Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 Qualifier 1 will see Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) face Gujarat Titans (GT) on May 26 at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, Dharamshala.
RCB enter the clash as table toppers, having won nine of their 14 league-stage matches. The defending champions will aim to take advantage of their strong momentum and book a direct berth in the IPL 2026 final with a win in Qualifier 1. Notably, RCB and GT met twice during the league stage, with both teams winning one game each.
Meanwhile, the GT has exceeded expectations this season. Despite being dismissed by many before the tournament, he performed consistently well and finished second in the points table with 18 points from 14 matches. The Titans will now look to continue their impressive run and seal a place in the summit clash with a win over RCB.
RCB vs GT: Match Details
| match | Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Gujarat Titans, qualifier 1ipl 2026 |
| Date and Time (IST) | Tuesday, May 26, 7:30 pm |
| venue | Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, Dharamshala |
| Broadcasting and Live Streaming | JioStar Network Channels and JioHotstar (App and Website) |
pitch report
The pitch at Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium is expected to be of great help to the batsmen, which will provide excellent conditions for stroke play. Teams batting first often aim for a score of between 200–220, as the ball comes onto the bat well, allowing the batsmen to play their shots freely and score runs quickly. However, if the bowlers maintain a disciplined line and length they can still make an impact. Fast bowlers who hit the deck hard and do not give space to the batsmen can take some help from the surface.
RCB vs GT: Head-to-head T20 record
| matches played | 08 |
| rcb won | 04 |
| won by gt | 04 |
| tie/nr | 00 |
| stability for the first time | April 30, 2022 (won GT) |
| Latest fixtures | April 30, 2026 (won GT) |
RCB vs GT: Predicted Playing XI
Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB):
Venkatesh Iyer/Phil Salt, Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar (captain), Jitesh Sharma (wicketkeeper), Krunal Pandya, Romario Shepherd, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Suyyash Sharma, Rasikh Salaam Dar.
Impact Player: Tim David
Gujarat Titans (GT):
Sai Sudarshan, Shubman Gill (captain), Jos Buttler (wicketkeeper), Nishant Sindhu, Washington Sundar, Jason Holder, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Kagiso Rabada, Arshad Khan, Mohammed Siraj.
Impact Player: Prasidh Krishna
RCB vs GT: Probable best performers of the match
Probable best batsman: Sai Sudarshan
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Sai Sudarshan Can prove to be an important batsman in Qualifier 1. The left-handed opening batsman has been in exceptional form throughout the IPL and currently leads the run-scoring charts with 638 runs at an impressive average of 49.07. Sai's ability to stretch the innings while maintaining a healthy strike rate has been one of GT's biggest strengths this season. His role at the top becomes even more important on the batting-friendly surface of Dharamsala, where a solid start can lay the foundation for a big score.
Probable best bowler: Bhuvneshwar Kumar
Bhuvneshwar Kumar Can play a decisive role with the ball in Qualifier 1. The experienced fast bowler has performed brilliantly in the IPL, taking 24 wickets in 14 matches. Bhuvneshwar's four-over spell often turns out to be a turning point for RCB, especially due to his ability to strike at crucial moments. His trademark swing bowling, especially with the new ball, makes it difficult for batsmen to read and handle him.
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