Royal Challengers Bengaluru face Gujarat Titans at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday in the IPL 2026 final, with RCB chasing back-to-back titles and GT looking to claim a second IPL trophy.
Match context
RCB finished the league stage at the top of the table and booked a direct route to the final with a commanding 92-run victory over GT in Qualifier 1 at Dharamsala.
Gujarat regrouped to beat Rajasthan Royals in Qualifier 2, with Shubman Gill’s 104 off 53 balls and Sai Sudharsan’s 58 off 32 powering a chase of 215 with seven wickets in hand.
Their 167-run opening partnership in that match is the highest ever recorded in IPL playoff history. GT are appearing in their third IPL final in five seasons.
Form guide
Bhuvneshwar Kumar has been one the standout performers of IPL 2026 with 26 wickets at an economy of 8.00 from 15 matches, making him the leading wicket-taker of the tournament alongside GT’s Kagiso Rabada.
Virat Kohli has provided the batting anchor throughout the season and carries a strong record in high-pressure matches.
For GT, Gill and Sudharsan have become the first pair in IPL history to both score 700-plus runs in a single edition. Their 11th century partnership this season also sets the record for the most 100-plus stands in men’s T20 cricket.
Rabada needs three wickets to reach 150 IPL scalps and enters the final as one of the tournament’s most consistent new-ball threats.
Betway
- Very strong sign up offer
- Fast app on iOS & Android
- Extensive betting content
Key stats and pitch
The Narendra Modi Stadium surface provides true bounce and carry, suiting batters who play through the line. Teams targeting 210-plus when batting first have consistently put pressure on the chasing side at this venue.
Head-to-head
RCB hold a 5-4 overall head-to-head advantage over GT in IPL history. The most recent meeting, in Qualifier 1 on 26 May, ended in a 92-run RCB victory. The two sides split the league meetings this season, with one win apiece.
Betting angle
RCB at 1.80 is fair value for the defending champions on a surface that suits Bhuvneshwar’s seam-up approach and gives their settled batting lineup a known quantity to work with.
Josh Hazlewood at 5.20 for top bowler is strong value on a pitch where his pace and new-ball movement have consistently produced early wickets.
Shubman Gill at 4.00 for top batsman is the standout individual batting market given his century in Qualifier 2 and his record of performing in high-pressure knockout fixtures on the GT home ground.
T20 vs ODI vs test betting – format-specific strategy
The takeaway
Both sides are evenly matched. RCB’s experience of winning from this position last season and Bhuvneshwar’s form give them a narrow edge, but Gill and Sudharsan’s devastating partnership play and GT’s home advantage make this the most genuinely competitive final the IPL could have produced.
Photo: REUTERS/Anushree Fadnavis
ZarBet
- Very strong sign up offer
- Fast app on iOS & Android
- Extensive betting content
