The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 final is set to be a thrilling encounter between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Gujarat Titans (GT) at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Both teams are chasing their second IPL title, with GT looking to cement their status as a modern powerhouse and RCB aiming to become only the third team to successfully defend their title.
Gujarat Titans' Journey to the Final
Gujarat Titans have taken a challenging route to the final. After a mixed start that saw them win only three of their first six matches, GT found momentum by winning seven of their next ten games to secure a top-two finish. A major turning point came with the inclusion of Jason Holder, who replaced Glenn Phillips and contributed 17 wickets in 10 matches with his hard-length bowling approach.
GT's hopes largely rest on their top order of Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan, and Jos Buttler. If the trio can negotiate the new-ball threat posed by Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood, GT will back themselves to post or chase a big total. However, their dependence on the top three and the quick turnaround after Qualifier 2 remain concerns.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru's Form
RCB enter the final in a more comfortable position after enjoying a three-day break following their Qualifier 1 victory. The defending champions have built their season around an explosive batting unit, crossing the 200-run mark nine times and successfully chasing 200-plus targets on two occasions. Their strength lies in contributions from throughout the batting order, with Rajat Patidar, Devdutt Padikkal, Tim David, Krunal Pandya, and Venkatesh Iyer all playing important roles alongside Virat Kohli.
Head-to-Head Record
In the nine matches played between these two teams, RCB holds a slight edge with five wins, while GT has won four. The final promises to be a closely contested affair.
Pitch Report
The IPL 2026 final between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Gujarat Titans will be played on the mixed-soil Pitch No. 6 at Ahmedabad's Narendra Modi Stadium, a surface known for producing high-scoring games. The pitch previously hosted the T20 World Cup final and also witnessed GT's league-stage victory over RCB earlier this season. However, it is equally special for RCB, who won their maiden IPL title at the venue in 2025.
Weather Update
An uninterrupted full 40-over match is guaranteed for the blockbuster IPL 2026 Final, as the India Meteorological Department has forecast no threat of rain. Current conditions in Ahmedabad indicate clear, sunny skies with a localized temperature of 34°C that feels like 39°C due to a moderate 52% humidity level. The heavy moisture will make the ball slippery later in the evening, meaning the captain winning the toss will almost certainly opt to bowl first to leverage the easier chasing conditions.
Predicted Playing XIs
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (Playing XI):
- Venkatesh Iyer
- Virat Kohli
- Devdutt Padikkal
- Rajat Patidar (c)
- Jitesh Sharma (wk)
- Tim David
- Krunal Pandya
- Bhuvneshwar Kumar
- Josh Hazlewood
- Rasikh Salam Dar
- Jacob Duffy
Impact Player: Romario Shepherd/Suyash Sharma
Gujarat Titans (Playing XI):
- Sai Sudharsan
- Shubman Gill (c)
- Jos Buttler (wk)
- Nishant Sindhu
- Washington Sundar
- Jason Holder
- Rashid Khan
- Rahul Tewatia
- Kagiso Rabada
- Mohammed Siraj
- Prasidh Krishna
Impact Player: Arshad Khan/R Sai Kishore
Live Streaming and Toss Details
The RCB vs GT clash will be held at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad. The game will be broadcast on the Star Sports Network, while live streaming will be available on JioHotstar. The toss for today's IPL match will take place at 7:00 PM IST, while the match is scheduled to begin at 7:30 PM IST.
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