Ahmedabad: Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Gujarat Titans (GT) square off in the grand final clash of the IPL 2026 season on Sunday, May 31, at 7:30 PM at the iconic Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. Both RCB and GT are determined to capture their second IPL title, setting the stage for an intense and thrilling battle for ultimate glory.
The defending champions, RCB, will feature in back-to-back IPL finals across consecutive seasons and will be aiming to successfully defend their title. If they manage to retain their crown, they will become only the third team in IPL history to achieve this remarkable feat, after Chennai Super Kings (2010 and 2011) and Mumbai Indians (2019 and 2020). If RCB defend the title, captain Rajat Patidar will etch his name into an elite list of leaders who have successfully defended an IPL title, joining the legendary M.S. Dhoni and Rohit Sharma. After lifting the trophy last year, RCB have enjoyed another outstanding campaign and once again find themselves in the final. Their batting unit has been brilliantly led by Virat Kohli, who has already scored 600+ runs and is in superb form, currently occupying the 6th position on the Orange Cap list. He has received strong support and valuable contributions from Devdutt Padikkal, captain Rajat Patidar, Venkatesh Iyer, Krunal Pandya, and Tim David. The bowling attack has been led by veteran pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who has enjoyed an extremely impressive season. He currently holds the 2nd position in the Purple Cap standings with 26 wickets at an excellent economy rate of 8.00. He has also been well supported by Jacob Duffy, Josh Hazlewood, Rasikh Salam Dar, and Krunal Pandya, making the bowling unit strong and well-balanced.
On the other hand, GT have reached the final for the third time in their five seasons in the league. They started this year’s campaign with two consecutive defeats but bounced back strongly to eventually secure a place in the final. The team became more balanced after Jason Holder came in as a replacement for Glenn Phillips. Holder has made a valuable contribution by picking up crucial wickets at key moments, claiming 17 wickets in 10 matches. Their batting order heavily relies on the explosive trio of Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan, and Jos Buttler. Both Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan have crossed the 700-run mark in the tournament. Gill is placed 2nd on the Orange Cap list with 722 runs, while Sai Sudharsan holds the 3rd position with 710 runs, just behind Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. The GT bowling attack has been brilliantly led by Kagiso Rabada, who currently sits at the top of the Purple Cap standings with 28 wickets at an economy rate of 9.43. He has also received strong support from Jason Holder, Mohammed Siraj, Rashid Khan, and Prasidh Krishna, making their bowling unit both dangerous and well-rounded.
The teams faced each other in Qualifier 1, where GT suffered a heavy defeat by 92 runs and were bowled out in 19.3 overs as their batting order collapsed completely. RCB comfortably marched into the final, while GT produced a strong comeback in Qualifier 2 after defeating RR by a commanding 7 wickets, where captain Shubman Gill played a brilliant innings and scored a magnificent century.
For the final clash, both teams have several significant match-ups, which are expected to be exciting and highly impactful. Bhuvneshwar Kumar has dismissed Shubman Gill six times in the IPL and holds an excellent record against him in this format. Gill was also dismissed by Bhuvneshwar Kumar in Qualifier 1. Sai Sudharsan, who has been dismissed bizarrely by hit wicket in consecutive matches, on two occasions in the last two games. Another intriguing showdown in this final will be Virat Kohli vs Mohammed Siraj. Siraj will face his former franchise in this grand finale, adding extra intensity and anticipation to an already high-stakes contest.
The final will be played at a venue that holds historic and significant memories for both franchises. At the same venue last year, RCB ended their 18-year wait for the IPL trophy, while GT lifted their maiden title here in 2022.
The two sides have met nine times in IPL history, with RCB winning five matches and GT winning four, highlighting how closely contested and competitive this rivalry has been over the years.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru Squad:
Virat Kohli, Phil Salt, Rajat Patidar, Devdutt Padikkal, Jordan Cox, Jitesh Sharma, Krunal Pandya, Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Jacob Bethell, Venkatesh Iyer, Swapnil Singh, Satvik Deswal, Mangesh Yedave, Vicky Ostwal, Vihaan Malhotra, Kanish Chohan, Josh Hazlewood, Rasikh Dar, Suyash Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yash Dayal, Jacob Duffy, Nuwan Thushara, Abhinandan Singh.
RCB Predicted 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 Squad:
Shubman Gill, Jos Buttler, Kumar Kushagra, Anuj Rawat, Tom Banton, Glenn Phillips, Sai Sudharsan, Nishant Sindhu, Washington Sundar, Mohd. Arshad Khan, Sai Kishore, Jayant Yadav, Jason Holder, Rahul Tewatia, Shahrukh Khan, Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Manav Suthar, Gurnoor Singh Brar, Ishant Sharma, Ashok Sharma, Luke Wood, Kulwant Khejroliya, Rashid Khan.
GT Predicted 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.
The weather in Ahmedabad is expected to remain largely clear and suitable for a full game. Conditions during the evening will remain hot, with temperatures around 32–39°C at the start of play before gradually cooling after sunset. The sky is expected to remain mostly clear to partly cloudy, and the chance of rain is very low, minimizing the risk of any interruption. Humidity may rise as the night progresses, which could make conditions feel slightly uncomfortable for players, while dew could become a major factor in the second innings, potentially affecting bowling and fielding. Overall, the forecast strongly suggests an uninterrupted match, with heat and dew being the main challenges. The Narendra Modi Stadium pitch in Ahmedabad is expected to be either the same or very similar to the surface used in the earlier league-stage encounter at the venue. In many high-profile matches, including knockout games and finals, curators often prepare a central wicket that has already been used during the tournament to maintain consistency in playing conditions. The pitch is expected to be batting-friendly with good bounce and true carry, allowing stroke-makers to play freely once settled. In the initial overs, fast bowlers may find some assistance with seam movement, making the powerplay a crucial phase of the innings. As the match progresses, the surface is likely to become easier for batting, which could result in a high-scoring contest with totals around 180–200 or more proving competitive. Dew is also expected during the second innings, which may reduce grip for bowlers and make chasing slightly easier. Overall, the conditions suggest a balanced pitch that slightly favours batters while still offering early assistance to pacers. The high-voltage final will decide who lifts the IPL 2026 trophy. Will RCB successfully defend their title and create history, or will GT emerge victorious to deny them a repeat? With both teams featuring a host of match-winners and in excellent form, fans can expect a highly competitive and unforgettable finale at the Narendra Modi Stadium.
