🏏IPL 2026: RCB vs GT, 34th Match, M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru🏏

🏏IPL 2026: RCB vs GT, 34th Match, M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru on 24/04/2026 @7:30PM IST🏏

Clash of contrasts at the Chinnaswamy as RCB host GT

The two sets of batters couldn't be more different from each other, but where RCB and GT are similar is in the ability of their fast-bowling packs

Keep an eye on the two sets of fast bowlers

Last year, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) barely managed to get anything by way of home advantage at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. This season hasn't been drastically different in terms of the conditions, but RCB have adapted well, reflected in three wins in four games. On Friday, they will look to sign off from their Bengaluru leg of matches with a victory that keeps them in the top two, before heading into a run of away fixtures and then a shift to their second home in Raipur in May.

RCB have had five days to unwind since losing to Delhi Capitals (DC). While the main squad switched off to gear up for the next set of IPL 2026 matches, the rest underwent a series of match simulations and intense training sessions - a rare luxury amid the hectic scheduling. The break also gave Virat Kohli time to overcome a mild ankle strain. Although he was touch-and-go with his fitness against DC, he eventually took the field.

The contest offers a contrast in methods when it comes to batting styles. RCB are gung-ho about it, and even Kohli has bought in to the plan, and they are unlikely to change. Gujarat Titans (GT) are a lot more traditional, and slightly old-school in that they like to build gradually, set a strong platform, and then explode. Neither team will back down from their method - they have been served well, after all.

But the real spectacle could be the fast bowling. Mohammed Siraj, an RCB man not long ago, joins Prasidh Krishna and Kagiso Rabada on one side, against Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood on the other. If there's any zip or movement in the pitch, it could be a riveting contest with elite operators either hitting top gear or using subtle variation to outthink some of the game's best batters.

Team News:

Royal Challengers Bengaluru

Injuries/Availability: No new injuries to report apart from the continued unavailability of Nuwan Thushara.

Tactics & Matchups: Bhuvneshwar Kumar has excellent T20 records against Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan and Jos Buttler. He has dismissed Buttler seven times and Gill four times and hasn't conceded at above 110 SR to either of them. The GT top-three come into this game having all been dismissed in the Powerplay for the first time, in the last game against Mumbai Indians.

Probable XII: Phil Salt, Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar (c), Jitesh Sharma (wk), Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Suyash Sharma, Rasikh Salam Dar

Gujarat Titans

Injuries/Availability: No new injuries to report.

Tactics & Matchups:

Jason Holder, with his height and instinctive back-of-a-length game, could be especially useful at a venue that can offer spongy bounce to hit-the-deck seamers. With Kagiso Rabada finding rhythm, Holder's inclusion may trigger a small reshuffle in Gujarat's XI. Glenn Phillips is one possible casualty, while there is also a case for swapping Shahrukh Khan for an additional top-order batter such as Kumar Kushagra to fill the Phillips gap. That would free Titans to balance the attack differently too - perhaps with a left-arm spinner in R Sai Kishore or Manav Suthar against a right-dominated RCB instead of Ashok Sharma.

Probable XII: Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (c), Jos Buttler (wk), Kumar Kushagra, Washington Sundar, Rahul Tewatia, Jason Holder, Rashid Khan, Kagiso Rabada, Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj, R. Sai Kishore/Manav Suthar

Originally posted by: Savera84

Team News:

Royal Challengers Bengaluru

Injuries/Availability: No new injuries to report apart from the continued unavailability of Nuwan Thushara.

Tactics & Matchups: Bhuvneshwar Kumar has excellent T20 records against Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan and Jos Buttler. He has dismissed Buttler seven times and Gill four times and hasn't conceded at above 110 SR to either of them. The GT top-three come into this game having all been dismissed in the Powerplay for the first time, in the last game against Mumbai Indians.

Probable XII: Phil Salt, Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar (c), Jitesh Sharma (wk), Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Suyash Sharma, Rasikh Salam Dar

Gujarat Titans

Injuries/Availability: No new injuries to report.

Tactics & Matchups:

Jason Holder, with his height and instinctive back-of-a-length game, could be especially useful at a venue that can offer spongy bounce to hit-the-deck seamers. With Kagiso Rabada finding rhythm, Holder's inclusion may trigger a small reshuffle in Gujarat's XI. Glenn Phillips is one possible casualty, while there is also a case for swapping Shahrukh Khan for an additional top-order batter such as Kumar Kushagra to fill the Phillips gap. That would free Titans to balance the attack differently too - perhaps with a left-arm spinner in R Sai Kishore or Manav Suthar against a right-dominated RCB instead of Ashok Sharma.

Probable XII: Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (c), Jos Buttler (wk), Kumar Kushagra, Washington Sundar, Rahul Tewatia, Jason Holder, Rashid Khan, Kagiso Rabada, Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj, R. Sai Kishore/Manav Suthar

Thanks for the tags, Savera ji!

RCB vs GT Head to Head T20 Record

Matches Played 6

Won by Royal Challengers Bengaluru 3

Won by Gujarat Titans 3

Tied 00

No Result 00

First-ever Fixture April 30, 2022 (GT Won)

Most-recent Fixture April 2, 2025 (GT Won)

RCB vs GT Probable Best Performers of the Match

Probable Best Batter: Shubman Gill

Shubman Gill

Shubman Gill has hit the ground running in IPL 2026, amassing 265 runs in just five innings at an average of 53 and a strike rate of 151.43. The Gujarat Titans' skipper will have a key role to play inside the power play, batting against two stalwarts with the new ball - Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar.

Probable Best Bowler: Bhuvneshwar Kumar

Bhuvneshwar Kumar

Bhuvneshwar Kumar has been in great rhythm and picked up wickets for fun. Even in the last game, he bagged three wickets in the power play. In IPL 2026, Bhuvneshwar has picked up 10 wickets in six games at an average of 20 and a strike rate of 14.40.

M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru Pitch Report

The M. Chinnaswamy Stadium is expected to produce a fantastic track, where batters will be able to play their shots on the up. In the first four games played at the iconic venue this season, the average first-innings score has been 193. Three out of the four matches have been won by chasing teams.

The match will be played on the same surface that hosted the CSK and DC games. The CSK fixture was a high-scoring one, where RCB made 249. The DC match offered a better balance between bat and ball, because the surface was a lot drier owing to it being an afternoon game. We now revert to the night. The curator has had six days to prepare the surface, which has been watered to have an even grass cover. Expect the runs to flow again.

Jeet jana boys plz

Today's Match Prediction: Chasing team to win the match

Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Gujarat Titans

Second To Bat

RCB

Powerplay: 50-60

180-190

Second To Bat

GT

Powerplay: 55-65

190-200

Win Probability

RCB 60%

GT 40%

Disclaimer

The prediction is based on the understanding, analysis, and instinct of the author. While making your prediction, consider the points mentioned, and make your own decision.