Former India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin said that the defending champions, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, are favourites for the IPL 2026 final, but they will have to avoid mistakes. RCB topped the table in the league stage before beating the Gujarat Titans by 92 runs in Qualifier 1 to make it to the final. They will now compete against the Titans once again at the Narendra Modi Stadium, a venue where GT have an impressive record. While Ashwin acknowledged Gujarat’s advantage at home, he highlighted RCB’s dominance throughout the season.
“GT have won matches at home, and they have dominated the rivals in Ahmedabad. It is their fortress, and it is going to give them confidence in the final,” Ashwin told JioHotstar.
“For RCB, batting or bowling first doesn’t matter at all as it is their final to lose. They are favourites against Gujarat. They should play the brand of cricket they have played in the previous matches in the ongoing season. RCB should play attacking cricket,” he added.
Gujarat recovered from their defeat against Bengaluru and defeated Rajasthan Royals by 7 wickets in Qualifier 2 to book their place in the finale. They have been playing good cricket under Shubman Gill’s captaincy and will enjoy support in Ahmedabad.
Ashwin opined on the different approaches of the two franchises. “The two teams have adopted different approaches. RCB are willing to take risks. Krunal Pandya and Bhuvneshwar Kumar are the fighters, and these two have put the rivals under pressure this season,” he mentioned.
Ashwin believes GT’s knowledge of conditions stands between RCB and the defence of the title.
“Gujarat Titans’ home ground and their familiarity with the situation and conditions is the last piece of the puzzle standing between Bengaluru and a chance of winning a second consecutive title,” he concluded.
RCB are just one win away from becoming the third IPL franchise to win two successive titles after the Chennai Super Kings and the Mumbai Indians. On the other hand, the Gujarat Titans are eyeing their second championship in the history of the tournament.
Rajat Patidar’s team will once again rely on Virat Kohli in the batting department. He has already touched the 600-run mark, and if he gets going, RCB will dictate the terms. Patidar, Jitesh Sharma, and Tim David are dangerous batters, while Josh Hazlewood can cause damage with the ball.
Gujarat’s openers Gill and Sai Sudharsan are among the leading scorers, and their partnership has led the team to wins. Jos Buttler is also a quality batter, and he can change the flow of the game in a span of a few overs. In the bowling unit, Mohammed Siraj, Kagiso Rabada, Jason Holder, Rashid Khan, and Prasidh Krishna are genuine wicket-takers.
In the league matches, RCB and GT won a match each against each other, but the former restored the lead by clinching a victory in the playoffs.
It is going to be an exciting clash as both franchises have players who are renowned for their match-winning abilities in the Indian Premier League.
Comments are closed.