Gujarat Titans vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru IPL, 2026, Full Score Card

FOUR! Rashid Khan hits the winning runs. Gujarat Titans come up trumps against the defending champions. They win by 4 wickets with 25 balls to spare. Suyash Sharma gives the ball a bit of air, on a nagging and outside off. Rashid backs away and shimmies down the track as well. He reaches out and thumps it over cover for a boundary to seal the win.

Flighted delivery, full and around the off stump. Rashid Khan sinks to a knee and reaches out in front. He rolls his wrists over the ball to control the sweep. Plays it all along the ground through square leg. Tim David tidies up in the deep by moving to his right. A couple of more runs.

Short and sliding in at the hips. Tewatia pivots on the back foot and pulls it through backward square leg for a single.

Shorter and flatter, outside off. Tewatia cuts it hard and through the vacant backward point region. It is cut off by the deep fielder by getting around to his right. Two runs taken.

FOUR! Lovely shot! Tossed up by Suyash, it is the googly, a bit too full, outside off. Tewatia picks the wrong'un and goes with the turn. He stays leg side of the ball and lofts it inside out over cover. There is no protection in the deep and the ball reaches the fence. 7 more needed for GT.

A bouncer to end the over, on middle. Rashid Khan ducks underneath the delivery and lets it travel to the keeper.

Good-length delivery, on middle, Rashid Khan bunts it back to Shepherd.

Romario Shepherd switches to around the wicket and delivers on a length, angling in, on middle. Rahul Tewatia tucks it to square leg for a single.

Much fuller, around the off pole with pace. Rashid Khan lunges and drives it to mid off for a quick single.

Back of a length, just outside off. Rahul Tewatia opens the face of the bat and steers it to deep third for a comfortable single.

On a hard length, just outside off, Rahul Tewatia dabs it to cover.

Wide given for height. RCB are a bit bemused by that call. Rajat Patidar has taken the review. Dug in short by Romario Shepherd, over off, Rahul Tewatia lets it through to the keeper. The Ball Tracking confirms that the ball went past Tewatia at 1.79 metres, with his head measured at 1.75 metres. So, the wide call stands.

Half a shout for LBW! Suyash sticks to the wrong'un and drags the length back a bit, on middle. Rashid Khan leans forward to defend and just about squeezes an inside edge onto the front pad.

Wow, GT lose another wicket and they still need 15 more to win. Rashid Khan walks out to bat at number 8.

OUT! CAUGHT! Jason Holder holes out. Suyash serves the googly, on a length, on middle. Holder gets on the front foot and uses his long reach to play the slog sweep. The ball spins back in to catch the inner half of the bat. Jason fails to get the distance on the shot and picks out the deep mid-wicket fielder. Devdutt Padikkal takes a safe catch close to his chest, a couple of metres away from the boundary cushions. GT are 6 down now for 141, still needing 15 more runs.

Around off, full in length. Rahul drops it beside the strip on the off side and gets to the other end.

Wide! Sprayed well down leg, Tewatia walks inside the line to shovel it past short fine leg but misses. Jitesh Sharma moves to his right and gets a hand on it. He seems to have hurt his fingers in the process but shakes off the pain.

Quicker through the air, full and in line with the off stump. Jason looks to cover the line with a straight bat. It goes off the outside edge to short third and the batters take a quick single.

Out comes the wrong'un, full and on middle. Holder picks it from the hand and lunges for the block.

From around the wicket, short and flat, on middle. Tewatia watchfully tucks it to deep mid-wicket for a run.

STRATEGIC BREAK! The Titans are just 19 away from the win now and it looks like they are going to cross the finish line with plenty of overs to spare. The chase has been exhilarating because either there's been boundaries flowing or wickets tumbling. GT seem to have taken a calculated risk and at the expense of a few wickets more, they are all but certain to give their net run rate a real boost. RCB still need to believe and if they get a couple of quick wickets after the break, things can get pretty close. Still, not a single over from Krunal Pandya as Suyash Sharma continues.

Back of a length, on middle, Jason Holder pulls it down toward the right of the short mid-wicket fielder. The fielder dives and attempts to stop the ball, but fails to make a clean stop. The deep square leg fielder runs to his left, and by that time the batters come back for the second.

Swing and a miss! Short of a length, on the fifth stump. Holder covers the stumps and attempts to pull it across, but the ball gets some extra bounce off the track and beats the upper edge.

Just outside off, back of a length. Rahul Tewatia hangs back and pats it to deep cover for a single.

Fullish, on the stumps, Jason Holder eases it to long on for a single.

Right into the blockhole, on middle, Jason Holder does well to jam it back to the bowler.

Oh, any other day that would have crashed back into the stumps. Across off, on a good length, Rahul Tewatia leaves nothing in the tank and swings for the hills. Gets an inside edge that sneaks past the stumps and goes down to deep fine leg. They cross.

Shorter and on off, Tewatia angles it wide of point and gets to the other end. 24 more needed for GT.

FOUR! Gets it away! Looped up, slower and fuller, on middle, Rahul Tewatia gets into the position for the reverse and swings at it ungainly. Gets it off an under edge but fine of the man at short third for four more. Not sure GT would want Tewatia to take such a risk.

FOUR! Too short and put away! A half-tracker, on middle and leg. Tewatia needs no second invitation as he rocks back, swivels and pulls it to the left of deep mid-wicket for a boundary.

Rapped on the pads! Pushed through, across off, Tewatia sinks to a knee for the sweep and gets hit on the pads but outside the line of the off stump.

Slips in the googly, full and on off. Tewatia dabs it beside the strip on the off side. He is keen for a single but Holder sends him back as Patidar was quick on the ball from slip.

Tossed up, full and on middle. This is eased to long on for a single.

Suyash Sharma is back on, replacing Josh Hazlewood in the attack.

FOUR! 34 more runs required for GT with that boundary. Shepherd pitches it up, around the pads of the batter. Rahul Tewatia rolls his wrists and tickles it away toward the deep fine leg fence. End of an eventful over. Two wickets and 13 runs from it.

Hard-length delivery, around off, Jason Holder guides it to third man and gets a single.

SIX! Off the mark in style! Romario Shepherd bangs this one on the deck to offer a bouncer on middle and leg. Jason Holder rocks back and hooks it over Josh Hazlewood at long leg for a six.

This game isn't over yet, it seems. Jason Holder walks out to bat next.

OUT! LBW! Two in the over for Romario Shepherd, and RCB's belief grows stronger. On a good length, on off. Sundar brings his bat out in front to defend. The ball skids through to go past the inside edge and catches Sundar on the crouched back leg on the flap of the pad. A prolonged appeal, and Romario is pleading with the umpire, but it is turned down. RCB are confident, and Rajat Patidar sends it upstairs. No bat involved on UltraEdge. This looks straight, but where has this pitched? The Ball Tracking comes up as three reds with the ball crashing into the top of the off stump. 109/3 becomes 111/5 for the Titans.

