RCB Opts to Bowl First Against Gujarat Titans in IPL 2026 Final

Match Overview

In the IPL 2026 final held at the renowned Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on May 31, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, captained by Rajat Patidar, won the toss and chose to bowl first against the Gujarat Titans, led by Shubman Gill. Both teams are vying for their second IPL championship. RCB retained the same lineup that played in the Qualifier 1, while GT made one adjustment, bringing in Arshad Khan to replace Sai Kishore.

Captains' Insights at the Toss

During the toss, Rajat Patidar explained their decision to bowl first, citing the pitch's consistency throughout the match. He expressed a desire to dismiss the GT batsmen quickly and emphasized the importance of focusing on the present rather than dwelling on past experiences. Patidar also acknowledged the unwavering support from RCB fans, referring to them as the '12th man army'. He stated, "We'll bowl first. The wicket is good, and we aim to get them out early. We have many memories from last year, but we must concentrate on this match. The crowd here is fantastic, and we appreciate their support. We are sticking with the same team."

Gujarat Titans' Strategy

On the other side, Shubman Gill mentioned that they preferred to bat first, indicating that the toss outcome wouldn't significantly affect their strategy. He expressed confidence in the pitch, noting that it has been favorable in their previous matches. Gill remarked, "We would have batted first anyway. The wicket looks promising, and we hope to set a challenging score. There might be some movement for fast bowlers early on, but it generally settles down. The boys are ready and feeling fresh for this match. Playing in such a large stadium is always a privilege. We have made one change, with Arshad Khan coming in for Sai Kishore."

Playing XIs for the Final

Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar(c), Jitesh Sharma(w), Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Romario Shepherd, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jacob Duffy, Josh Hazlewood, Rasikh Salam Dar

Gujarat Titans: Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill(c), Jos Buttler(w), Washington Sundar, Rahul Tewatia, Nishant Sindhu, Jason Holder, Rashid Khan, Arshad Khan, Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj