore won by 39 runs.
The 39-run margin was larger than GT’s previous victories over KKR. More importantly, the match showed a different type of Gujarat performance compared with the eight-run thriller of 2022.
Rather than depending on a final-over defence, Gujarat created enough separation during the innings to keep KKR under sustained pressure.
The 2025 Tactical Picture
By this stage, GT had moved beyond the early identity of a new franchise. The side had developed a stronger batting structure and greater experience in handling different match situations.
KKR, on the other hand, remained a side capable of aggressive cricket but could not reproduce the successful chase from the first meeting in 2023.
The result also strengthened GT’s overall head-to-head advantage.
The 2025 meeting is therefore an important part of the GT vs KKR match results because it was one of the clearer victories in the series and came at KKR’s home venue.
Gujarat Titans vs KKR Timeline: 2026
The 2026 season produced two contrasting matches and gave the rivalry another interesting chapter.
The first meeting was controlled by Gujarat during a successful chase. The second became an explosive batting contest in which Kolkata posted one of the biggest totals in the matchup.
GT vs KKR – April 17, 2026
The first 2026 meeting took place at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
KKR batted first and were bowled out for 180. Mohammed Siraj made an early impact by dismissing KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane with the first ball he faced, while Kagiso Rabada finished with 3/29. Cameron Green provided KKR’s main resistance, scoring 79 from 55 balls.
Gujarat’s chase was led by captain Shubman Gill, who produced an excellent 86 from 50 deliveries. Jos Buttler added an aggressive 25 from 15 balls at the top, while Sai Sudharsan contributed 22.
GT reached 181/5 in 19.4 overs, winning by five wickets with two balls remaining. Gill was named Player of the Match for his match-winning innings.
The match was a good example of controlled chasing. Gujarat did not need an extraordinary team total because the batting side had a clear target and Gill managed the chase through the middle overs.
KKR vs GT – May 16, 2026
The second meeting was completely different.
This time KKR batted first at Eden Gardens and produced a huge 247/2. Finn Allen was the main attraction, smashing 93 from just 35 deliveries, including four fours and ten sixes. He reached his half-century in only 21 balls.
After Allen’s dismissal, Angkrish Raghuvanshi and Cameron Green continued the assault. Raghuvanshi finished unbeaten on 82 from 44 balls, while Green made 52 from 28*. Their partnership added 108 runs from only 52 deliveries.
The result was a massive total that put Gujarat under immediate pressure.
GT responded with 218/4, with contributions from Shubman Gill, Jos Buttler and Sai Sudharsan, but the target proved too large. KKR won by 29 runs.
What the 2026 Results Tell Us
The two matches demonstrate how quickly a T20 contest between these sides can change.
In April, GT successfully chased 181 with Shubman Gill controlling the innings. In May, KKR pushed the scoring level far beyond 240 and successfully defended the total.
The teams therefore split their 2026 meetings, leaving the overall rivalry with Gujarat ahead on wins.
Gujarat Titans vs KKR Head-to-Head Record
The overall head-to-head record remains relatively small because Gujarat Titans only entered the IPL in 2022.
After six completed meetings through IPL 2026, Gujarat Titans have won four and Kolkata Knight Riders have won two.
| Category | Gujarat Titans | Kolkata Knight Riders |
|---|---|---|
| Total meetings | 6 | 6 |
| Wins | 4 | 2 |
| Losses | 2 | 4 |
| No Result | 0 | 0 |
| 2026 wins | 1 | 1 |
| First meeting | 2022 | 2022 |
| Latest meeting | 2026 | 2026 |
The numbers show GT’s advantage, but the match-by-match record is more informative than simply looking at the win column.
GT won the first match in 2022, KKR won one of the two games in 2023, GT won the other, GT won the 2025 meeting and the teams split their two matches in 2026.
That sequence makes the rivalry relatively balanced in terms of individual contests, even though Gujarat has the stronger overall record.
Gujarat Titans vs KKR Biggest and Most Memorable Matches
Several matches stand out when reviewing the complete IPL rivalry.
1. GT’s Eight-Run Win in 2022
The first meeting remains memorable because it introduced the rivalry. GT’s 156/9 looked defendable but not overwhelming. KKR eventually reached 148/8.
Hardik Pandya’s 67 and Andre Russell’s 4/5 were the major individual performances.
2. KKR’s Three-Wicket Chase in 2023
The April 9, 2023 encounter was notable because KKR chased 205 after GT scored 204/4. It was one of the highest-scoring games between the teams.
3. GT’s Seven-Wicket Victory in 2023
The second 2023 meeting produced another close scoreline. KKR made 179/7, but GT reached 180/3 to complete a seven-wicket win.
4. GT’s 39-Run Victory in 2025
The 2025 match was significant because Gujarat controlled the contest more comfortably, posting 198/3 and restricting KKR to 159/8.
5. KKR’s 247/2 in 2026
The May 2026 contest produced the biggest team total seen in the matchup. Finn Allen’s 93 and the 108-run partnership between Raghuvanshi and Green powered KKR to 247/2.
Highest Scores in Gujarat Titans vs KKR Matches
The rivalry has gradually moved towards higher-scoring cricket.
| Team | Score | Season | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| KKR | 247/2 | 2026 | KKR won |
| KKR | 207/7 | 2023 | KKR won |
| GT | 204/4 | 2023 | KKR won |
| GT | 198/3 | 2025 | GT won |
| GT | 181/5 | 2026 | GT won |
KKR’s 247/2 in 2026 is currently the highest team score in the fixture based on the completed meetings through that season. Gujarat’s 204/4 from 2023 was previously the highest score by GT in the matchup, while their 198/3 in 2025 also shows the team’s ability to build substantial totals against KKR.