A loud appeal for LBW is turned down. Seems pretty adjacent if there's no inside edge on it and Rajat Patidar does send it upstairs. Let's see what the third umpire finds...

Much fuller, on the stumps, Rahul Tewatia nudges it to the leg side and gets a single.

WIDE! Romario Shepherd offers a bouncer, but it flies way over the batter. Rahul Tewatia makes a leave and gets the bonus run for the team.

The next batter in is Rahul Tewatia. He comes in as the Impact Sub for GT, replacing Mohammed Siraj.

Mohammed Siraj is substituted by Rahul Tewatia

OUT! CAUGHT! A steepler, but Josh Hazlewood holds on. Shepherd bangs it in short, over off. Shahrukh swivels and swings hard for the pull but the ball kicks up a bit to take the top edge. It is skied towards deep fine leg, where Hazlewood keeps his eyes on the ball as he looks to settle under it. The ball is swerving in the air, and Josh seems to have it covered, but at the last moment, he has to lean forward. He gets both hands out in front and clings to the ball. GT lose their 4th wicket for 109, needing 47 more runs. Can RCB sneak in another quick wicket?

Halfway through the chase, it is GT's game to lose from here.

A single to end and Josh Hazlewood finishes his spell with figures of - 4-0-56-0, a very rare expensive and wicketless spell for 'the Hoff.' Slower one, into the pitch, Khan nurdles it down wide to the right of the bowler and wants the single. There is some hesitation from Washington Sundar at the other end, but once the ball beats the bowler, they get the single with ease.

FOUR! Not perfectly timed but Shahrukh throws caution to the wind and picks up a boundary. Hard length around middle, Khan advances down the pitch and lofts it back over the bowler's head for a boundary.

Fuller in length, drifted onto the pads, Sundar stays crouched and works it way behind square leg for one more.

A bit shorter and straighter, worked off the hips and past square leg for a single by Shahrukh Khan.

Back of a length, over the off stump, Khan stays back and plays it late, dabbing it down to backward point.

Play and a miss. A full ball outside off, Khan charges at it and looks to go through covers but the ball beats the outside edge.

DROPPED AND SIX! A really tough chance, and Venkatesh Iyer hasn't managed to grasp it. Shortish length on middle and leg, Washington Sundar gets inside the line and hoicks it off the midriff towards deep square leg. Iyer is a bit more inside the fence and has to go back and move to his left as well. Iyer tries to reach up with one hand, but the ball just brushes the fingertips and goes over the fence.

Fuller, around off, Washington Sundar dabs it to mid-wicket.

Good-length delivery, around off, Washington Sundar knocks it to mid off.

Back of a length, on the fourth stump. Shahrukh Khan opens the face of the bat and steers it to the left of the backward point fielder, who fumbles and the batter gets the single.

On a length, on leg and middle, Washington Sundar nudges it with soft hands to long on for a single.

Romario Shepherd scoots from over the wicket to the left-hander and delivers on a hard length, just outside off. Washington Sundar rocks back and punches it straight to the point fielder.

Around the top of off and middle, wristed down to deep fine leg for a single by Sundar. 62 needed now off 72 balls.

Hard length again, on middle and off, Washington Sundar prods halfway and pushes it down to mid off.

On a hard length, hitting the deck and this is bowled outside off. Shahrukh Khan stays upright and hits it wide to the right of deep backward point for a single.

The Royal Challengers have the big scalp of Jos Buttler. Shahrukh Khan walks out to bat with the Titans needing 64 runs from 75 balls. This is a test of Gujarat's middle order.

OUT! BOWLED'EM! Bhuvneshwar Kumar has completely outfoxed Jos Buttler on this occasion. Bhuvi sees Buttler getting across to the off side once again and spears in a yorker on the leg stump. Bhuvi nails the yorker and Buttler looks to flick but ends up playing all around it. The ball rattles into the leg pole and Kumar has his third wicket of the game. The top three are now all dismissed for GT.

Bhuvi drags the length back a couple of inches, but again, Buttler moves to the off side and works it behind square on the leg side for a couple of runs.

FOUR! Lovely timing from Jos. Length ball, trying to slant it back into the stumps. Buttler gets ahead and gets across to the off side, tucking it away neatly past mid-wicket and the ball races away to the fence.

STRATEGIC BREAK! No shortage of action in the first 7 overs of the chase. RCB have managed to dismiss Sai Sudharsan and Shubman Gill, but not before Gill unleashed himself on their new-ball attack. Jos Buttler has carried the momentum forward, and GT have already knocked off more than half the target. With 70 needed off 78 balls, it is now about batting sensibly from here, from the home side's perspective. RCB need a couple of quick wickets, and more than anyone, the wicket of Buttler. That could inject belief into their camp, considering that GT's middle order has not inspired much confidence so far this season. Rajat Patidar brings back Bhuvneshwar Kumar for his final over.

Pitches it up, around off, Jos Buttler pushes it to wide of cover for a single. Not a great start from Suyash Sharma. 17 runs from his first over!

Serves the googly and it is slower, on a good length. Sundar punches it to deep cover for one.

Pushed through, on a length, on the pads. That is flicked off the back foot to long on for a run.

SIX! And again. The runs continue to flow for GT. Full-length delivery, just outside off. Jos Buttler plants his front foot forward and gets right underneath the delivery to park it over the long off fence for another massive six.

SIX! Up, up and over! Sharma offers a bit of flight this time, pitching it fuller, on off. Jos Buttler clears his front foot and launches it over long on for a six.

WIDE! Suyash Sharma has to reload that one. Pitches it up, but darts it down the leg side. Jos Buttler looks to sweep it but misses.

Suyash Sharma jogs from over the wicket and bowls much fuller, wide outside off. Washington Sundar leans on the delivery and drives it to deep cover for a single.

End of a lively Powerplay. It is time for spin as the leggie Suyash Sharma has been tossed the ball.

SIX! Even better from Buttler and GT end the Powerplay at 69/2. A length ball from Josh, angled in at the stumps. Buttler just gets under the trajectory of the ball and clobbers it down the ground, over long on for a biggie.

FOUR! Up and over. Pitched fuller around off, Jos Buttler takes a stride back into the crease and puts his hands through the ball, nailing it over wide mid off for a boundary.

Similar length, straighter this time, Jos dabs it into the leg side.

That's well bowled. Seam-up delivery, at 142.9 clicks. This is bowled on the fifth stump line and straightens down the line. Buttler looks to punch it away but is undone by the extra bounce and is beaten past the outside edge.

