IPL 2026 Final: RCB Wins Toss and Opts to Bowl Against Gujarat Titans

The grand finale of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 has officially commenced at the iconic Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, featuring a clash between the defending champions, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), and the formidable Gujarat Titans (GT). In a significant development at the start of this championship match, Royal Challengers Bengaluru captain Rajat Patidar won the toss and made the strategic decision to field first. This move sets the stage for a thrilling encounter as both franchises look to etch their names on the trophy for the second time in their history.

Playing 11 of both teams

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

Impact Players: Venkatesh Iyer, Kanishk Chauhan, Swapnil Singh, Abhinandan Singh, Jordan Cox.

Gujarat Titans: Shubman Gill (captain), Sai Sudarshan, Jos Buttler (wicketkeeper), Jason Holder, Washington Sundar, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Nishant Sindhu, Kagiso Rabada, Arshad Khan, Mohammed Siraj.

Impact Players: Prasidh Krishna, Glenn Phillips, Anuj Rawat, Kumar Kushagra, Sai Kishore.

Toss and Team Composition

Winning the toss in a final is often seen as a psychological advantage, and Rajat Patidar opted to put the opposition in to bat. During the toss, the RCB captain confirmed that the team is sticking with the same Playing 11 that secured their place in the final. By making no changes to the lineup, the Bengaluru management has shown immense faith in the consistency and form of the players who have performed throughout the season. The decision to bowl first indicates that RCB might be looking to exploit any early assistance from the pitch or prefers the challenge of chasing a target under the floodlights of Ahmedabad.

The Battle for the Second Title

This final holds immense historical significance for both teams involved. Royal Challengers Bengaluru entered this season as the defending champions, having clinched their very first IPL title in the 2025 edition. They're now on the verge of a potential back-to-back championship run. On the other hand, Gujarat Titans are also chasing their second title. The Titans had a dream start to their IPL journey when they became champions in their debut season in 2022. Consequently, the match at the Narendra Modi Stadium is a battle between two teams that have already tasted glory once and are desperate to double their trophy count.

Venue and Match Expectations

The Narendra Modi Stadium, known for its massive capacity and electric atmosphere, is packed with fans eager to witness the crowning of the 2026 champion. As the defending champions RCB take the field to bowl, the focus will be on their bowling attack to restrict the Gujarat Titans to a manageable total. Gujarat Titans, led by their tactical leadership, will aim to set a daunting target to put pressure on the Bengaluru batters in the second innings, while with both teams fielding settled units and possessing a history of winning big matches, the IPL 2026 final promises to be a spectacle of high-quality cricket.