UNIPA Sport Desk,,31 May-Ahmedabad, May 31: Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) will face Gujarat Titans (GT) in the final of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday, marking the fourth meeting between the two sides this season.
RCB enter the title clash aiming to successfully defend the trophy they won for the first time last year. Gujarat Titans, meanwhile, are seeking their second IPL title after advancing to the final with a convincing victory over Rajasthan Royals in the Eliminator.
Ahead of the final, RCB face a key selection decision regarding opener Phil Salt. The England batter’s availability could create a selection dilemma for the team management, with Venkatesh Iyer having delivered strong performances in his absence. Gujarat Titans are expected to retain the combination that helped them secure a dominant win in their previous outing.
RCB’s predicted playing XI includes Venkatesh Iyer, Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, captain Rajat Patidar, Jitesh Sharma, Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Rasikh Salam Dar, Jacob Duffy and Romario Shepherd.
Gujarat Titans are expected to field Sai Sudharsan, captain Shubman Gill, Jos Buttler, Nishant Sindhu, Washington Sundar, Jason Holder, Rashid Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna and either Arshad Khan or R Sai Kishore.
The final brings together two of the tournament’s most consistent teams, with both sides aiming to conclude their campaigns by lifting the IPL 2026 trophy.