Good length in the channel, angles across with some extra bounce. Washington Sundar plays it late and glides it down to deep third for one more.

The in-between length and outside off, Buttler gets on his toes and cuts it through the point region for one.

A massive wicket for RCB. Shubman Gill's promising stay has been cut short. So, that's two out of the ever-reliant GT top three back in the hut inside the Powerplay. Washington Sundar joins Jos Buttler out in the middle.

OUT! CAUGHT! Hit like a tracer bullet but Virat Kohli pouches the catch without a fuss and he's absolutely pumped, giving Shubman Gill a bit of a sendoff as well by slamming the ball back into the turf. Length ball around off from Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Gill skips down the pitch and laces the drive but he does so uppishly. Kohli, stationed at short cover, squats down and takes it in reverse cup style. 99 needed now off 90 balls.

Back of a length, outside off, Buttler comes down the pitch and taps it in front of mid off for a quick single.

A big swing and a miss, making it three dots on the trot here. Good length, around the top of off. Jos Buttler charges down the pitch and tries to hammer it over extra cover but fails to connect. Jitesh Sharma keeps Buttler on his toes as he underarms a throw towards the stumps, but misses.

Fuller this time, angled back in from outside off at 135.8 kph. Buttler leans ahead and defends it back to the bowler.

Good length, in the channel, Buttler gets across to the off side and defends it down to backward point.

Oh, a direct hit and Shubman Gill would have been run out. Hard length around off, Gill bunts it down in front of mid off and scampers through for a single. He dives in to make his ground as the throw goes wide of the stumps at the non-striker's end.

Third over in the Powerplay for Bhuvneshwar Kumar as RCB know the importance of getting Buttler and Gill early.

SIX! Adding insult to injury. Back of a length and outside off, Jos Buttler shuffles across again, and this time he connects the lap to perfection, sending it sailing over fine leg for a six.

Oh, is that a dropped chance? Rajat Patidar has his hands on his head and it seems like Jitesh Sharma has put down Jos Buttler. How costly is this going to be? Short ball, well outside off, Buttler shuffles across to lap but gets it off the glove. The ball lobs behind and the keeper hops to his right but fails to pouch it.

Hurls it on a good length, in the channel. Gill presses half-forward and steers it behind point with an open bat face. He calls for two, but Tim David is quick in the deep and keeps the batters down to a single.

Hits the back of a length, over off. Buttler dabs it to the left of backward point and gets off the mark with a single.

FIVE RUNS! Bonus runs for the Titans here, and Virat Kohli is the culprit for RCB. Back of a length, around off, dabbed away to the left of cover for a quick run. Kohli picks up the ball and has a shy at the non-striker's end but the ball gets stuck in his hand and he ends up snatching at the throw, firing it wide and all the way into the mid on fence.

That's well bowled. Gill is early to back away again and Josh Hazlewood outsmarts him with the wide yorker. Gill is unable to reach it and just lets it pass.

Out goes Sai Sudharsan and in walks Jos Buttler. Round 2 of Josh Hazlewood versus Shubman Gill coming up...

OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! Bhuvneshwar Kumar keeps making the ball talk and does get the first breakthrough for his side as well. Bhuvi lands this one a touch fuller on middle and the ball nips away off the deck. Sai Sudharsan gets bamboozled a bit as he jars at it and gets the outside edge. Jitesh Sharma dives to his left and takes a fine catch. 114 needed now off 102 balls.

Back of a length and around off, eased off the back foot towards point for a run.

Bhuvi hits the deck and pushes the ball into the batter. Gill tries to pull it away but gets an inside edge onto the body.

Half an appeal for a caught behind, turned down. However, the appeal starts to get a bit more serious now and the bowler feels there is a nick on it. The keeper comes in to have a word as well and Rajat Patidar does take the review. Hard length, angling in over the stumps. Gill backs away to go over the off side but misses and gets beaten on the outside edge. The third umpire checks UltraEdge and finds that there's no bat involved. NOT OUT. RCB lose a review as well.

Fuller than a good length, on middle and off, Sudharsan gets it off the inner half of the blade towards mid-wicket for a single.

FOUR! Uppish but in the gap as well. The in-between length, a bit too wide outside off. Sudharsan looks to cut but slices it away wide to the left of deep third for a boundary.

Wow! Shubman Gill has imposed himself on Josh Hazlewood, and how. He has taken down one of RCB's biggest weapons with the ball. GT need 120 runs from 108 balls.

SIX! That's probably the one true bad ball Hazlewood has bowled this over, and Shubman Gill dispatches it with ease. Full and angling down leg, Gill picks it off the legs and whips it over deep backward square leg for a biggie. 24 off the over. 100th six in GT colours for Shubman.

FOUR! Wow, Shubman Gill can do no wrong at the moment. Gill backs away early and the bowler tries to follow him, but Gill manages to force the punch through covers, and the ball goes into the fence.

SIX! That's a majestic hit. Good length, at the stumps, extracts a bit more bounce as well, does Hazlewood. Gill nonchalantly just gets under it and lifts it high over wide long on for a biggie.

Hazlewood jams in a yorker now, on off, Gill tries to step out but can only manage to dig it out back to the bowler.

FOUR! Another one. A bit fuller, Josh looks to spear it into the batter. However, Gill shimmies down the pitch and lofts it back over the bowler's head for another fine boundary.

FOUR! Aggressive intent from Gill. Josh Hazlewood hits that in-between length and bowls it outside off. Gill skips down the pitch, backs away and scythes it square through point for a boundary.

Josh Hazlewood to operate from the other end.

Hard length, just outside off and angling away, Sudharsan has a poke at it but misses. 12 off the first over of the chase.

Jumps off a good length again, Gill looks to turn it leg side but gets a leading edge through the vacant cover-point region for a single.

A top comeback delivery from Bhuvi. Scrambled-seam delivery, jumps off a good length and moves away from off and middle as well. Gill does well not to edge it behind.

SIX! One of the most elegant sixes you will ever see. Slightly fuller, in the channel outside off. Shubman Gill gets onto the front foot and drives it over wide mid off, all the way for a six.

FOUR! Oh, that's so unlucky for the bowler. Good length again, snakes back in from outside off. Shubman Gill gets nearly cut in half as the ball takes the inside edge and even though Jitesh Sharma puts in a dive to his left, the ball goes past him, into the fine leg fence.

GT's chase is underway with a quick single. Just short of a good length, shaping back into the left-hander from around off. Sai Sudharsan presses back and plays it down with soft hands towards point and pinches a run.

