The IPL 2026 Final is here. Royal Challengers Bengaluru take on Gujarat Titans at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, on May 31. RCB are chasing back-to-back titles after dismantling GT by 92 runs in Qualifier 1.
GT, through a tough Qualifier 2 route, arrive battle-hardened and hungry. Here are the players who will decide who lifts the trophy tonight.
Key Players To Watch Out For in RCB vs GT Final
| Category | Player | Team | Why They Matter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Batsman | Virat Kohli | RCB | 557 runs in 14 matches, avg 50.63, SR 163.82, 1 century + 4 fifties |
| Batsman | Rajat Patidar (c) | RCB | Scored 93* off 33 balls vs GT in Qualifier 1; fastest 90+ innings in IPL history |
| Batsman | Shubman Gill (c) | GT | 722 runs this season, SR 163; GT’s entire innings flows through him |
| Batsman | Sai Sudharsan | GT | 710 runs at SR 159; Orange Cap holder; left-handed threat against pace |
| Batsman | Jos Buttler (wk) | GT | 507 runs at SR 157; GT’s biggest power-hitter after Gill and Sudharsan |
| Batsman | Devdutt Padikkal | RCB | 328 runs in playoffs, SR 165; Kohli’s opening partner and powerplay enforcer |
| Bowler | Kagiso Rabada | GT | Purple Cap leader with 28 wickets; 165 dot balls bowled this season |
| Bowler | Bhuvneshwar Kumar | RCB | 26 wickets, 2nd in Purple Cap; has dismissed Shubman Gill 3 times this season |
| Bowler | Rashid Khan | GT | GT’s biggest middle-overs threat; bowled RCB’s right-heavy lineup into trouble in multiple league games |
| Bowler | Josh Hazlewood | RCB | 13 wickets; hard-length specialist who targets GT’s top-order early |
| All-Rounder | Krunal Pandya | RCB | 13 wickets + crucial batting contributions; managed 43 runs in Qualifier 1 |
| All-Rounder | Jason Holder | GT | 17 wickets at economy 7.54; one of GT’s most effective death bowlers |
Key Player Battles: RCB vs GT Final
| Battle | RCB | GT | What’s at Stake |
|---|---|---|---|
| Powerplay Opener | Bhuvneshwar Kumar | Shubman Gill | Bhuvi has dismissed Gill 3 times this season at an avg of 16 against him |
| Run-Scorer vs Wicket-Taker | Virat Kohli | Kagiso Rabada | Rabada has dismissed Kohli 5 times in 16 innings this season |
| Spin Battle | Krunal Pandya | Rashid Khan | RCB’s only left-arm spin vs Rashid’s control; middle-overs could decide the game |
| Captain’s Duel | Rajat Patidar | Shubman Gill | Two contrasting leaders, one final, one trophy |
Probable Playing XIs for RCB vs GT Final
Here are the Probable Playing XI for both Teams:
RCB Probable XI
Virat Kohli, Venkatesh Iyer, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar (c), Jitesh Sharma (wk), Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Rasikh Salam Dar, Jacob Duffy
Impact Player options: Romario Shepherd, Suyash Sharma
GT Probable XI
Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (c), Jos Buttler (wk), Washington Sundar, Nishant Sindhu, Jason Holder, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna
Impact Player options: Shahrukh Khan, R Sai Kishore
Mohammed Siraj’s fitness will be monitored closely. He needed medical attention to his shoulder during Qualifier 2, though he completed his full quota of four overs. GT will hope it is nothing more than a minor issue heading into the final.
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Final Verdict: Both Teams Ready For the Ultimate Battle of IPL 2026 Final
RCB are the overwhelming favourites because of the fearless, high-risk game they have been playing throughout this tournament. No other team has managed to go past 200 as often as they did in this edition of the IPL.
GT, though, are not just showing up to make up the numbers. They beat RCB in the league stage, have the best bowling attack in the tournament on paper, and are playing at home in front of 130,000 fans. That matters.
The team that wins the Kohli vs Rabada and Bhuvneshwar vs Gill battles in the powerplay will almost certainly win this final. Those 30 balls in the first six overs are where this IPL 2026 title gets decided.
