RCB aim to defend title, GT chasing second crown:Bengaluru has 5-4 edge against Gujarat, chances of rain in Ahmedabad

One final step. One last match. And we will have our winner of IPL 2026. After 73 intense matches, it has come down to these two teams- Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and the Gujarat Titans (GT), who would look to give it all to have their hands on the silverware. RCB would look to repeat their heroics from last year. GT, on the other hand, will aim at winning their second title at their home ground. The IPL 2026 final will also witness an unmissable showdown between the ‘King’ Virat Kohli and ‘Prince’ Shubman Gill at the world’s largest cricket stadium, the Narendra Modi Stadium. RCB have carried strong momentum into the final after crushing GT by 92 runs in Qualifier 1, powered by a dominant all-round performance and a record-breaking batting display. However, Gujarat fought back strongly in Qualifier 2 to book their place in the final by beating Rajasthan Royals, setting up a highly anticipated rematch. With Rajat Patidar leading a confident Bengaluru side and Shubman Gill spearheading Gujarat’s challenge, fans can expect an intense contest between two of the most consistent teams of the season. Notably, Patidar can become the third captain to win back-to-back IPL titles after MS Dhoni (2010, 2011) and Rohit Sharma (2019, 2020). RCB vs GT, Final, IPL 2026, Match Details Match: Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Gujarat Titans, IPL 2026 Final Date: Sunday, 31 May 2026 Venue: Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad Time: Match begins at 7:30 PM IST, toss at 7 PM How to watch: Star Sports Network and JioHotstar Where to follow: Bhaskar English app RCB vs GT, head-to-head record RCB and GT have had nine matches against each other in the history of the IPL. The defending champions hold a slight 5-4 edge over the Titans. This season, these two teams have had three matches, with RCB winning two and GT winning one. RCB would be confident facing the Gujarat Titans, having beaten them by a 92-run margin in Qualifier 1. Virat, Bhuvneshwar aim to defend IPL title RCB would have hopes pinned on two of their greatest stars, Virat Kohli and Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Both have been at their absolute best and would look to fire one more time to give RCB a second title. Virat is the highest run-scorer for RCB this year, with 600 runs to his name in 15 matches, having a strike rate of 164.38. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, on the other hand, has been among the reasons why RCB are in the final. The pacer has picked up 26 wickets and has conceded runs at an economy rate of 8.00. Gill, Rabada chasing second crown in tournament showdown Shubman Gill and Kagiso Rabada have been two of the Gujarat Titans’ most consistent performers this season. Gill, who smashed a brilliant century in Qualifier 2, has 722 runs to his name and will aim to continue his brilliant form. Rabada has had a sensational season with 28 wickets in 16 matches. His performance will be crucial in determining the outcome of the final. Jason Holder dominant over ‘King’ Kohli with four dismissals ‘King’ Virat Kohli has scored 41 runs, facing 27 balls against Jason Holder with a strike rate of 151.85 in 6 innings. On the other hand, Holder dominated Virat with four dismissals in the tournament’s history. He has conceded runs with an economy of 9.11. Shubman Gill vs Bhuvneshwar Kumar The ‘King of Swing’, RCB pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar, has dominated ‘Prince’ Shubman Gill in the past with six dismissals. He has conceded runs with a cheap economy of 6.07 in 14 innings. On the other hand, Gill has scored 80 runs, facing 79 balls with a strike rate of 101.26 against Bhuvi. Narendra Modi Stadium holds special significance for both teams A high-scoring IPL 2026 final is expected between GT and RCB at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium as the venue offers batting-friendly pitches. Motera has produced an average first-innings score of 193 this season, with teams scoring at a brisk run rate of 9.17. With only 37% dot balls recorded, batters are likely to dominate. Teams batting first have won 62% of matches here, while toss winners boast a 54% success rate. The venue, however, is special for both teams. RCB won their first and only title at the Narendra Modi Stadium last year and competing at this same venue would give them a world of confidence. Gujarat Titans also won their only title (in 2022) at the Narendra Modi Stadium. GT would also fancy their chances as they beat RCB at this venue earlier this season. Ahmedabad weather report On Sunday evening, the temperature is expected to be around 33° with 48% humidity. However, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a series of warnings for the Gujarat region, effective till 4 June. Notably, in the 2023 final, heavy rainfall turned hostile in Ahmedabad, resulting in persistent showers and a sudden hailstorm that forced officials to suspend play and push the final to a reserve day.