OUT! JOSH HAZLEWOOD IS RUN OUT! A wild, wild ending to the first innings and Royal Challengers Bengaluru have been bowled out for 155 with 4 balls to spare. Arshad Khan bowls it on a good length, on off and middle and the ball cuts back in. Josh Hazlewood backs away and has a push at it but the ball zips past the outside edge. There is half an appeal for caught behind, which is turned down and Josh wanders out of his crease as well. Jos Buttler cleverly underarms the throw onto the stumps as Josh turns back to make his ground. However, the ball deflects away and Hazlewood wants a second bite at the run and even though Bhuvneshwar Kumar tries to send him back, he continues on his merry way. Shubman Gill at short cover picks up the ball and underarms another direct hit at the non-striker's end. The third umpire has a look and Josh is just safe in terms of the first direct hit, but he's well short on the second one.

What has happened here? An appeal for a caught behind, but it is turned down. Jos Buttler scores a direct hit at the batting end, but the batter is safe at that end. There is a direct hit at the bowling end as well, where Josh Hazlewood seems to be short of his ground. Hazlewood has already started walking off, not even waiting for the replay. And now we know why, Josh is well short, confirmed by the check by the third umpire.

Josh Hazlewood is the last man in.

OUT! CAUGHT! That's well held onto by Sai Sudharsan. Arshad Khan pitches the ball a bit fuller and on middle and leg. Venkatesh Iyer stays back and heaves it across the line. Iyer ends up not quite timing it and drags it flat towards deep mid-wicket. Sai comes charging in and dives forward to snaffle it with both hands. He does well to hold onto the ball even as his elbows thud into the turf on the landing. RCB are now 155/9.

Arshad Khan (3-0-22-2) to close out the innings. Can RCB get to 170? That would be a massive boost heading into the break.

Short-pitched delivery on off and middle, Iyer leans back and awkwardly angles it away past short third for a single.

FOUR! Shot! Too full and on off, not quite yorker length. Venkatesh Iyer goes deep in the crease, stays still and drills it back past the bowler into the long off fence for another boundary.

Banged in well short and wide outside off, Venkatesh Iyer reaches up for it and hits it to the right of deep point for a couple of runs. That also brings up the 150 for RCB.

Hard length, on a tighter line around off. Kumar nudges it down towards cover-point and pinches a run.

FOUR! Smacked away. Short of a length, wider outside the off stump. Bhuvneshwar Kumar backs away a bit as well and swats it up and over the cover region for a boundary.

Good-length delivery, slanting back into the right-hander at nearly 140 clicks. Bhuvneshwar Kumar hangs back and solidly defends it off.

Time for the 19th over. Mohammed Siraj to bowl. 3-0-26-1 so far for Siraj.

The in-between length now, Arshad keeps the line around off. Bhuvi presses back and pushes it into the off side for a single. 160 on the cards for RCB?

Fuller in length, straighter too, eased away towards short extra cover.

FOUR! That's a good-looking stroke, and RCB get a boundary after almost 4 overs. Back of a length, wide outside off, Kumar goes deep in the crease and latches onto the width, slapping it down through the gap at covers for a boundary.

BEATEN! Pitched up on a fuller length, at 144.6, and angled just across off. Bhuvneshwar Kumar looks to hit on the up but gets beaten past the outside edge.

Good length, angled into the pads, tucked down behind square leg for a single by Iyer.

Halt! Venkatesh Iyer has copped a stinging blow on his left elbow. The physio rushes out to have a look. A check is underway to rule out any fracture. Iyer has put the gloves back on, and he is ready to resume. It remains to be seen how comfortable he feels while playing his shots.

Ouch! That's gone straight into the left elbow of Venkatesh Iyer and he seems to be really stung here. Back of a length, hammered into the pitch around off. The ball jags back in with some extra bounce. Iyer tries to swing it off the front foot but misses and cops a blow on the left elbow.

WIDE! Too high. Banged in halfway down the pitch, angled in over middle and leg. Venkatesh Iyer simply ducks under it.

Arshad Khan (2-0-15-2) has been brought back into the attack.

Just back of a length, at 129.6 kph and outside off, Kumar gets a stride across to the off side and strokes it to point.

Banged in short over middle, Venkatesh Iyer comes down the pitch and forces the flat-batted shot down to long on for just a single.

Dug in a bit more short now, awkward height to get it away. Iyer tries to pull but hits it straight to short fine leg.

Back of a length, outside off, Kumar presses up on his toes and taps it down to covers for a single.

Iyer persists with the cheeky attempt and fails to get it away yet again. Good length, just angling across off. Venky tries to get inside the line and lap it but the ball hits the pads and rolls into the leg side for a leg bye.

Bowled back of a length and over leg stump, Iyer shuffles across to lap it away but is well beaten.

Dragged length outside off, punched away to extra cover. Just a single off the over.

Slightly flighted on off, it is the googly. Bhuvneshwar Kumar lunges to defend.

Nagging length, on middle, Kumar watchfully defends it back to the bowler.

A touch fuller, on middle, played off the back foot by Iyer and shovelled away behind square leg for a run.

Turning down leg! Another flatter leg break, lands it on a good length on middle and leg. Venkatesh Iyer rocks back to flick but misses and gets struck on the pads again.

Tossed up, full and just outside leg. Iyer leans ahead to flick but gets it off the pads.

STRATEGIC BREAK! Plenty for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru to think about during this break. They found themselves in a similar situation earlier this season against RR in Guwahati, where Venkatesh Iyer came in as the Impact Sub and played a handy cameo. They will be hoping for a repeat tonight. So far, so good for the Gujarat Titans, with an impressive showing so far with the ball and a noticeable improvement in the field. The job is not done yet, though, and they will want to close this out strongly. Rashid Khan will bowl out now. 3-0-18-2 so far for the spin wizard.

Back of a length again, going across off, Venkatesh Iyer tries to guide it away but gets an extra bounce. The ball goes off the gloves and down to deep third for another single.

Slower one, back of a length and around off. Kumar hops up and nudges it down in front of point for a run. Good running.

Good length, attacking the stumps, tucked away to mid on.

Pitched fuller on off and middle, driven to the left of mid off for a quick single.

A bit untidy from Mohammed Siraj to begin with but the boundary is stopped. Full ball, angled in towards middle. Bhuvneshwar Kumar clips it past mid on and Siraj chases after it. He opts not to put in the dive but the ball races away from him. Siraj eventually puts in the dive and manages to stop the boundary, and Manav Suthar is the one who gives good back-up, saving a run for his side.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar is in next.

OUT! CAUGHT! Another one bites the dust and RCB are going down in a hurry now. Jason Holder bowls it just back of a length and on off. The seam of the ball hits the deck such that it angles in with some extra bounce. Romario Shepherd leans back to pull but ends up snatching at it. The ball is swung down to deep mid-wicket, where Sai Sudharsan pouches a simple catch and Holder has his second wicket, to go along with his three catches as well.

