RCB win toss, choose to bowl first in IPL 2026 Final in Ahmedabad

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) won the toss and elected to bowl first in the IPL 2026 Final against Gujarat Titans (GT) at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Stadium in Ahmedabad [2]. The decision set the tone for a low‑scoring contest, with RCB’s early breakthroughs putting GT under pressure.

Key takeaways

• RCB chose to bowl first after winning the toss [2]
• Early wickets fell as Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan were dismissed in the powerplay [2]
• Krunal Pandya stumped Jos Buttler, ending the GT captain’s innings [2]
• Arshad Khan hit the first six of the night for GT [1]
• RCB’s bowling attack, featuring Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jacob Duffy, kept the run rate low [2]

Toss decision and early bowling impact

The toss, conducted by RCB’s Rajat Patidar, was won by the defending champions, who promptly opted to bowl first [2]. RCB’s new‑ball bowler Jacob Duffy opened the attack, delivering a tight first over that yielded just 13 runs [2]. The early overs saw GT’s top order struggle; Shubman Gill was caught behind by Bhuvneshwar Kumar, and Sai Sudharsan fell to a sharp catch by Jitesh Sharma after a mistimed hook [2]. These wickets reduced GT to 22/1 early in the innings, giving RCB a foothold in the match [2].

Turning points in GT’s chase

GT’s chase stalled further when Krunal Pandya produced a decisive stumping to dismiss wicket‑keeper Jos Buttler for 19 runs, a blow described as “the wicket of the game so far” [2]. The dismissal came after a well‑timed wide yorker that left Buttler unable to connect [1]. While GT managed a brief resurgence with Arshan Khan’s six—the first six of the night—overall the run rate remained subdued, and GT’s total hovered around 73/4 after 12 overs [1][2]. RCB’s disciplined bowling, including consistent lengths from Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jacob Duffy, forced GT into a cautious approach, limiting boundary opportunities [2].

Why it matters

Choosing to bowl first proved pivotal for RCB, allowing them to exploit early conditions and apply pressure through early wickets. The early dismissals of Gill and Sudharsan, coupled with Buttler’s stumping, shifted momentum firmly toward RCB, setting up a tense chase for GT. The match highlights the strategic value of winning the toss in high‑stakes finals and underscores RCB’s confidence in their bowling unit to defend a modest target. The outcome of the final will hinge on GT’s ability to rebuild after the early setbacks and RCB’s capacity to contain any late‑innings surge.