The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) will take on the Gujarat Titans (GT) in the grand finale of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 on Sunday, May 31, at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

The defending champions booked their ticket to the finale after beating the Titans in Qualifier 1. Throughout the tournament, they have looked like the team to beat and have extended their dominance from their title run in 2025. The Titans, who missed out on the top league spot by net run rate, earned their redemption by fighting through Qualifier 2. They have seen a solid resurgence after their initial playoff setback and enter the final looking to lift the trophy on their home turf. 

The two teams have met three times this season, with RCB holding a 2-1 edge following their recent playoff encounter. Their first clash on April 24 saw the Titans post 205/3 at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, courtesy of a magnificent Sai Sudharsan century. RCB comfortably chased down the target thanks to Virat Kohli’s brilliant 81.

The reverse fixture on April 30 in Ahmedabad saw the Titans get even, bowling out Rajat Patidar’s men for 155 via Arshad Khan’s three wickets and chasing it down with four wickets to spare. However, the stakes peaked in Qualifier 1 at Dharamshala, where RCB blew past GT by 92 runs after posting a playoff-record 254 for 5, powered by Patidar’s blistering 93* off 33 balls.

Here are the most important upcoming stats and milestones from Final, IPL 2026:

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB):

• Devdutt Padikkal: Needs 5 sixes for 150 T20 sixes
• Rajat Patidar: Needs 5 fours for 250 T20 fours
• Krunal Pandya: Needs 19 runs for 2000 IPL runs
• Tim David: Needs 4 fours for 450 IPL fours
• Jitesh Sharma: Needs 3 fours for 300 T20 fours
• Romario Shepherd: Needs 5 sixes for 200 T20 sixes
• Needs a win to become the fourth team ever to win multiple IPL championships 

Gujarat Titans (GT):

• Sai Sudharsan: Needs 10 sixes to complete 100 sixes in T20s 
• Shubman Gill: Needs 6 fours for 450 IPL fours
• Kagiso Rabada: Needs 3 wickets for 150 IPL wickets
• Shubman Gill: Needs 53 runs to become the second-highest run scorer in playoffs 
• Needs a win to become the fourth team ever to win multiple IPL championships 

The summit clash of IPL 2026 is finally upon us, as after 64 days of exhilarating cricket, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) will take on the Gujarat Titans (GT) in the Final of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 on Sunday, May 31, at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

The defending champions, RCB, have been lying in wait after beating the Titans in Qualifier 1 on May 25 by a dominant 92 runs. Skipper Rajat Patidar scored a brilliant unbeaten 33-ball 93 with contributions from other batters as they reached a total of 254 for 5 in their 20 overs. They bowled the Titans out for 162 with the bowlers hipping in with wickets.

The Titans beat the Rajasthan Royals in Qualifier 2 in New Chandigarh. Skipper Shubman Gill scored a magnificent century as they chased down 215 with relative ease after they restricted the Royals to 214 despite a brilliant 96 from starlet Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.

Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad: Pitch report

The Narendra Modi Stadium is possibly the most imposing venue in the country due to its sheer size, and the atmosphere is expected to be even more electric due to the magnitude of the clash. The pitch at the venue is expected to offer a balanced contest between bat and ball. The wicket is conducive to hit-the-deck bowling and offers lateral movement off the surface and in the air. Spinners tend to get significant grip and turn. The boundaries are relatively larger, but the rapid outfield also encourages batters to score freely.

IPL Stats and Records at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad

GT vs RCB Strategies and Match-ups

The two teams have met thrice in IPL 2026. This will be their fourth meeting of the season and the second at this venue. The last time the two teams met in Ahmedabad, the Titans emerged victorious, bowling out RCB for a meagre 155, and chasing it down with relative ease despite losing six wickets. Jason Hodler was the star of the show with figures of 2 for 29 in a brilliant display of hit-the-deck bowling. This is also the fourth IPL final in the last five years to be held at this venue, and the third that the Titans will be playing.

Despite this, RCB would take confidence into this clash being the defending champions, and having beaten the Titans twice in IPL 2026. They also hold a marginal 5-4 lead against the Titans in matches they have met in the IPL. This is their fifth IPL final and second in succession, and it is a testament to how dominant they have been across 2025 and 2026.  

The Gujarat Titans (GT) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) compete in Qualifier 2 of the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) at The Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh on Friday, May 29. Both sides will play in hopes of reaching the showpiece final in Ahmedabad on Sunday, where they will face the Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

GT come into the game following a heavy 92-run defeat at the hands of the defending champions in Qualifier 1 in Dharamshala. RCB went on to post 254 runs on the board in the first innings, only for the 2022 champions to lose all 10 of their wickets on 162. 

RR, on the other hand, will be carrying momentum into Qualifier 2 after beating the Sunrisers Hyderabad by 47 runs in the Eliminator. The world got to witness yet another Vaibhav Sooryavanshi masterclass, after the 15-year-old starred with 97 off just 29 balls. 

As has been the case in every single IPL game, GT vs RR sees a plethora of players from both camps close to achieving personal milestones. With each side playing a minimum of 14 matches in the IPL, there is always a high chance of breaking records on a regular basis.

Here are the important upcoming milestones for players of both teams:

GT Players’ Upcoming Milestones:

• Sai Sudharsan: Needs 55 runs for 2,500 IPL runs
• Sai Sudharsan: Needs 2 fours for 250 IPL fours
• Shubman Gill: Needs 5 fours for 600 T20 fours
• Shubman Gill: Needs 1 six for 150 IPL sixes
• Shubman Gill: Needs 16 runs for 4,500 IPL runs
• Jos Buttler: Needs 2 runs for 500 IPL runs in 2026
• Kagiso Rabada: Needs 1 appearance for 100 IPL matches
• Kagiso Rabada: Needs 5 wickets for 150 IPL wickets

RR Players’ Upcoming Milestones:

• Yashasvi Jaiswal: Needs 4 fours for 500 T20 fours
• Vaibhav Sooryavanshi: Needs 68 runs for 1,000 IPL runs
• Vaibhav Sooryavanshi: Needs 11 sixes for 100 IPL sixes
• Dhruv Jurel: Needs 3 fours for 100 IPL fours
• Riyan Parag: Needs 34 runs for 3,500 T20 runs
• Riyan Parag: Needs 1 catch for 50 IPL catches
• Riyan Parag: Needs 1 fifty for 10 IPL fifties
• Ravindra Jadeja: Needs 5 sixes for 150 T20 sixes
• Ravindra Jadeja: Needs 5 wickets for 250 T20 wickets