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| Virat Kohli scored the game-winning runs and won the prise |
Two extremely talented groups. Two teams with different identities. RCB is on the verge of greatness after transforming into what they needed to be in order to overcome the suffering of the previous years. Only CSK and MI have ever won back-to-back IPL titles. GT, pragmatism from head to toe, and, in some ways, a team that RCB used to be—reliant on their big players consistently performing well—but unlike the former RCB, these big players aren't superstars and, arguably, have a track record that shows they do perform well. They are so good that they cover up a few noticeable fractures.
This IPL final seems to be unlike any other.
Kohli's finest
Kohli has never performed this duty with such dedication: establish a fast pace during the powerplay, keep it up, or fail to do so. In contrast to what used to be practically ingrained in Kohli's mind, finish the job; don't leave it to others. This entails having faith in other batters to handle the middle overs and death overs.
Gill at home
Gill's happy place will host the IPL final on Sunday. At an average of 54, Ahmedabad has contributed nearly 25% of his career T20 runs. "Honestly, it was just about seeing the ball and seeing my zones and trying to hit there; that's what happens when you're batting well, you just see the gaps, and you middle everything," is how he describes his technique, so it doesn't seem required.
The rise of Patidar
Patidar was first questioned about his chances of leading the RCB at Dharamsala two years ago. He was then given significant consideration for leadership when director Mo Bobat and coach Andy Flower asked him to a review meeting in June of that year, although it wasn't finalised. They wanted him to assume the role of captain and pinpoint a fundamental problem that needed to be resolved.
It would have been easy for Patidar to use cliches and leadership language, such as culture, togetherness, leading from the front, etc. Rather, he stated, "We need to build a gun-pace attack."
GT's busy schedule
Despite being at home, GT has travelled to three different cities in less than a week, which has caused them to be far more exhausted than their final opponents. Additionally, they only arrived in Ahmedabad at around 11 p.m. on Saturday, so they won't have had more than a day to prepare for this final.
Cricinfo recognises
At the Cricinfo Honours in Mumbai, Sachin Tendulkar was named the greatest batter of the twenty-first century. He was written about by Dale Steyn.
Rahul Dravid's homage to Jacques Kallis, the best cricket player
Mahela Jayawardene's homage to Muttiah Muralitharan, the best bowler
R Ashwin's tribute to AB de Villiers, the greatest T20 hitter
Aaron Finch's tribute to Jasprit Bumrah, the greatest T20 bowler
Katey Martin's tribute to Ellyse Perry, the greatest women's cricket player
Now, let's discuss the pitch
Pitch No. 6 is where we are playing. There are two perspectives on it. On the two occasions that the Gujarat Titans and the Royal Challengers of Bengaluru have faced off in Ahmedabad, they have done so on this field. The home team clearly loves to play RCB on this particular surface.
But there's more to it than that. This surface was also used for the most recent IPL final. Thus, it's conceivable that this is the Motera Square's centre pitch. their square's finest pitch. And last year, RCB prevailed on this field. Additionally, their record versus GT on this field is 1-1.
It is the central pitch, according to Ian Bishop. It's a pitch made of mixed soil. It is "very even, very flat", according to Aaron Finch, but that doesn't mean it will be a "belter". It can be a little slow, he says. He anticipates that the winning club will want to pursue.
RCB's pursuit remains unchanged, and GT recalled Arshad Khan
Rajat Patidar tossed the coin, and Shubman Gill made the incorrect call because the Royal Challengers of Bengaluru (RCB), the reigning champions, were the designated home team rather than the Gujarat Titans (GT), who normally host Ahmedabad. It turns out that it wouldn't have made much of a difference: GT chose to bat first after losing Qualifier 1 after opting to chase and giving up more than 250, while RCB preferred to chase.
RCB remained intact, while GT brought back Arshad Khan, who had previously lost against R Sai Kishore and Kulwant Khejroliya. Given that this was Khejroliya's first T20 games in over a year, it is quite likely that there was a fitness issue that required his introduction in Qualifier 1. Kishore was on GT's list of potential impact players, so if the pitch started to flip, they could still bring in the additional spinner. If not, Prasidh Krishna would probably enter their defence.
