In a high-stakes IPL 2026 final, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) captain Faf du Plessis won the toss and elected to bowl first against Gujarat Titans (GT) at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The decision was influenced by the dew factor, which traditionally makes chasing easier under lights.
Toss Decision and Team Changes
Du Plessis explained that bowling first would allow his bowlers to exploit any early moisture and then chase a target under the lights. RCB made one change, bringing in pacer Josh Hazlewood for spinner Karn Sharma. GT, led by Shubman Gill, remained unchanged from their previous match.
Pitch and Conditions
The pitch appeared to be a good batting surface, with some assistance for fast bowlers early on. The weather was clear, and the crowd was packed, creating an electric atmosphere. Both teams had strong batting lineups, but RCB's bowling attack, featuring Hazlewood, Mohammed Siraj, and Wanindu Hasaranga, looked to put pressure on GT's top order.
GT's batting relies heavily on Gill, David Miller, and Rahul Tewatia, while their bowling is spearheaded by Mohammed Shami and Rashid Khan. The match promises to be a thrilling contest between two well-balanced sides.
