race of ipl 2026 The finals will begin with a blockbuster Qualifier 1 clash Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) Surat Gujarat Titans (GT) In Dharamshala. Both the teams have been among the most consistent teams this season and were tied on 18 points each, but RCB took the top spot due to a better net run rate. With a direct ticket to the final at stake, two of the most explosive batting line-ups of the tournament are set to collide at one of the most beautiful yet high-scoring venues in India.
Despite suffering a heavy defeat in their last match of the league stage, RCB have entered the playoffs with tremendous confidence. Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). Even though he gave 255 runs, Rajat Patidar’s The team showed impressive resilience in chasing the target and ensured that they protected their net run rate well to clinch the number 1 spot. Virat KohliPatidar, Krunal Pandya and newly promoted Venkatesh Iyer All have made significant contributions this season, while leading the bowling attack Bhuvneshwar Kumar And Josh Hazlewood Remains one of the most experienced in the competition.
Meanwhile, Gujarat Titans have reached the playoffs after losing Chennai Super Kings (CSK) By 89 runs in Ahmedabad. Shubman Gill And Sai Sudarshan They have remained the most impressive opening pair of IPL 2026, consistently giving explosive starts. Add Jos Buttler’s Finishing talent and bowling attack highlights Mohammad Siraj, Rashid Khan And Kagiso RabadaAnd the GT once again looks like a title contender in every way.
RCB vs GT, IPL 2026: Match Details
- date and time: May 26, 7:30 PM IST / 2:00 PM GMT
- venue: HPCA Stadium, Dharamshala
RCB vs GT Head-to-Head Record in IPL
Matches played: 8 | RCB won: 4 | Won GT: 4
HPCA Stadium Pitch Report
The HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala has traditionally been one of the best batting venues in the IPL. Located at a high altitude, this location allows the ball to travel very fast through the air, making strokeplay highly advantageous for aggressive batsmen. The fresh surface for the first IPL 2026 game at this ground is expected to provide excellent bounce and carry, allowing the batsmen to rely on the pace of the wicket.
Historically, scores around 185-190 in the first innings have been common here, and there could be another high-scoring encounter. However, fast bowlers are unlikely to be completely out of the game. The cool evening conditions and natural seam movement available in Dharamshala often help the fast bowlers during powerplay overs. Bowlers who can swing the new ball quickly can cause damage even before the pitch becomes a batting paradise.
squads
Royal Challengers Bangalore: Rajat Patidar (captain), Jitesh Sharma (wicketkeeper), Virat Kohli, Philip Salt, Devdutt PadikkalTim David, Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Suyyash Sharma, Rasikh Salam Dar, Venkatesh Iyer, Jordan Cox, Kanishk Chauhan, Mangesh Yadav, Jacob Duffy, Swapnil Singh, Nuwan Thushara, Jacob Bethel, Vicky Ostwal, Vihaan Malhotra, Abhinandan Singh, Satwik Deswal, Richard Gleeson.
Gujarat Titans: Shubman Gill (captain), Jos Buttler (wicketkeeper), Sai Sudarshan, Shahrukh Khan, Washington Sundar, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Jason Holder, Mohammed Siraj, Kagiso Rabada, Prasidh Krishna, Sai Kishore, Glenn Phillips, Nishant Sindhu, Kumar Kushagra, Anuj Rawat, Manav Suthar, Jayant Yadav, Arshad Khan, Gurnoor Brar, Ishant Sharma, Ashok Sharma, Kulwant Khejroliya, Luke Wood, Tom Banton
Also read: Here’s how Gujarat Titans (GT) have performed in the IPL playoffs
RCB vs GT, IPL 2026: Today Match Prediction
Case 1:
- RCB won the toss and bowled first
- GT’s PowerPlay Score: 55-65
- GT total score: 195-205
Case 2:
- GT won the toss and bowled first
- RCB’s powerplay score: 60-70
- RCB total score: 200-210
Match Result Prediction: The team bowling first will win the match.
Also read: Here’s how Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) has performed in the IPL playoffs