Phil Salt, who hurt his hand in the middle of the competition, was still absent from RCB, which won the final batting first the previous year. He returned after getting scans at home, but he might not have been completely fit. Venkatesh Iyer has performed admirably in his absence, including smashing the first two balls of Qualifier 1 for boundaries in a fast-paced innings of 19 off 9.
Leg-spinner Suyash Sharma was also kept out by RCB in favour of Jacob Duffy, an extra fast bowler who took three wickets against the same opposition in Qualifier 1.
They were both aiming for their second IPL championship. In the five years that GT had been in business, this was their third final.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru: 1 Virat Kohli, 2 Devdutt Padikkal, 3 Rajat Patidar (capt.), 4 Krunal Pandya, 5 Tim David, 7 Jitesh Sharma (wk), 7 Romario Shepherd, 8 Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 9 Jacob Duffy, 10 Josh Hazlewood, 11 Rasikh Salam
RCB bench: Venkatesh Iyer, Kanishk Chohan, Swapnil Singh, Abhinandan Singh, Jordan Cox
Gujarat Titans: 1 Shubman Gill (capt.), 2 B Sai Sudharsan, 3 Jos Buttler (wk), 4 Washington Sundar, 5 Nishant Sindhu, 6 Jason Holder, 7 Rahul Tewatia, 8 Rashid Khan, 9 Arshad Khan, 10 Kagiso Rabada, 11 Mohammed Siraj
GT bench: Prasidh Krishna, Glenn Phillips, Anuj Rawat, Kumar Kushagra, R Sai Kishore
Two times 700
The number of times two batters from the same team scored 700 in the same season before this IPL was zero. Shubman Gill and B Sai Sudharsan will be opening for GT. The new ball belongs to Jacob Duffy.
Thirteen in the opening over
That is one less than what RCB removed in the first over of the first quarter. This one was more spectacular, as B Sai Sudharsan struck two fours and successfully reviewed one catch along the leg side. Now let's move on to Bhuvneshwar Kumar versus Shubman Gill, a match that Bhuvneshwar dominates.
That is one less than what RCB removed in the first over of the first quarter. This one was more spectacular, as B Sai Sudharsan struck two fours and successfully reviewed one catch along the leg side. Now let's move on to Bhuvneshwar Kumar versus Shubman Gill, a match that Bhuvneshwar dominates.
Gill is still being tested by Bhuvneshwar
One late cut straight to short third, one square cut for one after charging at him, one mishit, one play and miss, one luxurious cover drive on the up, and five balls were played. The current head-to-head score is 84 balls, 85 runs, and six wickets.
Hazlewood helps GT get off to a steady start
Josh Hazlewood has already acquired Shubman Gill; Bhuvneshwar Kumar won't get him tonight. Hazlewood is sent to deep midwicket by Gill's charge with his first ball, but the towering fast has his own back right away. Gill attempts a short-arm pull, but he only gains a leading edge in the middle of the off. To finish the catch, Rajat Patidar rushes from mid-on. I believe it was just completed by Bounce. 10 off 8 is gone. has 732 runs at 162.86 at the end of the season. For the time being, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is the owner of the Orange Cap.
Nishant Sindhu was elevated to shield Buttler from Bhuvneshwar
Nishant Sindhu has been assigned to No. 3 by GT. The explanation is clear: they are using the new ball to shield Jos Buttler from Bhuvneshwar Kumar. The head-to-head score is 111 balls, 123 runs, and nine wickets.
Early in the sluggish start, RCB seamers receive openers
Jos Buttler may have been concealed from Bhuvneshwar Kumar, but Bhuvneshwar has ensured that he must emerge early. When Bhuvneshwar bowls a short ball, B Sai Sudharsan attempts to charge at him, but he is left alone. Sudharsan then tries to ramp another bouncer, but he toe-ends it for a skier so the keeper can catch it. 12 off 12 is gone. His season ended at 157.98 with 722 runs.
The slow power play of GT
45. GT's run total on the power play. They have only scored fewer than 36 against SRH at the same location once all season.
