Royal Challengers Bengaluru will begin their IPL 2026 Qualifier 1 campaign in Dharamsala as the league-stage leaders, carrying both the confidence of finishing at the top and the pressure of a straight shot into the final. RCB ended the group phase with 18 points from 14 matches, finishing above Gujarat Titans on net run rate and setting up a proper top-two showdown for the playoff opener. The team that wins this match will book a place in the title game, while the side that loses will still have another opportunity through Qualifier 2.
For Bengaluru, Qualifier 1 represents more than just another playoff step. It is not only about securing a spot in the business end, nor is it about escaping the emotional weight of previous seasons. Their league-stage journey has put them in command—delivering control, credibility, and the chance to shape how the tournament’s final stretch unfolds. Virat Kohli has remained a key influence on RCB’s batting identity, and the bowling unit has offered a balanced platform to win games across different match situations and conditions.
Gujarat Titans, though, are not arriving with the role of a mere challenger. Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan and Jos Buttler have combined to form one of the most potent top-order groups of the season, turning Qualifier 1 into a clash of contrasting strengths—RCB’s all-round depth against GT’s ability to dictate terms with the bat.
In that setting, former Pakistan batter Basit Ali has backed RCB to get the better of Gujarat and move closer to lifting the trophy. He drew a comparison between RCB’s IPL 2026 form and Peshawar Zalmi’s dominant run in the Pakistan Super League, suggesting that Bengaluru have the look of a side ready to take ownership of the knockout phase.
Basit spoke about RCB’s playoff readiness on The Game Plan YouTube show, pointing to their authority in the run-up to the opener. “RCB will do exactly what Peshawar Zalmi did—straightforward domination. If anyone can challenge RCB, it is Sunrisers Hyderabad. Otherwise, no one else has a chance,” Basit said.
He also anticipated a high-scoring encounter. “It will be a high-scoring match,” Basit added, pointing to the balance of batting firepower and matchups both sides could exploit in Dharamsala.
Former Pakistan wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal shared a similar expectation, arguing that Qualifier 1 could turn into a run-fest due to the batting strength on both teams and the playing conditions in the hill city. Akmal noted that RCB, in particular, look dangerous on that surface, highlighting the threat posed by their top three.
“I feel RCB are very dangerous on that ground. Their top three batters—Shubman Gill, Sudarshan, and Jos Buttler—are very strong. RCB’s batting goes very deep till 7 or 8. Their bowling is also very strong. It will be a high-scoring match. I feel it will go beyond 200, maybe even 220–225,” Akmal said.
Akmal’s comments included a slip when he mentioned Gill, Sudharsan and Buttler in the same breath as if referring to one side, but the overall message was clear: Qualifier 1 could be decided by aggressive top-order batting, the ability to keep the pressure through the middle overs, and a venue where totals can rise quickly once set batters find their rhythm.
The conversation also turned to Virat Kohli and a recent on-field moment involving the handshake episode from RCB’s match against Sunrisers Hyderabad. Akmal referred to the post-match interaction involving Travis Head, saying the expected gesture did not take place.
“In the last match between Sunrisers Hyderabad, Travis Head, and Virat Kohli, there was that handshake moment; no handshake happened,” Akmal said.
Basit responded with his own take, saying, “Something felt off. Otherwise, Virat is not that kind of person.”
Basit then looked at the broader playoff picture and criticised Mumbai Indians for how their late-season result impacted the qualification race. He argued that the defeat did not just cost one team momentum—it altered the standings for multiple sides competing to reach the playoffs.
“For me, the biggest thing is that Mumbai Indians have done an injustice to three teams. They lost a winning match, knocked Punjab out, knocked KKR out, and also ruined Delhi’s chances. Basically, they have completely changed the situation,” Basit said.
With RCB sitting at the top, they naturally carry the label of the side to beat, and Basit has placed them firmly among the favourites. Still, Gujarat’s batting power ensures Qualifier 1 remains unpredictable enough to challenge any easy assumptions. Dharamsala will ultimately decide whether the confidence around RCB turns into reality—or whether this playoff encounter becomes another moment of knockout drama, ready to ignite whichever team handles the pressure best.
