Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Gujarat Titans lock horns in the IPL final on Sunday, with both sides aiming to lift the trophy for a second time. RCB ended a long wait for silverware last year, beating Punjab Kings by six runs in a high-drama final at the Narendra Modi Stadium—an arena set to host this year’s championship match as well. GT, meanwhile, are chasing a third final appearance in just five seasons, having won their maiden title in 2022 before slipping to Chennai Super Kings the following year.
Quick facts
- IPL final: RCB vs GT on Sunday
- RCB’s recent milestone: won their last IPL title by beating Punjab Kings by six runs
- Narendra Modi Stadium will host this year’s final
- GT’s track record: third final in five years; champions in 2022; runners-up in the next season
- Weather outlook for Ahmedabad: 5% chance of rain on matchday; about 15% cloud cover
- GT’s travel to Ahmedabad was delayed after heavy rain and storms across North-West India following Qualifier 2
- Reserve day for the final: Monday, June 1
- If the final is abandoned again on the reserve day, RCB will be declared champions based on points
- RCB’s route: beat GT in Qualifier 1 by 92 runs
- GT’s route: beat Rajasthan Royals in Qualifier 2 by seven wickets
- RCB captain Rajat Patidar can become the third captain to win consecutive IPL titles
Weather has been a key talking point in the build-up. AccuWeather’s outlook for Ahmedabad points to only a 5% chance of rain on matchday, with cloud cover hovering around 15%. Although GT’s arrival to the city was thrown off by heavy downpours and thunderstorms across North-West India after their Qualifier 2 win over Rajasthan Royals in Chandigarh, the forecast suggests rain is unlikely to derail proceedings in the final.
Reserve day rules for the final
If the IPL 2026 final is disrupted, the tournament has a contingency in place. Unlike the earlier playoff matches—Qualifier 1, the Eliminator, and Qualifier 2—the BCCI has scheduled a reserve day for the summit clash: Monday, June 1.
In practical terms, if the match begins on Sunday but is stopped due to rain or other delays, it will resume on Monday from the precise point where it was halted—continuing from the exact ball and score at the time of interruption.
But there’s a further clause if the weather persists. Should the final be washed out again even on the reserve day, the title will not be decided on the field. RCB will be crowned champions because they finished above GT in the points table.
How both teams reached the final
RCB secured their spot in the final by overpowering GT in Qualifier 1. The Bengaluru side won that match by a massive 92-run margin, putting themselves on the verge of the championship.
After that setback, GT still had another route through Qualifier 2. They took full advantage of the second opportunity, defeating Rajasthan Royals by seven wickets to book their place in the final.
With the trophy within reach, RCB captain Rajat Patidar has a special record in sight. He will have the chance to become only the third skipper in IPL history to win back-to-back titles, joining an elite group that includes Chennai Super Kings’ MS Dhoni and Mumbai Indians’ Rohit Sharma.
