Gujarat Titans will play their third Indian Premier League final when they face Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL 2026 title clash at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday. The Titans have reached the summit clash twice before, winning one title and losing the other.
Gujarat Titans' Journey in the IPL
GT entered the IPL in 2022 when the tournament expanded to 10 teams. Along with Lucknow Super Giants, they became one of the two new franchises added to the league. Ahead of their first season, Gujarat drafted Hardik Pandya, Shubman Gill, and Rashid Khan as their marquee players and built a strong squad at the mega auction. The team enjoyed a successful debut campaign, finishing at the top of the points table with 10 wins in 14 league matches. They then defeated Rajasthan Royals in the final to win the IPL 2022 title by seven wickets, becoming only the second team after Rajasthan Royals in 2008 to lift the trophy in their debut season.
Gujarat continued their strong run in IPL 2023 and once again reached the final. However, they fell short against Chennai Super Kings, losing by five wickets and finishing as runners-up. As a result, GT have played two IPL finals so far, winning one and losing one.
Gujarat Titans' Record in IPL Finals
- IPL finals played: 2
- Won: 1
- Lost: 1
Final Appearances
- IPL 2022 final: Beat Rajasthan Royals by 7 wickets
- IPL 2023 final: Lost to Chennai Super Kings by 5 wickets
- IPL 2026 final: Vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru
Heading into Sunday's final, Gujarat will rely heavily on their top order. Shubman Gill has scored 722 runs this season at a strike rate of 163, Sai Sudharsan has made 710 runs at a strike rate of 159, while Jos Buttler has contributed 507 runs at a strike rate of 157. Unlike RCB's aggressive batting approach, Gujarat have generally preferred a more measured start in the powerplay before accelerating later in the innings. Their home record also offers encouragement, with five wins from seven matches at the Narendra Modi Stadium this season.
However, they will face a strong RCB bowling attack led by Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who is second in the Purple Cap standings with 26 wickets. Josh Hazlewood has taken 13 wickets, Rasikh Salam has picked up 16, while Krunal Pandya has contributed 13 wickets and useful runs with the bat. RCB are aiming for a second consecutive IPL title, while Gujarat are looking to add a second trophy to their cabinet and improve their record in IPL finals to two wins from three appearances.
Stay updated with IPL Live Score and the latest IPL news on Times of India. Follow the IPL schedule and track the race for the IPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap.
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