"Will be interesting contest": BCCI Vice-President Rajeev Shukla ahead of RCB vs GT IPL 2026 final
Ahmedabad, May 31
BCCI Vice-President and Congress MP Rajeev Shukla has described the IPL 2026 final between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Gujarat Titans as a highly competitive contest.
Speaking to reporters ahead of the high-voltage match, Shukla said, "Today is the final match, IPL is in its final phase and I think whichever team plays well will win today...it will be a very interesting contest and both teams are very good...today we will get to see a very good match..."
The defending champions, RCB, batting line-up will face a tough test against a formidable Gujarat line-up in the Indian title clash at Ahmedabad on Sunday.
The skills of RCB's top order will be tested by Kagiso Rabada and Mohammed Siraj in the powerplay, while GT's rather unsung hero Jason Holder could come in handy against some of RCB's best as well.
As per ESPNCricinfo, GT's bowling strike rate of 16 is the best among all teams this season, and it gets an even more powerful 13.5 at Ahmedabad. It is the same case for the economy rates, as their collective ER of 9.49 falls down to 8.72 at Ahmedabad's Narendra Modi Stadium, making them just as favourites as RCB to win the title.
Here are some exciting matchups.
*Virat Kohli versus Rabada and Holder
Virat has been dismissed four times (in 10 innings) by Holder but the batter has strike rate of over 184 against him. Rabada could also challenge Kohli in another exciting match-up, having dismissed him five times in 17 innings, while the batter strikes at almost 144 against him.
*Rashid Khan against Devdutt Padikkal
The GT spinner could eat up Padikkal, who has been prolific this season with 463 runs in 15 innings with three fifties. Rashid has uprooted him five times in nine innings, with Paddikal striking at just above 90 against him, having mustered 40 runs in 44 balls.
*Patidar: The spin basher could eliminate the Rashid threat
Rashid Khan is one of the greatest T20 spinners, but the RCB skipper shows absolute disdain against him, with 34 runs in 16 balls at a strike rate of over 212 and four sixes.
*Bhuvneshwar vs GT's top-three
GT's reliable top three - skipper Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan and Jos Buttler - have been quiet against the 'Swing King'. Bhuvneshwar has dismissed Gill six out of 14 times, with GT skipper striking at just over 101.
Buttler has fallen to Bhuvneshwar nine times (out of 21 innings) and has struck at just over 110 against him.
Sai has played out Bhuvneshwar more carefully, with just one dismissal in seven innings, but at a modest strike rate of over 115.
Squads:
Royal Challengers Bengaluru Squad: Venkatesh Iyer, Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar(c), Jitesh Sharma(w), Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jacob Duffy, Josh Hazlewood, Rasikh Salam Dar, Romario Shepherd, Suyash Sharma, Kanishk Chouhan, Abhinandan Singh, Jordan Cox, Philip Salt, Richard Gleeson, Swapnil Singh, Vicky Ostwal, Vihaan Malhotra, Mangesh Yadav, Satvik Deswal
Gujarat Titans Squad: Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill(c), Jos Buttler(w), Washington Sundar, Rahul Tewatia, Nishant Sindhu, Jason Holder, Rashid Khan, Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore, Kagiso Rabada, Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj, Glenn Phillips, Anuj Rawat, Kumar Kushagra, Arshad Khan, Luke Wood, Connor Esterhuizen, Ishant Sharma, Jayant Yadav, Shahrukh Khan, Kulwant Khejroliya, Manav Suthar, Gurnoor Brar, Ashok Sharma.
— ANI
Reader Comments
An interesting match. However, it's a bit disappointing that the article focuses so heavily on individual matchups rather than team strategies. IPL finals should be about which team holds nerve under pressure. RCB's batting depth seems stronger, but GT's bowling attack is no joke. Let's see who adapts better to the Ahmedabad pitch.
I'm genuinely excited for this final! RCB has been so consistent this season, and Patidar's captaincy has been brilliant. Hope the crowd at Ahmedabad gives both teams good support. Just praying for no rain interruptions - it would be heartbreaking after such a long season. Ee sala cup namde! 🏆
Wait, they're playing at Narendra Modi Stadium? That's basically a fortress for GT. They've dominated there all season with that incredible bowling lineup. RCB will need to bat out of their skins to win. But then again, Kohli and Patidar have been in red-hot form. Should be a proper contest! 🤞
Yaar, it's so good to see Bhuvneshwar Kumar still performing at this level. He's been a silent warrior for India for years. If he gets Gill early, GT could be in trouble. But I'm also worried about RCB's middle order - if Padikkal and Kohli fail, can Tim David and others step up? That's the real question.
A final between two balanced teams. I appreciate the statistical breakdown in the article, especially the head-to-head records. The Holder-K
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