Sindhu also collapses
Nishant Sindhu must finally take a chance against Rasikh Salam after two overs without a boundary since the power play. Sindhu holes out to long-on for 20 off 18. GT is 53 for 3 in eight overs when he charges at Salam, who hits the ball.
Krunal 2-0-9-0
The three seamers have taken wickets, but Krunal Pandya has contributed to one of them by delivering two close overs since the power play. In two overs, he did not hit a boundary. Given that he is bowling to conventional and restrained batsmen today, he is not attempting anything extravagant. Krunal has won four previous finals and is currently in his fifth. He has won Player of the Match twice. GT in nine overs, 59 for 3.
Duffy almost eliminates Washington, but GT is still having trouble
There were twenty-five balls without a boundary, including the final over of the tenth ball, which almost put Washington Sundar on the hook, but Jordan Cox only touched the grass with the ball as he finished the catch while sprinting on fine leg. In ten overs, GT scored 63 for 3.
3-0-13-0 Krunal
31 balls without a boundary. Of those, eighteen have been bowled by Krunal Pandya. 11 overs, GT 67 for 3.
There is still no limit outside of powerplay
37 balls that have been lawful since the sixth over's final boundary. Jacob Duffy's current record is 3-0-22-0. In twelve overs, GT scored 73 for 3.
Buttler and GT are in ruins after Krunal
Two of Jos Buttler's attacking strokes in the twelfth over go straight to a fielder, increasing his displeasure. When Krunal Pandya attacks his last over, he appears to be Buttler moving forward and fires in a wide yorker for an excellent stumping from Jitesh Sharma. 19 out of 23 are gone. In 12.1 overs, it is 73 for 4. Arshad Khan has now been promoted by GT. They want Rahul Tewatia to have a certain point of entry.
Arshad hits the innings' first six
Forty. How many balls have RCB bowled between boundaries? Arshad Khan hits a slogged six off Krunal Pandya, who finishes with figures of 1 for 23, and GT is 83 for 4 in 13 overs.
Arshad's aptitude
Two years ago, Arshad Khan scored 58 off 33 for LSG against DC, which was his sole T20 fifty. GT is 99 for 4 in 14 overs, and he has struck two sixes for the team today—the only sixes thus far. Venkatesh Iyer enters the pitch as the impact player after Jacob Duffy exits with numbers of 4-0-38-0.
Arshad is acquired by Hazlewood
Josh Hazlewood returns with a hard length once more, ending Arshad Khan's rapid hand. Like Gill, Arshad is rushed into the draw, and the top edge lands with a short, fine leg. 15 out of 6. In 14.1 overs, it is 99 for 5.
The most recent six of a final
The 12.4 overs it took to hit a six tonight is the longest it has ever taken. Back in the 2013 final, MI needed 12.5 overs to win, but they managed to effectively defend 148 with the strongest bowling attack of the year.
GT is caught in quicksand, and Salam comes in second
The Gujarat Titans are pegged back by a wicket each time they attempt to escape. This time, Rasikh Salam, who is returning, hits a cross-seam length ball that cuts back in to take Rahul Tewatia's bat's inner half for a catch at mid-on. This ball has grasped the surface and cut back in, yet it is neither a cutter nor a slower ball. In 16.1 overs, GT is 115 for 6.
Purple cap reclaimed by Bhuvneshwar
With statistics of 4-0-29-2 and the wicket of Jason Holder in his last over, Bhuvneshwar Kumar is once again tied with Kagiso Rabada on 28 wickets this IPL. Bhuvneshwar currently possesses the purple cap due to a significantly higher economy rate. In 19 overs, GT was 145 for 7.
Gujarat Titans are limited to 155 by RCB seamers
This is the final game between these two teams on this particular surface at this stadium. GT chased it down in 15.5 overs but lost six wickets in the process, whereas RCB lost the match and scored the exact same 155.
This is how difficult the task is now for GT. This IPL season, the chasing side has only failed to chase a goal of less than 190 four times out of 27: 151 by MI vs. RR (11-over game), 156 by LSG vs. KKR (tied game), 160 by LSG vs. RR, and 169 by SRH vs. GT (at Ahmedabad).