With 7 wickets down and still 6 overs left, RCB's hand has been forced. Venkatesh Iyer has been introduced as the Impact Sub. Jacob Bethell has been subbed out. Iyer's bat does not pass through the gauge and he has asked for a replacement. The new bat passes the check, and we are all good to go. If it had all gone well with the bat, RCB were likely to bring in Rasikh Salam as the Impact Sub, but they can no longer do so.

Jacob Bethell is substituted by Venkatesh Iyer

OUT! TIMBER! Rashid Khan does get the job done and gets a big wicket here for GT. Rashid bowls it a tad shorter on middle and bowls it flatter as well. It is the leg break that turns back. Devdutt Padikkal rocks back and tries to whip it leg side but gets cramped for room. The ball takes the inside edge, then goes onto the pads and then eventually, goes on to hit the stumps. A bit unlucky for the batter but Padikkal has to walk back and RCB are 126/7.

Tossed up, on off, Romario winds up to go big but loses his shape and ends up hacking it towards long on. They cross.

SIX! Romario Shepherd is just starting with his fireworks! A touch shorter this time, with a googly, on middle. Romario Shepherd picks up the wroung'un and dispatches it over the deep mid-wicket fence for a massive six.

Shorter and it is the googly, punched back to the bowler.

SIX! This is out of the park! Tossed up, fuller, on off and middle. Romario Shepherd plants his front foot away from the delivery and launches it downtown for six runs.

Beaten! Fuller and pitching it just outside off. Romario Shepherd lunges and looks to defend, but is beaten on the outside edge due to the away turn.

KG bashes the hard length and bowls it on off, Romario hangs back and angles the bat to push the ball down towards point for a single.

Back of a length and outside off, Romario Shepherd stays back and has a half push at it, dabbing the ball down to backward point.

Tap and run. Back of a length, outside off, Padikkal gets on his toes, nudges it well behind point and picks up a quick single.

SIX! Well, maybe a moral victory for the bowler. A well-directed bumper, right at Padikkal, around helmet height as well. Devdutt Padikkal tries to pull but the ball gets big on him and he tries to pull out of the shot but it's too late. The ball flies over fine leg for a six.

FOUR! A valiant effort from Shubman Gill, but it goes in vain. Good length, around off, Padikkal backs away nice and early, swatting it between mid off and extra cover. Gill gives it a good chase and puts in a dive, but ends up making contact with the ropes when he tries to flick the ball away for a second time.

Half an appeal for LBW, but that's sliding well down leg. Hard length on middle and leg, darts back in. Romario Shepherd fails to get it away and the ball goes into the leg side off the thigh pad. The batters pick up a leg bye.

Much fuller again, not a lot of flight. Devdutt Padikkal goes deep into the crease and dabs it to cover. Another tidy over from Rashid Khan.

Full and on middle, Romario Shepherd hits it down to long on for a single.

Beaten! Short and just outside off. Romario Shepherd rocks back and looks to punch it through cover, but gets beaten on the outside edge.

Fuller, on middle, Devdutt Padikkal works it to long on for a single.

Full and slanting it down the leg side. Devdutt Padikkal looks to clip it but misses and wears on the thigh pad.

Flat and fuller from Rashid, on off. Romario Shepherd flicks it to long on and gets a single.

Dug in shorter around leg, Shepherd swivels back and pulls it down to deep backward square leg for a single to get off the mark.

Full again, attacking the toes this time, Shepherd clips it across to mid-wicket.

Pitched fuller and on off, Romario Shepherd watchfully pushes it out into the off side.

RCB slide into further trouble. Romario Shepherd makes his way out to the middle.

OUT! CAUGHT! Would you believe it? The ball's gone straight to Jason Holder yet again. Arshad Khan goes back to attacking the stumps and slants the ball in towards middle and leg. Krunal Pandya hops across to the off side, just a touch and clips it away. He does so uppishly and straight to short mid-wicket, where Holder takes another sharp catch. RCB are haemorrhaging wickets at the moment.

FOUR! Nicely done. Back of a length, a tad too wide outside off. Krunal Pandya hangs back and waits for it before cutting it through the gully region for a boundary.

On a good length, honing in on middle, Devdutt Padikkal stays put and punches it with a straight bat down to long on for one.

Full and in line with the leg stump. Pandya watchfully clips it to mid-wicket off the front foot.

Turning into the pads, full in length, Pandya lunges but is beaten on the inside edge and wears it on the front pad outside the line of the leg pole.

Jason Holder seems to be making this 'coliseum of cricket' his own right now. Krunal Pandya is the new batter in for RCB.

OUT! CAUGHT! A sharp grab. The towering figure of Jason Holder is at it again. Floated up by Rashid, it is the googly, on off and middle. David plants his front foot towards the pitch of the ball and swings hard at it. The bat turns in his hand and the ball comes off the inner half. Holder is in really tight at a catching mid-wicket position and he gets both hands together to his right to snaffle it at chest height. 12/3 in the last 13 balls. RCB are 91/5 now.

Dropped short and this is slower, on off. Devdutt presses back and drags the pull to deep mid-wicket for a run.

A bit too full, on off, David drills it to long off for one.

Uppish but safe! Pushed through, not all that short, outside off. David stays leg side and flashes at the ball. It goes off a thickish outside edge to backward point, where Siraj gathers it on the bounce.

Rashid Khan is now introduced into the attack.

On a length, outside off, Tim David punches it to deep cover for a single. A wicket and 9 runs from the over.

SIX! BANG! Jason Holder bangs a shorter one, on off. Tim David stays in his crease and pulls it up and over the deep mid-wicket fence for half a dozen.

On a shortish length, on off, Devdutt Padikkal flat bats it to long on for a single.

Short of a length, on middle and off, Devdutt Padikkal pulls to short fine, where the fielder makes a good stop to his right.

Short and outside off, this is slapped to deep point for a single.

Tim David is the new batter in.

OUT! EDGED AND GONE! Jitesh Sharma's slim run of form continues in the 2026 IPL. Jason Holder shaves a few clicks off the delivery and bowls it a tad fuller and outside off. Sharma goes for the drive but plays well away from the body and the outside edge is found. Jos Buttler springs to his right and takes a fine catch behind the stumps. RCB are 80/4 now.

Not quite sure why, but the fourth umpire is trying to explain why Patidar was given out to Andy Flower and also Virat Kohli. Anyway, Jason Holder to continue his spell...

Back of a length this time, pitching it on middle and shaping it away. Jitesh Sharma rocks back and opens the face of the bat to push it to point. Single taken. Jitesh Sharma is off the mark!

Fuller, just outside off, Jitesh Sharma lunges and dabs it to cover.

