The IPL final between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Gujarat Titans is set up as a high-scoring contest at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The venue’s mixed-soil Pitch No. 6 has already produced a run-heavy game before, and the signs point to another evening where batting could shape the result.
Both teams arrive with strong cases and familiar memories at the same ground. GT won their maiden title here in 2022, while RCB lifted their first IPL trophy on this stage last season, so the final also carries a clear sense of unfinished business for both sides.
Pitch, conditions and match expectation
Pitch No. 6 has been chosen for the final, and it has a reputation for helping batters if they play with control. Earlier this year, it returned 255 runs in the T20 World Cup final, and the IPL numbers at this venue also support a batting-first approach.
Since 2025, the average first-innings score at the Narendra Modi Stadium in IPL matches has been 203 across 16 games. Eleven of those matches were won by the side batting first, and the average first-innings total in winning efforts was 213.
That pattern makes the toss important, especially with the scale of the ground and the pressure of a final. The side that bats first is expected to enjoy a small but valuable advantage if it can put up a strong total.
Gujarat Titans’ route to the final
Gujarat Titans did not follow a smooth path into the title match, but their form improved sharply after a mixed start. They opened with three wins and three losses, then won seven of their next 10 games to move into the top two and give themselves a second chance after Qualifier 1.
That surge came alongside the arrival of Jason Holder, who replaced Glenn Phillips and added immediate balance to the side. Holder has scored only 58 runs, but his bigger value has come with the ball, where he has taken 17 wickets in 10 appearances.
His role has helped GT lean on discipline and wicket-taking length rather than pure pace or chaos. The approach has worked well, even if it looks closer to red-ball style cricket than the usual IPL template.
RCB’s depth has defined their season
Royal Challengers Bengaluru have looked more settled and have had the benefit of three days’ rest before the final. Their season has been built around high totals, with a clear preference for posting big scores and then defending them or chasing with intent.
RCB have passed 200 runs nine times this season and have chased down 200-plus targets twice. That has come without heavy dependence on one batter, even though Virat Kohli remains their only player inside the tournament’s top 10 run-scorers.
Runs have come from several sources across the order, including Rajat Patidar, Devdutt Padikkal, Tim David, Krunal Pandya and more recently Venkatesh Iyer. That spread of contributions has been one of the main reasons RCB have stayed so competitive in pressure matches.
Key match-ups to watch
GT will need their top order to handle the new-ball threat from Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood. Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan have often set the tone for the side, and if they survive the opening spell, the middle overs could become much easier.
Jos Buttler adds more strength to the top three, but GT’s reliance on early runs from that group remains a concern. Their quick turnaround before the final may also test their freshness, especially against a well-rested RCB attack.
RCB’s bowling plan will lean heavily on Bhuvneshwar, who is second in the bowling charts and has dismissed Gill five times and Buttler nine times. His four overs could decide how much pressure RCB can create before the middle overs begin.
GT also have strong individual match-ups in their favour. Jason Holder has dismissed Virat Kohli four times, Kagiso Rabada has done so five times, and Rashid Khan has dismissed Devdutt Padikkal five times.
Head-to-head context
RCB lead the overall rivalry 5-4, while the record in Ahmedabad is level at 1-1. Eight of the nine matches between these sides have been won by the chasing team, with the lone exception coming in Qualifier 1 in Dharamsala.
That record adds another layer to the toss battle, although the final is still likely to reward whichever side handles the conditions and pressure better. GT also beat RCB on this very pitch earlier in the season, which gives them useful familiarity.
Team news and likely XIs
GT do not appear to have major injury concerns, although Shubman Gill and Mohammed Siraj both needed treatment during Qualifier 2 for neck and shoulder issues. Neither issue is reported to be serious enough to force immediate rest.
RCB also do not have major fitness concerns in the expected XI, though Phil Salt looks doubtful. Rajat Patidar has said the team is not carrying any significant injury problems into the final.
Probable XIs
- Gujarat Titans: Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (c), Jos Buttler (wk), Nishant Sindhu, Washington Sundar, Jason Holder, Rashid Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Arshad Khan/R Sai Kishore
- Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Venkatesh Iyer, Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar (c), Jitesh Sharma (wk), Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Rasikh Salam Dar, Jacob Duffy, Romario Shepherd
The final brings together two sides that have stayed relevant across recent IPL seasons, with both qualifying for the playoffs in four of the last five editions. On a ground that has already delivered title moments for each team, the next chapter will depend on whether GT’s top order can absorb the early threat and whether RCB’s batting depth can once again carry them through a pressure night in Ahmedabad.
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