RCB vs GT head-to-head: Five wins to four; Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s narrow edge over the Titans faces the ultimate test in the IPL final

Shubman Gill, Rajat Patidar The IPL 2026 final in Ahmedabad on Sunday will see defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru take on Gujarat Titans in a clash between two teams who have taken different paths to reach the title match.RCB enter the final aiming to win their second IPL title in a row. Their campaign was built around an attacking batting approach, with the likes of Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Tim David, captain Rajat Patidar, Phil Salt and Venkatesh Iyer scoring at a rapid pace throughout the season. The Bengaluru batsmen pretty much stuck to the same method regardless of the pitch conditions or the opposition’s plans. This approach has put them under pressure at times, but has also helped them post 200-plus totals more often than any other side this season.Patidar’s leadership also played an important role in maintaining stability in the team during the last two seasons.Gujarat Titans, on the other hand, relied on a different formula. Openers Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan preferred a measured start to the innings, usually scoring at a rate of slightly above nine runs per over, rather than going all out from the start.The main reason for this approach is the dependence on the highest order. Gill, Sudharsan and Jos Buttler have shouldered much of the batting responsibility this season and have delivered consistently. Gill scored 722 runs at a strike rate of 163, Sudharsan scored 710 runs at a strike rate of 159, while Buttler contributed 507 runs at a strike rate of 157.The Titans will once again depend heavily on the trio in the finals. Their home record this season, having won five out of seven matches at the Narendra Modi Stadium, can also give them confidence.However, they face a strong RCB bowling attack led by Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who is second on the Purple Cap list with 26 wickets. Josh Hazlewood took 13 wickets, Rasikh Salam 16, while Krunal Pandya contributed 13 wickets and useful runs lower down the order.While RCB appear to have the stronger batting line-up due to their depth and hitting options, Gujarat’s attack could prove decisive if Ahmedabad’s surface offers any help.

Mutual record

The two sides have met each other nine times in IPL history. RCB won five matches while GT won four.The teams have already met three times this season. RCB have won two of these contests while GT have won once, at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad – the same venue where the final will be held.Both teams also have fond memories of the ground. RCB beat Punjab Kings there to win their first IPL title last season while Gujarat Titans defeated Rajasthan Royals at the same venue to lift the 2022 trophy in their debut IPL season. GT also reached the 2023 final in Ahmedabad but lost to Chennai Super Kings.