IPL Final 2026: Royal Challengers Bengaluru wins toss, asks Gujarat Titans to bat first

Ahmedabad: The journey of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 has now reached its final stage. The final match is scheduled for Sunday (May 31) at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, featuring a clash between the Gujarat Titans (GT) and the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). Both teams have taken the field with the shared objective of becoming IPL champions for the second time. Gujarat claimed their maiden title in 2022, while RCB ended their trophy drought last season to secure their first-ever IPL championship.

The IPL final is being held at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. RCB won the toss and elected to bowl first. Please keep refreshing this page for live scores and updates on this match, as we are continuously adding new information. The Narendra Modi Stadium is renowned not only for its sheer vastness but also for its variety of pitches. The venue features pitches composed of red soil, black soil, and mixed surfaces. For the final, Pitch No. 6—a mixed-soil surface—has been selected; notably, this very pitch witnessed a massive score of 255 runs during this year's T20 World Cup final. Consequently, there is every possibility of another high-scoring encounter.

Interestingly, it was on this very pitch that the Gujarat Titans defeated RCB earlier this season. However, this venue also holds special memories for RCB, as it was here last year that the team made history by winning their maiden IPL title.

How Was Gujarat Titans' IPL 2026 Journey?

The Gujarat Titans' campaign has been a roller-coaster ride. The team recorded three wins and three losses in their first six matches. However, Gujarat staged a remarkable comeback thereafter, securing seven victories in their subsequent 10 matches to cement a spot in the top two.

Despite a defeat in Qualifier 1, the team reaped the benefits of finishing in the top two, going on to win Qualifier 2 and securing their berth in the final. Jason Holder's entry into the squad proved pivotal to Gujarat's resurgence. Brought in as a replacement for Glenn Phillips, Holder may have contributed a modest 58 runs with the bat, but it was his bowling—claiming 17 wickets across 10 matches—that truly turned the team's fortunes around.

What Are Gujarat Titans' Strengths and Concerns?

Gujarat's batting lineup has relied heavily on the trio of Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill, and Jos Buttler. This top-three has remained the team's greatest strength throughout the season; however, this excessive reliance also remains a cause for concern. In the final, the biggest challenge facing Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan will come from RCB's experienced pace duo: Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood. If GT's opening pair can successfully navigate the initial onslaught, the conditions for batting could become significantly easier.

What is RCB's Greatest Strength?

The defending champions, RCB, have appeared exceptionally well-balanced this season. The team has posted scores exceeding 200 on nine occasions and has successfully chased down targets above 200 twice. Interestingly, Virat Kohli is the only player from the team to feature among the tournament's top 10 run-scorers. Despite this, players such as Rajat Patidar, Devdutt Padikkal, Tim David, Krunal Pandya, and—in recent matches—Venkatesh Iyer have stepped up to take responsibility, guiding the team to consistent victories. RCB has enjoyed a three-day rest period ahead of the final, whereas Gujarat has had only one day to recover after playing Qualifier 2. Consequently, Bengaluru may hold an edge in terms of freshness.

What About Head-to-Head Record?

So far, nine matches have been played between the two teams, with RCB winning five and Gujarat winning four. In Ahmedabad, the head-to-head record between the two sides stands level at 1-1. Another intriguing statistic is that in eight of the nine matches played between these two teams, the side chasing the target emerged victorious. The only exception was Qualifier 1 of the current season, where the team batting first ended up winning.

What Role Will the Pitch and Toss Play?

Since 2025, the average first-innings score in IPL matches held at the Narendra Modi Stadium has been 203. Out of the 16 matches played at this venue, the team batting first has won on 11 occasions. The average score posted by the winning teams has been 213 runs. For this reason, it is widely believed that the team winning the toss in the final will likely opt to bat first and attempt to set a formidable total.

Who Are Players to Watch Out For?

For Gujarat, Kagiso Rabada and Jason Holder are expected to play pivotal roles. Holder has dismissed Virat Kohli four times, while Rabada has done so on five occasions. On the other hand, Bhuvneshwar Kumar could prove to be RCB's biggest trump card. Bhuvneshwar has dismissed Shubman Gill five times and Jos Buttler nine times. His opening spell with the new ball could very well dictate the course of the match.

Sai Sudharsan and Shubman Gill have now forged eight century-plus opening partnerships in T20 cricket. They have equaled the record for the most century-plus opening stands in men's T20 cricket, a milestone they now share with the duo of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan. It will be fascinating to see who lifts the trophy on this historic night at the Narendra Modi Stadium. Will Gujarat replicate their success from 2022, or will RCB become the third team—after Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings—to win back-to-back IPL titles?