Rashid Khan turned the IPL 2026 final in Ahmedabad back into a contest with a brilliant spell that broke Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s momentum just when Virat Kohli looked in complete control. Gujarat Titans were defending 155, and the Afghan spinner delivered a massive double strike in his opening over to keep GT alive in the title clash on Sunday, May 31.
The key wickets came in the ninth over of RCB’s chase. Rashid first dismissed skipper Rajat Patidar for 15 after tempting him into a big shot toward long-on, where Kagiso Rabada completed the catch. He then struck again almost immediately, trapping Krunal Pandya lbw with a similar fuller delivery outside off stump. The left-hander looked clearly out, and the on-field umpire wasted no time in raising his finger. From the non-striker’s end, Kohli reportedly urged Krunal not to waste a review.
Those two wickets gave Rashid his 21st wicket of IPL 2026, underlining another strong season from one of the tournament’s most dependable match-winners. More importantly for the Gujarat Titans, the spell injected life into a final that had been slipping away from them after RCB’s aggressive start.
WATCH – Virat Kohli Dominates Kagiso Rabada With 18-Run Over
Earlier, Venkatesh Iyer had given Bengaluru a flying start with a rapid 32 off 16 balls, including two sixes and four boundaries. Even after the early wickets, Kohli remained calm and composed, anchoring the chase with his trademark control and shot selection.
Out of absolutely nowhere! 🌪️
Are we seeing a grand comeback in the grand finale? 😬
Updates ▶️ https://t.co/Yz6K3q6w0X#TATAIPL | #Final | #TheFinalLeap | #RCBvGT | @gujarat_titans | @rashidkhan_19 pic.twitter.com/C3qmvcGs4A
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 31, 2026
At the time of writing, RCB were 148/5 after 17 overs, with Virat Kohli unbeaten on 64 off 39 balls and Jitesh Sharma batting on 9 off 11. The chase had suddenly become more balanced after Rashid’s intervention.
WATCH – Virat Kohli Shares Warm Exchange With AB de Villiers Before Ahmedabad Final
Batting first, the Gujarat Titans never truly got going. Their top order struggled to build partnerships, with Shubman Gill making 10 off 8 balls, Sai Sudharsan scoring 12 off 12, and Jos Buttler managing 19 off 23. Washington Sundar offered some resistance with an unbeaten 50 off 37 balls, while Nishant Sindhu and Arshad Khan chipped in with useful lower-order contributions.
For RCB, Rasikh Salam led the bowling effort with 3/27, while Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar shared two wickets each. If RCB complete the chase, they will become only the third team in IPL history to win back-to-back titles.