Jitesh Sharma now walks out to bat at number 5. RCB head coach, Andy Flower, is still seen having a word with the fourth umpire.

OUT! CAUGHT! A catch that will be talked about for days to come. RCB are not happy at all with the decision, but they will have to get on with it. A massive moment in the game. Arshad hurls it on a hard length, over middle, Patidar gets on his toes for the pull and plays more of a jab, rather than going for the pull with a complete horizontal face of the bat. It is skied off a top edge over short fine leg, Kagiso Rabada turns around and goes after it. The tall Jason Holder also converges by getting around to his right in the deep. Holder spots Rabada towards him, but he commits to the catch and gets his hands out in front to grab the ball low on the slide. Patidar is asked to wait as the third umpire checks the legality of the catch. The replays do show that the ball, whilst being in Holder's left hand on the slide, was rubbing against the turf, but the third umpire felt that Holder was in control of his body, and it is deemed a fair catch.

Has Jason Holder taken the catch? It looked like Holder and Rabada actually got in each other's way, but Holder is running away in celebration. The third umpire is having a look at it. The catch seems fair, but has the ball slid onto the turf while Holder tried to stick the landing? The RCB dug-out doesn't seem happy but the third umpire has given it OUT.

A well-directed bumper at 140.1 kph, over the left shoulder. Rajat Patidar ducks under it.

Around the pads, on a back of a length. Rajat nudges it in the vacant mid-wicket region. He takes the first one hard and comes charging back for the second.

SIX! Patidar welcomes his state teammate with a biggie. Arshad goes short first up but fails to get it high enough to trouble the batter. It comes around the waist, and Rajat nails the pull over mid-wicket for a six.

Arshad Khan comes in to replace Kagiso Rabada.

Pitches it up, on middle, Rajat Patidar nudges it down to long on for a single.

Full-length delivery, just outside the leg stump. Devdutt Padikkal skips down the track and flicks it toward deep square leg for a comfortable single.

On a length, outside off, Rajat Patidar hangs back and steers it to short third for a single.

Over middle and the length is dragged back, DDP goes deep in the crease and guides it through third man for a single.

FOUR! More runs from the bat of Padikkal! Back of a length once again, outside off, Devdutt Padikkal stands tall and slaps to the left of deep point this time for four more.

FOUR! Padikkal gives a warm greeting to Holder! Back of a length, angling it away from the left-hander. Devdutt Padikkal frees his arms and crunches it to the right of deep point for a boundary.

STRATEGIC BREAK! A very well-contested first 6 overs of the game, and for now, neither team will feel that they are out in front. GT do have a couple of wickets to their name and have kept the scoring rate to just under 10 runs an over, but only have a couple of overs of Siraj and Rabada left now. RCB, on the other hand, will rely on the duo of Padikkal and Patidar to come good in the middle overs as their middle order hasn't faced too many deliveries, and they wouldn't want to expose them with plenty of overs to spare. An interesting phase of play is coming up. Also, Jason Holder comes on to bowl right after the break.

At the hips, on the shorter side. DDP gets on his toes and nurdles it square on the leg side for a single. End of an eventful Powerplay. After 6 overs, RCB are 59/2.

At 149.4 kph, on top of off, Patidar goes deep in the crease and guides it through point for a single.

Keeps it nice and tight, on a short of a length, on off. Rajat stabs it down on the off side.

Off the edge. Fuller and on off, Patidar pushes out in front. It goes off the outer half to short third.

FOUR! A lucky escape for the RCB skipper. Rabada goes into the surface, over middle. Patidar gets into an awkward position as he takes his eyes off the ball. He tries to fend it off and the ball goes off a top edge over short third. Mohammed Siraj sprints to his left in the deep and flings himself at the ball, but it drops out of his reach and trickles into the fence.

Beaten! In the corridor, on a hard length, Patidar has a waft at it and is well beaten on the outside edge.

Time for a bowling change? Nope. Kagiso Rabada to bowl three on the trot as well.

FOUR! Just over! Siraj bashes the hard length and gets the ball to skid through, on middle. Devdutt Padikkal presses on the back foot but is late on the pull shot. The ball hits him high on the bat but clears the leaping Rashid Khan at mid-wicket. Rashid goes after it and puts in a slide, but in vain. The 50 is up for RCB.

Dishes out a short of a good length, over off. Devdutt walks down the track and turns it to mid-wicket. Siraj chirps at Padikkal, and it is acknowledged with a nod by the batter.

Brings the line closer to the off pole, Padikkal hangs back and taps it down to cover.

FOUR! Not exactly where Padikkal intended, but he will take it. A seam-up ball, going away, fractionally on the shorter side. Devdutt gives the bowler the charge and throws his hands at the ball. It flies off the outer half and well wide of deep backward point to his right.

SIX! A mighty blow! Siraj bangs it into the strip, outside off. Devdutt Padikkal picks up the length early and clears the front leg. He fights the angle and unleashes the pull off the front foot to clear the mid-wicket fence for a six.

Across off, on a nagging length. Padikkal punches it on the up but can't get it past Jason Holder at a catching cover position.

Mohammed Siraj to continue? Yes, indeed.

Rabada hits the back of a length, on off. Rajat hops to ride the bounce and pats it down the strip.

Drags the length back and this is on middle. Patidar hops to block it off.

FOUR! A classy shot to get off the mark. Fuller than the previous ball, and Rabada keeps it at the stumps. Patidar presents the full face of the blade and does not try to overhit this one. Just eases himsef into the drive and plays it past the bowler's right for a boundary.

Attacking the stumps, on the fuller side, watchfully defended by Patidar.

The RCB skipper, Rajat Patidar, is in next.

OUT! STRAIGHT UP AND TAKEN! Kagiso Rabada bounces back in grand style after being hit for five consecutive fours in the previous over. Rabada bends his back and digs it in short. A premeditated charge from Kohli and he tries to take on the short ball. He is in no position whatsoever to do so. The ball gets big on him and he is also cramped for room. Spoons it up off the upper half of the blade in front of square on the leg side. Rashid Khan moves to his right at mid-wicket from the inner circle and slides to take a safe catch. A brisk knock from Kohli comes to an end. RCB are 35/2.

Better from Rabada! Honing in on the off stump, on a good length. Virat looks to play it off the back foot but the ball nips back to catch the inside edge and deflects onto the pads.

Wide! Sprayed down leg by Rabada. Kohli steps inside the line but misses out on the glance.

Tighter line, on top of off, on a short of a good length. Padikkal stands tall and keeps it out with a straight bat. A wicket and 7 runs off the over.

A play and a miss! Zipping through at 140.5 kph, on a back of a length, going away. Devdutt Padikkal pokes at it from the crease but is beaten on the outside edge.

Devdutt Padikkal walks in at number 3 for RCB.

