Kris Srikkanth Previews IPL 2026 Final Strategy

Former Indian cricket captain Kris Srikkanth has issued a stark warning to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) ahead of their IPL 2026 final against the Gujarat Titans, specifically advising the team to exclude all-rounder Romario Shepherd from their plans [2]. Srikkanth stated that if Shepherd is permitted to bowl three overs during the match, it could effectively cost RCB the championship title [1].

Key takeaways

• Kris Srikkanth advised RCB to omit Romario Shepherd from the playing 11 for the final, citing his season average of 42.57 and an economy rate near 12 [2].
• Srikkanth suggested that RCB should continue opening the batting with Venkatesh Iyer, even if Phil Salt returns from injury [2].
• The former captain identified the partnership between Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal as the most critical factor for RCB's success [2].
• For the Gujarat Titans to win, Srikkanth believes they must dismiss at least two of RCB’s top three batters: Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, or Rajat Patidar [2].

Tactical concerns for the final

Srikkanth’s assessment of the RCB lineup centers on the performance of Romario Shepherd, who has struggled throughout his 14 appearances this season [2]. With seven wickets and an economy rate approaching 12, Srikkanth argued that Shepherd should not be included in the team at all for the final in Ahmedabad [2]. Regarding the batting order, Srikkanth recommended sticking with Venkatesh Iyer, who has maintained an average of 59 and a strike rate exceeding 184 over his five innings this season [2].

The analysis also highlighted the importance of RCB’s top-order consistency. Virat Kohli has led the team with 600 runs, while Devdutt Padikkal has contributed 463 runs at a strike rate above 170 [2]. Srikkanth noted that RCB’s success is heavily tied to the partnership between these two players, as the team often struggles when one of them is dismissed early [2]. Additionally, RCB captain Rajat Patidar has been a significant presence, scoring 486 runs at an average of over 44 and a strike rate of 196.76 [2].

Why it matters

The IPL 2026 final, scheduled for May 31 in Ahmedabad, represents the culmination of the season for both RCB and the Gujarat Titans [2]. Srikkanth’s commentary underscores the high stakes for RCB, suggesting that their path to victory relies on maintaining their current batting momentum while avoiding the inclusion of underperforming bowlers [2]. For the Gujarat Titans, the strategy is clear: they must rely on bowlers like Rabada and Siraj to break the partnerships of RCB’s top-order batters to remain competitive in the title match [2].