Siraj's tight start
In the opening over, Venkatesh Iyer almost gets bowled while attempting to ramp Mohammed Siraj. Additionally, he appears to have hurt himself later in the over and is having trouble running. After one over, RCB is 5 for 0.
Venkatesh becomes ensnared in Rabada's
4 0 6 4 0 4
GT needed 12.4 overs to reach their first six. The seventh ball of this innings was blasted over midwicket by Venkatesh Iyer. He can't run hard because he is in pain, but that also gives him permission to hit. An edge that flies past the keeper is the final of those restrictions, although it can occur when you swing strongly. In two overs, RCB scored 23 for 0.
Kohli also dissects Rabada
4 4 6 4 1 0
Virat Kohli is up against fierce opposition. It flies into the boundary faster when Kagiso Rabada bowls. Here, he's in a mood. In four overs, RCB is 55 for 0.
Venkatesh is acquired by Siraj
Venkatesh Iyer is caught at mid-on by Mohammed Siraj after a third consecutive over, but not before Venkatesh had completed his task with 32 off 16. RCB is already 62 for 1 in 4.3. RCB just needs 94 out of 93.
Rabada takes back the purple cap
Despite 37 runs off his first two overs, GT continues to use Kagiso Rabada for a third consecutive over. In an attempt to use his pace, Devdutt Padikkal makes room for the opening ball, but Arshad Khan makes an excellent grab at deep third with a thick edge. Rabada now has 29 wickets this IPL, one more than Bhuvneshwar Kumar's 28. RCB is 63 for 2. It's time for their commander to enter.
Patidar is given to Rashid
In an attempt to go ahead of Rashid Khan and loft him for a straight six with the opening delivery, Rajat Patidar's legbreak spins just enough to produce a mishit that Kagiso Rabada catches at long-on. Krunal Pandya enters RCB at 89 for 3, needing 67 off 70.
Rashid also gets Krunal
Knowing that Krunal Pandya enjoys sweeping, Rashid Khan goes all out to go under the bat, and he succeeds. In front of us, Krunal is stuck. In his opening over, Rashid has two. The score is 91 for 4. A ball was still in play.
Kohli's leg side
How many of Virat Kohli's first forty-four runs have come from the off side? Everything else is on the leg. He is playing a blinder at 44 off 19.
Kohli's quickest fifty
What a moment to reach his quickest fifty. Keeping up with fresh, innovative T20 hitters in the final of his 19th IPL. He has been fierce. Personally, I think this season is just as good as his 2026 one. Now all that's left are formalities. In 11.2 overs, RCB were 113 for 2. 648 runs at 167.01 are his season total. Of all the batters in the 600 club this IPL, only Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Ishan Kishan have been quicker.
Kohli was also hurt
Virat Kohli is obviously hurt and can't run right now, but I don't think I've ever seen him limp through for his runs. This just implies that RCB will try to complete this even more quickly. There will be a lot of boundary-hitting and not much running.
David is acquired by Arshad
You would think that GT would still require Virat Kohli, yet they are still fighting. The ball continues to seam. Arshad Khan has grabbed the outside edge of Tim David's bat, and this one has been cut away from short of length. Jitesh Sharma will bat for RCB, who need 24 off six overs.
RCB has done it once more
Virat Kohli has led RCB home with two overs remaining after hitting a straight six off the final ball of the 18th over. His best playoff scoring and fastest IPL fifty.
One late cut straight to short third, one square cut for one after charging at him, one mishit, one play and miss, one luxurious cover drive on the up, and five balls were played. The current head-to-head score is 84 balls, 85 runs, and six wickets.
Hazlewood helps GT get off to a steady start
Josh Hazlewood has already acquired Shubman Gill; Bhuvneshwar Kumar won't get him tonight. Hazlewood is sent to deep midwicket by Gill's charge with his first ball, but the towering fast has his own back right away. Gill attempts a short-arm pull, but he only gains a leading edge in the middle of the off. To finish the catch, Rajat Patidar rushes from mid-on. I believe it was just completed by Bounce. 10 off 8 is gone. has 732 runs at 162.86 at the end of the season. For the time being, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is the owner of the Orange Cap.
