Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) return to familiar territory at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, a venue that holds special significance after their historic IPL 2025 title win. Interestingly, Pitch No. 6 — the very surface used in that final — is once again in focus ahead of their clash with the Gujarat Titans (GT). RCB head coach Andy Flower confirmed that the match will be played on the same strip, known for its 75% red-soil composition. Historically, this pitch has offered a balanced contest, favouring stroke play while still providing enough assistance for bowlers who hit the right lengths.
Both teams have enjoyed success here — GT notably chased down challenging targets, including a 204-run pursuit last season. From a form perspective, RCB appears to be the more settled unit. With six wins from eight matches, they have built momentum on the back of a deep and aggressive batting line-up. Their tally of 90 sixes is among the highest this season, underlining their intent and firepower. In contrast, GT have struggled for consistency, splitting their eight matches evenly and registering one of the tournament’s lowest six counts.
However, the contest isn’t as one-sided as it may seem. Both sides boast strong bowling attacks, particularly in the Powerplay. RCB’s seamers lead the charts with 17 wickets, while GT are not far behind with 13. Kagiso Rabada has been pivotal for Gujarat with the new ball, while Bhuvneshwar Kumar continues to deliver early breakthroughs for Bengaluru.
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Another interesting similarity lies in team composition, with both franchises relying on a mix of wrist spin and left-arm spin to control the middle overs. Yet, the real difference could come down to batting depth — an area where RCB have consistently held the edge.
As former India wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel pointed out, RCB remain confident in their approach despite evolving T20 trends. With conditions expected to produce a competitive total in the 190–200 range, execution across phases will be key. Historically, chasing teams have dominated this fixture, winning all seven previous encounters. With RCB holding a slight 4-3 head-to-head advantage, another high-scoring, closely fought contest is on the cards.
Gujarat Titans (GT)
Prasidh Krishna is expected to return to the Gujarat Titans playing XI after missing the previous match, where Arshad Khan struggled in an expensive outing. His comeback could be crucial, especially given his strong record against Virat Kohli, having dismissed him three times in eight innings. Kagiso Rabada also boasts an impressive head-to-head against Kohli, with four dismissals in 15 innings. Spin will play its part too, with Rashid Khan enjoying a favourable match-up against Devdutt Padikkal.
Probable XII: Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (c), Jos Buttler (wk), Shahrukh Khan, Washington Sundar, Jason Holder, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj, Manav Suthar, Prasidh Krishna
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)
For Royal Challengers Bengaluru, availability concerns remain around Phil Salt, who is still recovering from injury. Jacob Bethell may retain his spot if needed. Meanwhile, Bhuvneshwar Kumar holds key advantages over Jos Buttler and Shubman Gill, setting up an intriguing new-ball battle.
Probable XII: Virat Kohli, Jacob Bethell, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar (c), Jitesh Sharma (wk), Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Rasikh Salam Dar, Suyash Sharma