The progression from a 156-run first innings in 2022 to totals above 200 in later seasons reflects how the batting environment and tactical approaches have changed.
Key Players in the GT vs KKR Timeline
Gujarat Titans
Hardik Pandya played a major role in the first chapter of the rivalry. His 67 in the 2022 encounter helped GT establish their first victory over KKR.
Shubman Gill has become one of the most important names in the matchup. His 86 from 50 balls in the April 2026 meeting was the decisive innings in GT’s five-wicket chase.
Other important Gujarat names across their IPL journey include Sai Sudharsan, Rashid Khan, Mohammed Siraj, Kagiso Rabada and Jos Buttler.
Kolkata Knight Riders
Andre Russell immediately made an impact in the first meeting, taking four wickets for five runs and then scoring 48.
Finn Allen became a major talking point in 2026 after his 93 from 35 balls. His ten sixes were central to KKR’s 247/2.
Angkrish Raghuvanshi and Cameron Green also played key roles in that 2026 run-fest, particularly through their unbeaten partnership after Allen’s dismissal.
How the GT vs KKR Rivalry Has Evolved
The matchup can be divided into several stages.
2022 was the introduction. Gujarat were a new franchise and immediately showed they could compete with an established KKR side.
2023 brought greater volatility. The teams played twice and produced opposite results. KKR chased 205 in one match, while GT successfully chased 180 in the other.
2024 created a gap. The franchises did not meet during that IPL season.
2025 brought another controlled GT performance. Gujarat scored 198/3 and won by 39 runs.
2026 brought two contrasting styles of victory. GT chased 181 through Shubman Gill’s controlled innings, while KKR relied on extreme power-hitting to reach 247/2.
This evolution is why the Gujarat Titans KKR rivalry is interesting despite having a relatively small number of matches. The fixture has not followed exactly the same pattern every season.
Gujarat Titans vs KKR Season-by-Season Results
| Year | Meetings | GT Wins | KKR Wins | Key Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 1 | 1 | 0 | GT won by 8 runs |
| 2023 | 2 | 1 | 1 | Teams split the series |
| 2024 | 0 | 0 | 0 | No meeting |
| 2025 | 1 | 1 | 0 | GT won by 39 runs |
| 2026 | 2 | 1 | 1 | Teams split the meetings |
| Total | 6 | 4 | 2 | GT lead overall |
This season-by-season view makes the GT vs KKR head to head easier to understand. Gujarat’s four wins have come across three different seasons, while KKR’s two victories both came in high-scoring contests.
The results also show why simply looking at the overall win count does not fully explain the matchup. KKR’s 2023 victory came during a successful 205-run chase, while its 2026 win came after reaching 247/2.
FAQs About Gujarat Titans vs KKR
When did Gujarat Titans first play Kolkata Knight Riders?
Gujarat Titans first played Kolkata Knight Riders on 23 April 2022 at the DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai. GT scored 156/9 and defeated KKR by eight runs after restricting them to 148/8. Hardik Pandya scored 67 for Gujarat, while Andre Russell took four wickets for KKR.
How many times have Gujarat Titans played KKR?
Through the end of IPL 2026, Gujarat Titans and Kolkata Knight Riders have played six IPL matches. GT have won four, while KKR have won two.
How many times has Gujarat Titans beaten KKR?
Gujarat Titans have beaten Kolkata Knight Riders four times in their first six IPL meetings. Their victories came in 2022, 2023, 2025 and the first meeting of the 2026 season.
How many times has KKR beaten Gujarat Titans?
Kolkata Knight Riders have defeated Gujarat Titans twice. Their first win came in April 2023, when KKR chased 205 to win by three wickets. Their second came in May 2026, when KKR won by 29 runs after scoring 247/2.
Who won the latest GT vs KKR match?
KKR won the latest meeting between the sides, played on 16 May 2026 at Eden Gardens. Kolkata scored 247/2 before restricting Gujarat to 218/4, winning by 29 runs. Finn Allen scored 93 from 35 balls in an explosive innings.
What was the highest score in GT vs KKR matches?
The highest team score in the fixture is KKR’s 247/2 in the 2026 meeting at Eden Gardens. Finn Allen scored 93, Angkrish Raghuvanshi made 82*, and Cameron Green finished with 52*.
Who scored the most memorable innings in the rivalry?
Several innings stand out. Hardik Pandya’s 67 in the first meeting was important because it helped GT secure their first win. Shubman Gill’s 86 from 50 balls was decisive in the 2026 chase, while Finn Allen’s 93 from 35 balls powered KKR’s biggest total in the fixture.
Where can I find GT vs KKR scorecards?
Official IPL match reports and scorecard links are available through the IPL website. For a historical review, it is useful to check the scorecard alongside the match report because the scorecard provides the numbers while the report explains the major turning points.
Final Thoughts on the Gujarat Titans vs KKR Timeline
The Gujarat Titans vs Kolkata Knight Riders timeline is short compared with some of the IPL’s older rivalries, but it has already produced a useful collection of memorable matches.
The first meeting in 2022 was decided by only eight runs. A year later, KKR chased 205 in Ahmedabad before GT responded with a seven-wicket win in Kolkata. After no meeting in 2024, Gujarat returned with a 39-run victory in 2025.
The 2026 season added another layer to the story. GT chased 181 successfully in April, with Shubman Gill scoring 86, while KKR responded in May by producing 247/2 and winning by 29 runs.
With Gujarat Titans leading the overall head-to-head record 4–2 after six matches, the history currently favours GT numerically. However, the individual encounters have often been decided by very different match situations, from close finishes to huge run chases.
That variety is what makes the GT vs KKR match history worth following as the two franchises continue to add new chapters to their IPL rivalry.