Nishant Sindhu was elevated to shield Buttler from Bhuvneshwar
Nishant Sindhu has been assigned to No. 3 by GT. The explanation is clear: they are using the new ball to shield Jos Buttler from Bhuvneshwar Kumar. The head-to-head score is 111 balls, 123 runs, and nine wickets.
Early in the sluggish start, RCB seamers receive openers
Jos Buttler may have been concealed from Bhuvneshwar Kumar, but Bhuvneshwar has ensured that he must emerge early. When Bhuvneshwar bowls a short ball, B Sai Sudharsan attempts to charge at him, but he is left alone. Sudharsan then tries to ramp another bouncer, but he toe-ends it for a skier so the keeper can catch it. 12 off 12 is gone. His season ended at 157.98 with 722 runs.
The slow power play of GT
45. GT's run total on the power play. They have only scored fewer than 36 against SRH at the same location once all season.
Sindhu also collapses
Nishant Sindhu must finally take a chance against Rasikh Salam after two overs without a boundary since the power play. Sindhu holes out to long-on for 20 off 18. GT is 53 for 3 in eight overs when he charges at Salam, who hits the ball.
Krunal 2-0-9-0
The three seamers have taken wickets, but Krunal Pandya has contributed to one of them by delivering two close overs since the power play. In two overs, he did not hit a boundary. Given that he is bowling to conventional and restrained batsmen today, he is not attempting anything extravagant. Krunal has won four previous finals and is currently in his fifth. He has won Player of the Match twice. GT in nine overs, 59 for 3.
Duffy almost eliminates Washington, but GT is still having trouble
There were twenty-five balls without a boundary, including the final over of the tenth ball, which almost put Washington Sundar on the hook, but Jordan Cox only touched the grass with the ball as he finished the catch while sprinting on fine leg. In ten overs, GT scored 63 for 3.
3-0-13-0 Krunal
31 balls without a boundary. Of those, eighteen have been bowled by Krunal Pandya. 11 overs, GT 67 for 3.
There is still no limit outside of powerplay
37 balls that have been lawful since the sixth over's final boundary. Jacob Duffy's current record is 3-0-22-0. In twelve overs, GT scored 73 for 3.
Buttler and GT are in ruins after Krunal
Two of Jos Buttler's attacking strokes in the twelfth over go straight to a fielder, increasing his displeasure. When Krunal Pandya attacks his last over, he appears to be Buttler moving forward and fires in a wide yorker for an excellent stumping from Jitesh Sharma. 19 out of 23 are gone. In 12.1 overs, it is 73 for 4. Arshad Khan has now been promoted by GT. They want Rahul Tewatia to have a certain point of entry.
Arshad hits the innings' first six
Forty. How many balls have RCB bowled between boundaries? Arshad Khan hits a slogged six off Krunal Pandya, who finishes with figures of 1 for 23, and GT is 83 for 4 in 13 overs.
Arshad's aptitude
Two years ago, Arshad Khan scored 58 off 33 for LSG against DC, which was his sole T20 fifty. GT is 99 for 4 in 14 overs, and he has struck two sixes for the team today—the only sixes thus far. Venkatesh Iyer enters the pitch as the impact player after Jacob Duffy exits with numbers of 4-0-38-0.
Arshad is acquired by Hazlewood
Josh Hazlewood returns with a hard length once more, ending Arshad Khan's rapid hand. Like Gill, Arshad is rushed into the draw, and the top edge lands with a short, fine leg. 15 out of 6. In 14.1 overs, it is 99 for 5.
The most recent six of a final
The 12.4 overs it took to hit a six tonight is the longest it has ever taken. Back in the 2013 final, MI needed 12.5 overs to win, but they managed to effectively defend 148 with the strongest bowling attack of the year.
GT is caught in quicksand, and Salam comes in second
The Gujarat Titans are pegged back by a wicket each time they attempt to escape. This time, Rasikh Salam, who is returning, hits a cross-seam length ball that cuts back in to take Rahul Tewatia's bat's inner half for a catch at mid-on. This ball has grasped the surface and cut back in, yet it is neither a cutter nor a slower ball. In 16.1 overs, GT is 115 for 6.
