RCB vs GT: Two teams chasing their second IPL title will meet in the IPL 2026 grand finale, slated for Sunday, May 31, in Ahmedabad, which is the home ground of one of the finalists, Gujarat Titans (GT).
Under Hardik Pandya, GT made their debut in IPL 2022 and sealed their maiden trophy. They reached the final next season as well but lost to CSK. Now they are being led by the Prince, Shubman Gill.
Their opponent will be the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) of King Virat Kohli, who lifted his and RCB’s maiden IPL trophy last year and now aim for a second consecutive title.
RCB topped the league stage and beat GT in Qualifier 1 to gain an entry into the final. GT had to detour after losing Q1 but thumped RR in Qualifier 2 to reach their third IPL final in only their fifth season. For RCB, this will be their fifth IPL final in 19 seasons.
Both teams comprise some of the best T20 players in the world, the battle of whom will take centerstage in Ahmedabad.
RCB vs GT: 3 Batsman vs Bowler Player Battles That Could Define IPL 2026 Final
Shubman Gill vs Bhuvneshwar-Duffy-Hazlewood
The battle of the GT top three against the RCB powerplay pacers could very well define the outcome of the RCB vs GT final.
Gill and Sudharsan are in pristine form, with both having amassed over 700 runs, and Buttler has made over 500. Against them will be perhaps the most dangerous powerplay pace-bowling trio of Bhuvneshwar (26 wickets), Hazlewood (13 wickets in 12 games), and Jacob Duffy (9 wickets in 5 matches) – they took 5 wickets combined in Qualifier 1.
Gill is fresh off a century in Qualifier 2 vs RR. The outcome of the GT batting powerplay, and in particular Gill’s returns with the bat, is likely to have the biggest impact if GT are to win.
Tim David, Romario Shepherd vs Rashid Khan
It is an unguarded secret that Tim David and Romario Shepherd feast on seamers but struggle against leg-spinners. And when you have a world-class leg-spinner in Rashid Khan in your ranks, you would want him to exploit the weakness of the RCB’s middle-order bashers.
Rashid endured a tough night vs RR, but the Ahmedabad pitch would suit him much better than the flat Mullanpur track. His performance against David and Shepherd in the final could make a difference of 20-30 runs in the end.
Virat Kohli vs Rabada-Siraj
Kohli is enjoying another fruitful season with the bat, having accumulated 600 runs at a strike rate of 164 and an average of 50. This included a knock of 81 (44) against GT in Bengaluru.
In the return leg, though, in Ahmedabad, he was dismissed in the 4th over by Rabada, who is currently the Purple Cap holder with 28 scalps. Siraj is 7th on the list with 18 wickets.
The Siraj-Rabada pairing has been a significant contributor to GT’s success this season, as the duo have dented the opposition in the powerplay in almost every game.
Expect a fiery, intense, and important battle between Kohli and Siraj and Rabada in the final.
Get IPL 2026 Live Score, Team Updates, along with the Latest Player News at IceCric.News and Follow for Live Updates – Facebook & Instagram.
