Ahmedabad: Gujarat Titans (GT) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) will clash in the IPL 2026 final at Ahmedabad today (7.30 pm IST), with the winning side becoming a two-time champion of the world’s most celebrated T20 league. Gujarat lifted the trophy in their debut season in 2022, while Bengaluru finally ended an 18-year wait by winning their maiden title in 2025.
On paper, Bengaluru appear favourites to win a second consecutive final, but Shubman Gill’s Gujarat side will enjoy the advantage of home support. The Narendra Modi Stadium can accommodate 132,000 spectators, and a majority of the expected crowd of over one lakh fans is likely to cheer for Gujarat. However, RCB’s die-hard supporters will also be present in large numbers.
Under Rajat Patidar’s leadership, Bengaluru possess a fearless squad led by the towering presence of Virat Kohli. The team has survived and won several high-pressure matches this season and arrives in Ahmedabad with confidence, fresh tactical plans and a fully fit squad. Apart from Kohli, players such as Devdutt Padikkal, Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Patidar himself, Phil Salt and Venkatesh Iyer are all capable of producing match-winning performances.
Patidar may not yet belong in the same captaincy bracket as RCB legends Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis, but he is a talented leader with a calm approach. Gujarat captain Shubman Gill is equally composed and mature, though signs of concern occasionally appear on his face during tense situations. However, if Gill, Sai Sudharsan and Jos Buttler once again deliver with the bat, Bengaluru could find themselves under immense pressure.
The dream of Title No. 2⃣ 🏆
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 29, 2026
But only 1⃣ can fulfill it on Sunday ❤️💙
Who will it be? 👀#TATAIPL | #Final | #TheFinalLeap | #RCBvGT | @RCBTweets | @gujarat_titans pic.twitter.com/IbjZHLSPBA
In Friday’s Qualifier 2 against Rajasthan, Gujarat comfortably chased down a challenging target of 215 thanks to Gill’s magnificent century (104 off 53 balls, 15 fours, 3 sixes) and a massive 167-run partnership with Sai Sudharsan (58 off 32 balls, 8 fours, 1 six). Gujarat eventually won by seven wickets with eight balls to spare.
The Titans do have some concerns regarding their middle order. Their top-order trio of Sudharsan, Gill and Buttler will especially need to be wary of Bengaluru’s “silent killer” Bhuvneshwar Kumar.
Gujarat’s bowling attack comprising Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj, Rashid Khan, Jason Holder and Prasidh Krishna is strong enough to challenge Bengaluru’s star-studded batting line-up. However, Siraj suffered shoulder discomfort during Friday’s match against Rajasthan, and the coaching staff will closely monitor his fitness ahead of the final.
Travel Delay for Gujarat
After defeating Rajasthan on Friday night, Gujarat’s players planned to fly immediately to Ahmedabad. However, strong winds in Chandigarh delayed their departure.
Probable XIs
Gujarat Titans:
Shubman Gill (captain), Jos Buttler (wicketkeeper), Sai Sudharsan, Washington Sundar, Nishant Sindhu, Jason Holder, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Sai Kishore, Kagiso Rabada, Prasidh Krishna and Mohammed Siraj (12th player).
Royal Challengers Bengaluru:
Rajat Patidar (captain), Jitesh Sharma (wicketkeeper), Virat Kohli, Venkatesh Iyer/Phil Salt, Devdutt Padikkal, Krunal Pandya, Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Rasikh Salam and Duffy/Suyash Sharma (12th player).
Did You Know?
In IPL 2022, Gujarat and Rajasthan met in Qualifier 1, where Gujarat won by seven wickets. The same teams then met in the final, and Gujarat again won by seven wickets to lift the trophy in their debut season. Shubman Gill was vice-captain then but leads the team this year. Jos Buttler was part of Rajasthan’s squad at the time but is now Gujarat’s successful wicketkeeper-batter.
Today’s final is being played in Ahmedabad. RCB’s 2025 final victory over Punjab was also played at the same venue. As per convention, this year’s final should have been staged in Bengaluru after RCB’s title win last season, but Ahmedabad was once again chosen as the venue, and one of the finalists happens to be Bengaluru.
Only MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma have captained teams to back-to-back IPL titles. Rajat Patidar has the opportunity to join that elite list today.
Orange Cap and Purple Cap Race
Batting
Vaibhav Suryavanshi (Rajasthan) – 776 runs
Shubman Gill (Gujarat) – 722 runs
Sai Sudharsan (Gujarat) – 710 runs
Heinrich Klaasen (Hyderabad) – 624 runs
Ishan Kishan (Hyderabad) – 602 runs
Virat Kohli (Bengaluru) – 600 runs
Bowling
Kagiso Rabada (Gujarat) – 28 wickets
Bhuvneshwar Kumar (Bengaluru) – 26 wickets
Jofra Archer (Rajasthan) – 25 wickets
Anshul Kamboj (Chennai) – 21 wickets
Eshan Malinga (Hyderabad) – 20 wickets
Rashid Khan (Gujarat) – 19 wickets
Gujarat Won the League Match, Bengaluru Won Qualifier 1 — Time for a New Contest
On April 30 in Ahmedabad, Gujarat bowled Bengaluru out for 155 and secured a four-wicket victory. However, Bengaluru struck back emphatically in Qualifier 1 at Dharamshala on Tuesday, defeating Gujarat by 92 runs. Today’s final will provide a fresh chapter in this rivalry.
Overall, the two teams have met nine times in IPL history, with Bengaluru winning five matches and Gujarat four.
What Will the Pitch Offer? Who Has the Edge?
The final will be played on the same pitch that hosted the Gujarat-Bengaluru league match on April 30. Moreover, Bengaluru’s players are familiar with the surface, having played last year’s final against Punjab on it.
Historically, teams chasing targets have enjoyed greater success in Ahmedabad. Of the six IPL finals played at the venue, four have been won by the side batting second.
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