OUT! CAUGHT! A soft dismissal. Jacob Bethell could not have picked out the fielder any better. Not the best of balls by Siraj, but he will take it. Little too straight, on the pads, on a length. Bethell brings his wrists into play to play the flick. He can't keep it down and it goes off the inner half straight to mid-wicket, where Rashid Khan gobbles it up near his waist. The 34-run opening stand has been broken.

Well bowled. Kohli is just itching to get going now. He steps down the pitch but Siraj sees him coming and bashes the ball into the deck, angling it into the batter. Kohli gets cramped for room and the ball goes off the thigh pad just into the leg side. VK picks up a quick leg bye.

SIX! Kohli goes big now! Siraj lands it on a length, on off. Virat Kohli shimmies down the pitch and stays slightly leg side of the ball. He gets his hands through the ball and pumps it over mid on for a six.

Half a shout for LBW! Nipping back in, on a good length. Kohli pushes out in front. Ekes out an inside edge onto the pads.

An exhibition in shot-making from Virat Kohli in the last over. Mohammed Siraj to continue his spell.

Full and on off, Kohli creams the drive down the strip. Rabada  sticks out his right boot and takes the sting out of the shot. It deflects away on the leg side in front of mid on for one.

FOUR! Kohli is putting on a real clinic. Five fours in a row for the master. Pitched up by Rabada, outside off, Kohli presses onto the front foot in a flash and plays a punchy drive in front of square this time. Threads it past cover to his right for four more.

FOUR! Four in a row for Kohli. This is on a length, outside off, Kohli leans into the drive with his hands and cracks it behind point. Mohammed Siraj sprints and dives to his left from deep backward point but fails to cut it off.

FOUR! Make that a hat-trick of boundaries. Kohli is up and away. On the fuller side, just outside off. Kohli extends his hands into the drive and angles it to the right of backward point. Manav Suthar dives to his right and gets a hand on it but it is not enough.

FOUR MORE! This is even better. Rabada hurls it on a back of a length, outside off. Kohli presses on the front foot and hits it on the up. Launches it on the rise to the left of mid off for another boundary.

FOUR! Banged away! Fractionally short first up by Rabada, around the off stump. It comes around the midriff to Kohli, who gets on his toes and pulls it aerially between mid-wicket and mid on for his first boundary.

A good tussle between bat and ball in the first over. Here's Kagiso Rabada to start from the other end.

FOUR! Width offered and Bethell cashes in! On a good length but Siraj errs in line. Jacob frees his arms and cuts it through the vacant point region. The ball skips across the turf and the man at deep backward point stands no chance.

Swinging back into the pads, on a length, flicked straight to mid-wicket by Bethell.

Angled back into the right-hander and the length is dragged back. Virat stabs it down off the back foot and he plays it so late that the ball bounces off the face of the bat over the sticks. He has a look at Bethell before setting off for a quick run as the ball dribbles towards the keeper.

Lovely! Shaping away a touch, fuller and in the channel. Kohli has a feel for it before withdrawing his bat. He is lucky not to nick this one behind.

Bethell and RCB are away! Siraj hits the deck hard this time, wider on off. Jacob stays back and angles it to the left of short third for a single to get off the mark.

Beats the bat straight away! Moving away off the seam at 135.6 kph, on a back of a length. Bethell hangs back and has a slight fiddle at the delivery. The ball lands and leaves him with the angle to go past the outside edge.

We are all set to get going. Jos Buttler is doing all the talking in the GT huddle. It will be the left-hand, right-hand combination of Jacob Bethell and Virat Kohli up top for RCB. Mohammed Siraj has the new ball in hand and will get proceedings underway with the ball. Let's play...

Impact sub options for RCB - Rasikh Salam, Jordan Cox, Mangesh Yadav, Vicky Ostwal and Venkatesh Iyer.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (Unchanged Playing XI) - Virat Kohli, Jacob Bethell, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar (C), Jitesh Sharma (WK), Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Suyash Sharma and Josh Hazlewood.

Impact sub options for GT - Rahul Tewatia, Glenn Phillips, Anuj Rawat, Nishant Sindhu and Kulwant Khejroliya.

Gujarat Titans (Unchanged Playing XI) - Shubman Gill (C), Sai Sudharsan, Jos Buttler (WK), Jason Holder, Shahrukh Khan, Washington Sundar, Arshad Khan, Rashid Khan, Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj and Manav Suthar.

The skipper of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru - Rajat Patidar says they would have fielded first as well, but he feels that it is a good wicket to bat on. Hopes the side can put up a strong total and put GT under pressure. Patidar is pleased with the way the team has been playing. Adds that different players stepping up at various moments is a very positive sign for the team. Informs that they are unchanged for this game.

The captain of the Gujarat Titans - Shubman Gill says that the surface looks like it will have a bit of purchase in the first 4-5 overs for the pacers, and there might be some dew later on as well. Adds that they have two home games on the bounce, and that will define their season. Gill goes on to say that RCB are the defending champions and are a class side. Further mentions that the mood in the camp is positive after the last game, and they will look to keep their spirits high. Shubman ends by informing that they are going with the same side.

The flip of the coin lands in favour of Gill. Gujarat Titans elect to BOWL first.

TOSS - All in readiness for the coin to go up. Shubman Gill and Rajat Patidar are out in the middle.

Words from the RCB camp - When asked about his transition from sitting on the bench to actually playing, Jacob Bethell describes it as simply switching from practice mode to proper competitive cricket. He shares that it serves as a valuable learning experience, as the coaching staff can observe situations as they unfold on the field and offer guidance that is much easier to implement. On the crowd support for Virat Kohli, Bethell says that every game feels like a home fixture for them, given how passionately the fans embrace Kohli. Tells that it is already loud in the stadium, even with it only a third full, and hopes it fills up soon.

A quick word with GT's talented opener - Sai Sudharsan highlights that one of the biggest learnings from playing in the IPL is the need to be versatile and adapt to different situations. Believes that having a sense of courage when stepping onto the field is crucial. Sai mentions that there are constant conversations around how to take on specific bowlers. Adds that there is a strong belief within the batting group and the top order focused on providing a solid start.

PITCH REPORT - Daren Ganga is pitchside. He informs that the square boundaries are equidistant at 66 metres, with 72 metres straight down the ground. Eoin Morgan joins him, and he expects a high-scoring surface, though there is a noticeable covering of green grass. Shares that it is a mixed-soil pitch, and the grass covering could offer a bit more bounce and movement, as was evident in the game between GT and KKR. Morgan believes that a top-of-off length will be ideal on this surface, and pacers from both camps should enjoy bowling here. Ganga adds that the average first-innings score in three games here this season is 196, which he considers par.