Purple cap reclaimed by Bhuvneshwar
With statistics of 4-0-29-2 and the wicket of Jason Holder in his last over, Bhuvneshwar Kumar is once again tied with Kagiso Rabada on 28 wickets this IPL. Bhuvneshwar currently possesses the purple cap due to a significantly higher economy rate. In 19 overs, GT was 145 for 7.
Gujarat Titans are limited to 155 by RCB seamers
This is the final game between these two teams on this particular surface at this stadium. GT chased it down in 15.5 overs but lost six wickets in the process, whereas RCB lost the match and scored the exact same 155.
This is how difficult the task is now for GT. This IPL season, the chasing side has only failed to chase a goal of less than 190 four times out of 27: 151 by MI vs. RR (11-over game), 156 by LSG vs. KKR (tied game), 160 by LSG vs. RR, and 169 by SRH vs. GT (at Ahmedabad).
Siraj's tight start
In the opening over, Venkatesh Iyer almost gets bowled while attempting to ramp Mohammed Siraj. Additionally, he appears to have hurt himself later in the over and is having trouble running. After one over, RCB is 5 for 0.
Venkatesh becomes ensnared in Rabada's
4 0 6 4 0 4
GT needed 12.4 overs to reach their first six. The seventh ball of this innings was blasted over midwicket by Venkatesh Iyer. He can't run hard because he is in pain, but that also gives him permission to hit. An edge that flies past the keeper is the final of those restrictions, although it can occur when you swing strongly. In two overs, RCB scored 23 for 0.
Kohli also dissects Rabada
4 4 6 4 1 0
Virat Kohli is up against fierce opposition. It flies into the boundary faster when Kagiso Rabada bowls. Here, he's in a mood. In four overs, RCB is 55 for 0.
Venkatesh is acquired by Siraj
Venkatesh Iyer is caught at mid-on by Mohammed Siraj after a third consecutive over, but not before Venkatesh had completed his task with 32 off 16. RCB is already 62 for 1 in 4.3. RCB just needs 94 out of 93.
Rabada takes back the purple cap
Despite 37 runs off his first two overs, GT continues to use Kagiso Rabada for a third consecutive over. In an attempt to use his pace, Devdutt Padikkal makes room for the opening ball, but Arshad Khan makes an excellent grab at deep third with a thick edge. Rabada now has 29 wickets this IPL, one more than Bhuvneshwar Kumar's 28. RCB is 63 for 2. It's time for their commander to enter.
Patidar is given to Rashid
In an attempt to go ahead of Rashid Khan and loft him for a straight six with the opening delivery, Rajat Patidar's legbreak spins just enough to produce a mishit that Kagiso Rabada catches at long-on. Krunal Pandya enters RCB at 89 for 3, needing 67 off 70.
Rashid also gets Krunal
Knowing that Krunal Pandya enjoys sweeping, Rashid Khan goes all out to go under the bat, and he succeeds. In front of us, Krunal is stuck. In his opening over, Rashid has two. The score is 91 for 4. A ball was still in play.
Kohli's leg side
How many of Virat Kohli's first forty-four runs have come from the off side? Everything else is on the leg. He is playing a blinder at 44 off 19.
Kohli's quickest fifty
What a moment to reach his quickest fifty. Keeping up with fresh, innovative T20 hitters in the final of his 19th IPL. He has been fierce. Personally, I think this season is just as good as his 2026 one. Now all that's left are formalities. In 11.2 overs, RCB were 113 for 2. 648 runs at 167.01 are his season total. Of all the batters in the 600 club this IPL, only Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Ishan Kishan have been quicker.
Kohli was also hurt
Virat Kohli is obviously hurt and can't run right now, but I don't think I've ever seen him limp through for his runs. This just implies that RCB will try to complete this even more quickly. There will be a lot of boundary-hitting and not much running.
David is acquired by Arshad
You would think that GT would still require Virat Kohli, yet they are still fighting. The ball continues to seam. Arshad Khan has grabbed the outside edge of Tim David's bat, and this one has been cut away from short of length. Jitesh Sharma will bat for RCB, who need 24 off six overs.
RCB has done it once more
Virat Kohli has led RCB home with two overs remaining after hitting a straight six off the final ball of the 18th over. His best playoff scoring and fastest IPL fifty.
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