Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) won the toss in the high-stakes TATA IPL 2026 final against Gujarat Titans (GT) at the Narendra Modi Stadium and opted to bowl first.
RCB captain Rajat Patidar made the call after winning the toss, aiming to exploit early conditions with their pace attack featuring Josh Hazlewood, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, and others. The decision comes on a pitch at the Narendra Modi Stadium that has historically offered assistance to bowlers with the new ball, particularly under lights.
This marks RCB’s second consecutive appearance in the IPL final after their dominant 92-run victory over Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 1. The Bengaluru-based franchise is eyeing back-to-back titles, a rare feat in the league’s history. Gujarat Titans, led by Shubman Gill, advanced through Qualifier 2 and will look to leverage home advantage in Ahmedabad, where they have a strong record.
Playing XIs:
Royal Challengers Bengaluru:
V. Kohli, D. Padikkal, R. Patidar (c), K. Pandya, T. David, J. Sharma (wk), R. Shepherd, B. Kumar, J. Hazlewood, R. Salam, J. Duffy
Gujarat Titans:
S. Gill (c), S. Sudharsan, J. Buttler (wk), W. Sundar, J. Holder, N. Sindhu, R. Tewatia, R. Khan, K. Rabada, A. Khan, M. Siraj
Gujarat Titans are expected to rely on their strong middle-overs bowling and explosive batting lineup featuring Gill, Sai Sudharsan, and Rashid Khan’s spin prowess.
The match, scheduled to start at 7:30 PM IST, carries massive significance. A win for RCB would cement their resurgence under new leadership, while a GT victory would add another title to their trophy cabinet following their earlier success.
Fans across the country are glued to the action, with the Narendra Modi Stadium expected to be packed for what promises to be a thrilling finale to the 2026 season.
