Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) will be looking to reach the final on their continuation but they will face an in-form Gujarat Titans (GT) team in Qualifier 1 at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamshala on Tuesday, May 26.
Rajat Patidar's RCB topped the table after winning nine games and losing five and having a better net run rate than Shubman Gill-led GT, who had the same win-loss record.
Talking about recent form, RCB has won three of its last six matches. GT, on the other hand, have suffered only one defeat in their last six matches. Fans can expect a fierce battle between the two best teams this season.
Potential impact players for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB):
tim david: : tim david If he is batting at number two then he can be an impact player for RCB. He has had another stellar season, scoring 277 runs in 13 innings at an average of 39.57 and a strike rate of 197.86.
Jordan Cox: He is yet to debut in the Indian Premier League. However, he is actively engaging with the team and throwing his body around the field to stop runs. His commitment is amazing to see.
Abhinandan Singh: He performed for RCB in the early stages of the season but has since been out of the playing eleven. The fast bowlers managed to take three wickets, but their economy rate was a disappointing 12.62.
Swapnil Singh: He is still waiting for his first appearance of the season. Despite not getting a chance so far in 2026, the left-arm spinner has prior IPL experience, having played 14 matches in his career. He is the backup to Krunal Pandya but does not bring that much firepower with the bat.
Kanishk Chauhan: He is the second player to join this season. The young right-arm spinner may not get any games this season, but the experience of being around the RCB setup will help him in his future endeavours.
Potential impact players for Gujarat Titans (GT):
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Prasidh Krishna:During the first half of the season, it seemed Prasidh Krishna The Purple Cap would be retained, but he missed a few matches in the middle of the season, giving others a chance to move up the wicket-taking list. The right-arm fast bowler has taken 14 wickets in nine matches.
Kulwant Khejroliya: The 34-year-old left-arm fast bowler has been a part of Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Delhi Capitals and Kolkata Knight Riders in the past. However, he could not make it into the GT team, which has many in-form fast bowlers.
Anuj Rawat: Anuj Rawat is an aggressive wicketkeeper-batsman who has played 24 IPL games so far in his career. However, he has not yet been featured in any games this season.
glen phillips: Glenn Phillips lost his place in the playing eleven to Jason Holder midway through the series, but his remarkable fielding skills earned him a place among the substitutes. In five innings, Phillips scored just 57 runs at an average of 16.75.
Kumar Kushgra: This promising wicketkeeper-batsman played just one game in the season when Shubman Gill was on the bench. He scored 18 runs on 14 balls.
Expert opinion and final prediction
- home advantage: Since it is a neutral venue, no team will get home ground advantage. However, it is important to note that RCB has played one match in Dharamshala this season, which they won against Punjab Kings by 23 runs.
- recent form: RCB has a 3-2 winning record against GT in their last five matches in the IPL, but the Titans' recent form is better than that of the defending champions.
- balanced side: Both teams are very balanced, which is why they finished in the top two. However, on flat tracks, RCB will have the upper hand as they have many in-form batsmen who are capable of crossing the boundary with ease.
- Prediction: Keeping these factors in mind, expect a close game but RCB may eventually prevail.
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