RCB vs GT: Two modern giants, one shot at a second IPL crown

Narendra Modi Stadium's scale is impossible to miss, especially on IPL final nights. Less obvious, but perhaps more influential, is the diversity of surfaces it offers. The square comprises red-soil, black-soil and mixed pitches.

The mixed-soil Pitch No. 6 has been earmarked for the final, and all signs point towards another batting-friendly contest. Earlier this year, it produced 255 runs in the T20 World Cup final. GT beat RCB on this very pitch earlier in the season, but RCB also return to a strip that delivered their maiden IPL title triumph a year ago.

While RCB have looked every bit the defending champions this season, Gujarat Titans have navigated a far less straightforward path to the final. A campaign that began with three wins and three losses offered little indication of where they were headed. Momentum gathered quickly thereafter, with seven victories in their next 10 matches propelling them into the top two.

Their resurgence coincided with the arrival of Jason Holder, whose inclusion in place of Glenn Phillips injected fresh energy. Holder has taken 17 wickets in 10 appearances, consistently targeting a Test-match length, a method reminiscent of Kagiso Rabada's successful approach.

GT's big challenge will be the threat from Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood up front. Their overdependence on the top three, including Jos Buttler, is hardly ideal. Also not ideal is the one-day turnaround time going into the big match.

RCB should relish the situation, having rested for three days before the final. They are perhaps the best batting side in the league and have crossed 200 on nine occasions and successfully chased down 200-plus targets twice this season. Contributions have come from throughout the order.

Fittingly, the title will be decided at a ground that already holds special memories for both franchises. GT lifted their maiden trophy here in 2022, while RCB ended their long wait for silverware on the same stage last season. For GT, it is a chance to reaffirm their status as one of the IPL's modern powerhouses; for RCB, an opportunity to join Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings as the only teams to successfully defend the title.

When: GT vs RCB, IPL Final 2026, May 31, 7:30 PM IST
Where: Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
What to expect: A high-scoring contest, with the team winning the toss expected to bat first. RCB may appear the stronger side, but they lost the last game at this venue to GT, who have won five of their seven home games here.
Head to head: RCB lead 5-4 overall, 1-1 in Ahmedabad. Eight of nine games between the sides have been won by the chasing side.
Injuries/Unavailabilities: No major injury concerns in either camp.

Tactics & Match-ups

GT: Jason Holder and Kagiso Rabada (Purple Cap holder) have dismissed Virat Kohli four and five times respectively. Rashid Khan has had the better of Devdutt Padikkal on five occasions.

RCB: Bhuvneshwar Kumar, second in the bowling charts, has dismissed Shubman Gill five times and Jos Buttler nine times.

Probable XIIs

GT: Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (c), Jos Buttler (wk), Nishant Sindhu, Washington Sundar, Jason Holder, Rashid Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Arshad Khan/R Sai Kishore

RCB: 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, Romario Shepherd

Key Stats

• GT and RCB have made the playoffs in four of the last five editions
• Sai Sudharsan and Shubman Gill have eight century stands for the opening wicket, joint-most in Men's T20s alongside Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan
• Average first innings score at NMS since 2025: 203 (16 matches). Eleven of 16 games won by side batting first

Shubman Gill on the one-day turnaround: "Finals are all about the mental side of the game."

Rajat Patidar on his mindset: "There are a lot of learnings, especially off the field."