As the IPL 2026 season hurtles towards its grand finale, one rivalry has stood out for its sheer entertainment value, fluctuating fortunes, and edge-of-the-seat
thriller between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), the defending champions, and the Gujarat Titans (GT), who will be playing their third final in the league since their debut in 2022.
These two powerhouses have already locked horns three times this season, delivering a perfect mix of nail-biting chases, explosive batting, and playoff dominance. With the two sides set to meet again in the IPL 2026 Final on May 31 at the gigantic setting of the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, fans are buzzing with anticipation.
Here's how RCB-GT games have fared in IPL 2026 before the final:
Meeting 1: RCB complete clinical win at Chinnaswamy
In an intriguing match at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on April 24, the visitors posted a formidable 205/3, riding on a strong batting display. However, the Rajat Patidar-led unit, powered by a match-winning knock from Virat Kohli, chased down the target with 5 wickets and 7 balls to spare, finishing at 206/5.
The home crowd was treated to fireworks as the Bengaluru-based franchise climbed back into the top ranks of the points table. It was a classic Chinnaswamy high-scoring affair that showcased RCB's chasing prowess and GT's ability to post big totals.
Meeting 2: GT thump RCB at Motera
The reverse fixture at Narendra Modi Stadium saw the visiting side struggle with the bat, managing just 155 in 19.2 overs. GT chased the target of 156 comfortably, reaching 158/6 in just 15.5 overs for a convincing 4-wicket win with 25 balls remaining.
All-rounder Jason Holder starred for GT with the ball and was named Player of the Match. This victory highlighted GT's strength in home conditions and their clinical finishing ability, levelling the head-to-head in the league phase. The game had garnered some controversy after Holder's catch of Kohli on the boundary line, where a section of fans felt that the cricketer had grassed the ball onto the turf before completing the catch.
Meeting 3: Qualifier 1
The biggest clash yet came in Qualifier 1 at the picturesque venue of the HPCA Stadium, Dharamsala, on Tuesday, May 27. Defending champions RCB, led by captain Rajat Patidar's explosive unbeaten 93 off just 33 balls (including a barrage of sixes), posted a record-breaking 254/5—the highest team total in IPL playoff history
GT's chase never got going as they collapsed to 162 all out in 19.3 overs, handing RCB a massive 92-run victory. Patidar earned Player of the Match, while the bowling unit, featuring contributions from Krunal Pandya and others, dismantled GT's batting order. This win propelled RCB straight into the final, underlining their title-defence credentials.
This means that ahead of the final of the season on Sunday in Ahmedabad, the head-to-head record between the two sides in 2026 stands at 2-1 in RCB's favour. The defending champions would not mind extending their dominance at all while the Shubman Gill-led side would make it a double-edged sword to make things even stevens by not only winning the match but also lifting their second-ever IPL title.
