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The first Qualifier match of IPL 2026 is set to be a high-voltage encounter between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Gujarat Titans on February 26 in Dharamshala.th May 7:30 pm IST.
Get the best RCB vs GT Dream11 Prediction, Fantasy Cricket Tips, Probable Playing XI and Match Insights for 1stscheduled tribe qualifier IPL 2026 match. Expert analysis and more.
Also read: “The best batting pair in IPL history”: Gujarat Titans’ opening pair praised by CSK stalwarts
RCB vs GT Hot Picks for Dream11 Prediction and Fantasy Cricket Tips:
Captaincy Choice:
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Jos Buttler – Gujarat Titans benefited greatly from Buttler’s aggressive approach as the England star continued to accelerate during crucial stages to score 469 runs. |
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Virat Kohli – With 557 runs in 14 matches, Kohli has a brilliant blend of experience and aggressive intent, giving Royal Challengers Bangalore exceptional stability at the top. |
Raises up:
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Devdutt Padikkal – Padikkal impressed with fluent strokes throughout the campaign, scoring 433 runs and maintaining a strike rate above 170. |
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Sai Sudarshan – Calm under pressure and technically sophisticated, Sudarshan dominated the season with 638 runs and finished as Gujarat’s most reliable batting force. |
Budget Selection:
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Rajat Patidar – Leading from the middle order, Patidar changed the match with fearless batting, scoring runs at exceptional pace and hitting boundaries regularly. |
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Rashid Khan – The Afghan leg spinner had another impressive performance in the IPL season, taking 19 wickets through disciplined spells and quick wicket-taking variations. |
RCB vs GT IPL 2026 Captain and Vice-Captain Options:
|
captain |
Virat Kohli and Jos Buttler |
|
vice captain |
Sai Sudarshan and Devdutt Padikkal |
RCB vs GT Dream11 Prediction Team 1:
- Keepers – Jos Buttler
- Batsmen – Virat Kohli©, Venkatesh Iyer, Shubman Gill, Devdutt Padikkal, Sai Sudarshan (Vice Captain)
- Allrounder- Jason Holder, Krunal Pandya
- Bowlers-Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Kagiso Rabada, Mohammad Siraj
RCB vs GT Dream11 Prediction Team 2:
- Keepers – Jos Buttler ©
- Batsmen- Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, Shubman Gill, Devdutt Padikkal (Vice Captain), Sai Sudarshan
- Allrounder- Jason Holder, Krunal Pandya
- Bowlers-Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Kagiso Rabada, Rashid Khan
RCB vs GT Dream11 Prediction Today Match Qualifier 1 IPL 2026 Players to Avoid:
|
player |
dream11 credit |
Dream11 Points (Last Match) |
|
Abhinandan Singh |
7.0 credit |
No |
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glen phillips |
7.5 credits |
No |
RCB vs GT Dream11 Prediction Today Match Qualifier 1 IPL 2026 Expert Advice:
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sl captaincy option |
Virat Kohli |
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gl captaincy option |
jos buttler |
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choice of punt |
Rashid Khan and Rajat Patidar |
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dream11 combination |
1-5-2-3 |
RCB vs GT Match Preview:
Royal Challengers Bangalore will face Gujarat Titans in a high-pressure Qualifier 1 encounter of the Indian Premier League 2026 Playoff at the picturesque Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamshala on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, with the contest starting at 7:30 PM IST. This marquee knockout match brings together the top two teams from the league stage, with both franchises aiming to ensure direct entry to the Grand Final.
The rivalry between these two leading sides remains perfectly balanced, with both teams sharing four wins each in their last eight encounters. Furthermore, they finished with a 1-1 draw during the league stage this season. Royal Challengers Bangalore claimed the first encounter at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on April 24, 2026, where Virat Kohli led the chase brilliantly with an unbeaten half-century and won by five wickets.
However, Gujarat Titans responded strongly in the reverse fixture in Ahmedabad on April 30, 2026. Jason Holder produced a disciplined bowling display to restrict Bengaluru to 155 before Shubman Gill’s explosive 43 from 18 balls led Gujarat to a four-wicket win.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru entered the playoffs as league leaders having collected 18 points with an impressive net run rate of +0.783. Despite suffering a heavy 55-run defeat against Sunrisers Hyderabad in their final league match, Rajat Patidar’s team has displayed remarkable consistency throughout the season. Their experienced batting lineup led by Virat Kohli, Phil Salt and Venkatesh Iyer, coupled with a disciplined pace attack led by Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, makes them one of the most balanced units in the competition.
Meanwhile, Gujarat Titans finished second in the table with the same number of points but had a slightly lower net run rate of +0.695. After defeating Chennai Super Kings by 89 runs in their last league match, Shubman Gill’s team reached Dharamshala with immense confidence, where they scored a mammoth score of 229 runs. Gujarat’s batting line-up has performed consistently well this season through players like Sai Sudarshan, Jos Buttler and Gill, while their bowling attack featuring Rashid Khan, Kagiso Rabada and Mohammed Siraj has provided crucial breakthroughs under pressure.
RCB vs GT head-to-head record:
|
teams |
win the match |
|
Royal Challengers Bangalore |
4 |
|
Gujarat Titans |
4 |
RCB vs GT Weather and Pitch Report:
|
temperature |
23°C |
|
weather forecast |
partly cloudy |
|
pitch behavior |
batting friendly |
|
Best suited for |
motion |
|
Average score of first innings |
185 |
Records of chasing teams:
RCB vs GT Playing 11 (Expected):
Royal Challengers Bangalore Playing 11:
1)Virat Kohli
2) Phil Salt/Venkatesh Iyer
3) Devdutt Padikkal
4) Rajat Patidar ©
5) Jitesh Sharma
6) Romario Shepherd
7) Tim David
8) Krunal Pandya
9) Bhuvaneshwar Kumar
10) Jacob Duffy/Suyyash Sharma
11) Josh Hazlewood
12) Rasikh Salaam
gujarat titans playing 11: :
1)Shubman Gill ©
2) B Sai Sudarshan
3) Jos Buttler (Wicketkeeper)
4) Washington Beautiful
5) Jason Holder
6) Rahul Tewatia
7) Nishant Sindhu
8) Rashid Khan
9) Arshad Khan
10) Kagiso Rabada
11) Mohammad Siraj
12) Famous Krishna
RCB vs GT Match Winner Prediction:
Based on the overall team balance, Royal Challengers Bangalore are in a good position to win this match.