Pace battle - Where these two sides match up is in the pace department. GT's pace attack has accounted for 42 wickets, while RCB are close behind with 40, with very little separating them across other key metrics. For the home side to challenge the defending champions, their middle order will have to step up if the top order is tested, and they will need to improve in the field after some sloppy performances of late. Stay tuned, as the flip of the coin is not far away.

Contrasting batting approaches - Gujarat have stuck to a more traditional method, whereas Bengaluru attack relentlessly, maintaining one of the fastest scoring rates this season at 11.02 compared to GT's 9.2. The difference is also evident in the six-hitting charts. The Royal Challengers have smashed 90 sixes, the third-most this season, while the 55 sixes from the Titans are the joint-lowest.

Greetings, all! A fascinating contest awaits us as the Gujarat Titans and the Royal Challengers Bengaluru battle it out in what is expected to be a sell-out crowd at Ahmedabad's Narendra Modi Stadium. RCB return to a venue that holds special memories, as it is here that their long wait for a title ended with a win in last year's final against PBKS. Meanwhile, GT are aiming to pull away from the teams on their heels and move into double-digit points.

... MATCH DAY ...

A ruthless, unforgiving format - T20 cricket is many things. Entertaining, unpredictable, occasionally absurd. But above all else, it is ruthless. The bowlers will tell you that first, and loudly. The carnage this season has been something else entirely, with totals piling up as if the pitch had personally offended the batters. Yet for all the sympathy we spare the bowlers, the format does not always let the batters off easy either. Ask KL Rahul. Man played one of the most historic knocks of the IPL, mounting 152*, but still ended up on the losing side. Ask Sai Sudharsan too. His 100 off just 58 balls had all the class loaded in it, but again, it got washed against RCB’s win in Chinnaswamy. That’s the irony of this competition. The format that celebrates big hitting also has a way of making even the biggest hits feel dwarfed, sometimes. The Amdavad Challenge - The Gujarat Titans welcome the rampaging Royal Challengers Bengaluru to Ahmedabad for the reverse fixture, and a lot has changed since that evening at Chinnaswamy. Both teams arrive carrying winning momentum, but the Titans find themselves in a particularly significant moment. Their commanding win over CSK on the road snapped a two-match losing streak and breathed fresh life into what had been an increasingly anxious campaign. They currently sit just outside the top four with 8 points, and a win here does not just keep them alive. It makes them legitimate contenders. For the Royal Challengers, however, this is yet another examination away from home, and they have been passing those tests with flying colours. Two wins from three away fixtures, and their most recent statement was emphatic. They rolled into Delhi and bundled the Capitals out for a miserable 75 runs, a performance that was as devastating as it was clinical. The juggernaut looks unstoppable. Wrinkles to iron - The math is simple enough. When Gill, Sudharsan and Buttler fire, Gujarat Titans win. When they do not, the rest of the batting order rarely has the answers. This season has only reinforced that truth. The top three have contributed more than half of GT's total runs between them, a statistic that speaks both to their brilliance and to the fragility lurking beneath. Shubman Gill leads the charge, the skipper in the form of his life and their highest run-scorer this season. Sudharsan is right behind him, breathing down his neck, as if the two are engaged in a private contest within the larger one. Both have crossed 300 runs for the season, with Buttler closing in on that mark too. Together, the trio averages nearly 42 with the bat, but the drop off after that is concerning. Barring Washington Sundar, who has made the number four role his own, barely anyone down the order has played an innings of substance. One might argue that more often than not they have been watching the top three doing all the work, but when called upon, the middle order has looked alarmingly short of answers. Pace battery in full tilt - GT’s bowling attack revolves around serious heat and pace, a department which is finally gathering steam in the right direction.In three of their last four matches, they have held oppositions below 50 runs in the Powerplay. In a season where batting line-ups have been plundering at will, that is not a small achievement. Across their last five matches, they have picked up 12 wickets inside the field restrictions, a return that has given the rest of the bowling unit something to build on. Kagiso Rabada and Mohammed Siraj have been the architects of that Powerplay pressure, setting the tone with pace and discipline that the middle overs have fed off. Rabada, in particular, has been relentless, and alongside Prasidh Krishna, he sits inside the top ten wicket-takers of the season. Whereas the likes of Jason Holder, on a given day are always reliable as well. The dominance of pace has been so huge that even the wizards like Rashid Khan have flown under the radar. Title defence on track - The numbers tell a story that is difficult to argue with. RCB have batted first four times this season and crossed 200 on three occasions. But the more telling stat is what happens when they bowl first. They have conceded 200-plus twice, and both times, they have chased those totals down without breaking much of a sweat. With different batters stepping up at different times, the contributions look consistent. Over 350 runs this season, with one of the best batting averages as an opener this year at 58.50, striking at 162.5. Virat Kohli, yet again, is the axis around which everything else rotates for the defending champions. The chase master is coming off a brilliant 81 against the same opposition and stayed unbeaten against GT in the strolling chase as well. Contributions around him have been spread evenly. Devdutt Padikkal is in the form of his life, three half centuries already this season, with his strike rate climbing to 192.06, the third best, that has made him a genuine threat rather than just a consolidator. He has owned the number three spot and made it his own. And if anything goes haywire at the top, RCB have the artillery to compensate. Patidar, carrying the best strike rate in the side at 210.61, alongside Jitesh and the two brute hitters after that, can rescue and accelerate in the same breath. Top-drawer with the ball - If batting is their strength, it is RCB’s bowling that has made spectacular improvement over the past couple of seasons and it shows. Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood have been an absolute menace upfront. The previous game was the starkest proof yet. The two combined for the best Powerplay bowling performance in IPL history, conceding just 13 runs and ripping out 6 wickets. Bhuvneshwar does not make a lot of noise. No theatrics, no animated celebrations, just over after over of immaculate control. The old fox currently holds the Purple Cap, and his economy rate sits at a miserly 7.61, and it is that metronomic precision, that has made him so dangerous. Hazlewood, on the other hand, hits hard lengths and hits them relentlessly. The two complement each other perfectly, and what they do in the Powerplay has made life considerably easier for the second line of attack to come. Team form (Last 5 completed IPL matches, recent first) GT - WLLWW | RCB - WWLWW. What to expect? Ahmedabad has not been shy about runs this season. Three matches played at the venue, an average first innings score of 196, and two of those won by the side batting first. Another good batting surface is expected, which, given the two attacks on show, should make for a fascinating contest. The ground, however, has not been kind to the home side lately. Gujarat Titans have lost four of their last five matches in front of their own crowd, and their only meeting with RCB in Ahmedabad in 2024 ended in defeat as well. The fortress has developed some cracks. RCB, meanwhile, have been anything but uncomfortable away from home. 11 wins from their last 12 away matches is a record that commands respect.