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RCB will be facing Gujarat Titans in the final of IPL 2026 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Among the player battles, Virat Kohli's tussle with former RCB teammate Mohammed Siraj will be the one of the few to watch out for.
RCB's Virat Kohli in action against Gujarat Titans in IPL 2026 Qualifier 1. (REUTERS)After 73 matches, the Indian Premier League (IPL) is on its final day with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) taking on Gujarat Titans in a high-octane summit clash as both the teams chase their second trophy in the cabinet. While RCB broke their 18-year IPL title-drought last year, Gujarat Titans won it in 2022 and finished runners-up in 2023.
Meanwhile, Gujarat Titans will have the home advantage of at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, having played more than 30 games at this venue. While cricket is always being played as a team sport, there are a few player battles that could shape the outcome of the game. LiveMint tracks down five of them below:
Virat Kohli vs Mohammed Siraj
The most emotional contest could be between Virat Kohli and Mohammed Siraj as the former RCB teams now face each other on opposite sides in the biggest match of the season. Having left RCB after 2024, Kohli faced Siraj in just 19 balls and scored 31 runs. Most importantly, Siraj has not been able to dismiss his former RCB teammate so far in IPL.
If Siraj find some early movement against Kohli inside the powerplay and breach his senior's defence, it could have a great impact on the outcome of the game. But if Kohli manages to survive the new ball, it could be a challenge for Gujarat Titans to stop the highest run-getter of IPL.
Shubman Gill vs Bhuvneshwar Kumar
Another player battle of high intensity is Bhuvneshwar Kumar against Gujarat Titans captain Shubman Gill. For the record, Bhuvneshwar has gotten better of Shubman six times in IPL and have always made the current Indian Test and ODI captain struggle in the middle.
Based on the stats, Bhuvneshwar has bowled 41 dots out of 79 deliveries against Shubman. Most recently, Bhuvneshwar brilliantly set up Shubman in IPL 2026 Qualifier 1 before cleaning up the Gujarat Titans batter. With the new ball, Bhuvneshwar will be once again looking to repeat the same.
Sai Sudharsan vs Jacob Duffy
The most unluckiest award in IPL 2026 should go to Sai Sudharsan after Gujarat Titans batter is coming into the final after two bizarre hit-wicket dismissals in the playoffs. While Sudharsan would be hoping that history doesn't repeat itself, the RCB's Jacob Duffy could challenge the Gujarat Titans batter. With the new ball set to swing a bit in Ahmedabad, it will Sudharsan would be hoping to negate the Duffy challenge early on.
Jos Buttler vs Josh Hazlewood
Not just in IPL, but Jos Buttler vs Josh Hazlewood has become one of the most facinating player battles across the globe. For the record, the Australian pacer has dismissed the former England skipper six times in T20s (international and franchise cricket).
Recently during Qualifier 1, Buttler took Hazlewood for 4, 6, 4 in an over before the RCB fast bowler outfoxed the Englishman with a slower knuckle-ball leg cutter. With Gujarat Titans batting significantly depending on their top three, Buttler's early dismissal could be a blessing in disguise for RCB.
Rajat Patidar vs Kagiso Rabada
RCB skipper Rajat Patidar dominate the battle against Kagiso Rabada. In 22 deliveries against Rabada, Patidar smashed the South African pacer for 56 runs without being dismissed once.
Recently, Patidar launched Rabada into the stands for quite a few times during his 21-ball fifty in Qualifier 1. While Rabada bowled hard lengths outside the off-stump with an aim for a mistimed shot, Patidar was clever to to stay deep into the crease and punch the ball over extra cover for sixes.
Catch the live updates from IPL 2026 with the complete IPL 2026 Schedule and the IPL 2026 Points Table. Also, know who are currently leading the charts in IPL 2026 Orange Cap and IPL 2026 Purple Cap.
About the Author
Koushik Paul
Koushik lives and breathes sports. After transitioning from his own aspirations of becoming a professional athlete, he successfully channeled that lifelong passion into a prolific career, documenting the action both from the sidelines and the editorial desk. With over eight years of industry experience, Koushik joined LiveMint as a Deputy Chief Content Producer in 2024, following impactful stints at Outlook India, India.com, Sportskeeda, Women’s CricZone, and OrissaPOST. A 2017 Journalism and Mass Communication graduate from Maharaja Manindra Chandra College, Kolkata, Koushik has reported on high-profile events including the FIFA U17 World Cup 2017, Ranji Trophy, FIH Pro League, FIH World League finals, the Indian Premier League, and Lionel Messi’s historic visit to Kolkata in 2025. <br><br> While he possesses a versatile command over all sports, he finds his niche in cricket, specializing in breaking news, long-form interviews, global sporting updates, and high-energy live blogs. Koushik’s professional perspective was further sharpened through the 2020 AIPS Young Reporters Programme, where he gained invaluable insights from renowned international journalists, including Keir Radnedge and Riccardo Romani from the United Kingdom, and Martin Mazur from Argentina. Currently based between Kolkata and Delhi, Koushik remains at the forefront of the breaking developments that shape the public sporting discourse. When he isn't tracking scores or deconstructing plays, he can be found exploring new landscapes on his travels or channeling his creative energy into the kitchen. <br><br> If you have a compelling story to share or know an individual who deserves the spotlight, please reach out via email at <a href="koushik.paul@htdigital.in">koushik.paul@htdigital.in</a>.
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