The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 Qualifier 1 will feature Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) against Gujarat Titans (GT) at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, Dharamsala, on May 26.
RCB comes into this match as the top team after winning nine out of their 14 league matches. They are looking to maintain their strong momentum and secure a direct spot in the IPL 2026 final with a win in Qualifier 1. RCB and GT faced each other twice in the league phase, with each team winning one match.
GT has performed well this season, surprising many who doubted them before the tournament. They finished second in the points table with 18 points from 14 matches and aim to continue their strong run by defeating RCB and reaching the final.
RCB vs GT: Match Details
| Match | Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Gujarat Titans, Qualifier 1, IPL 2026 |
| Date and Time (IST) | Tuesday, May 26, 7:30 PM |
| Venue | Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, Dharamsala |
| Broadcast and Live Streaming | JioStar Network Channels and JioHotstar (App & Website) |
Pitch Report
The pitch at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium is expected to favor batters, providing good conditions for scoring. Teams batting first usually target totals between 200-220. The surface allows for free stroke play, making it easier for batters to score quickly. However, disciplined bowling can still achieve results, with pacers who maintain good lines and lengths gaining some advantage.
RCB vs GT: Head-to-Head T20 Record
| Matches Played | 08 |
| Won by RCB | 04 |
| Won by GT | 04 |
| Tie/NR | 00 |
| First-ever fixture | April 30, 2022 (GT Won) |
| Most recent fixture | April 30, 2026 (GT Won) |
RCB vs GT: Predicted Playing XIs
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB):
Venkatesh Iyer/Phil Salt, Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar (C), Jitesh Sharma (WK), Krunal Pandya, Romario Shepherd, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Suyash Sharma, Rasikh Salam Dar.
Impact Player: Tim David
Gujarat Titans (GT):
Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (C), Jos Buttler (WK), Nishant Sindhu, Washington Sundar, Jason Holder, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Kagiso Rabada, Arshad Khan, Mohammed Siraj.
Impact Player: Prasidh Krishna
RCB vs GT: Probable Best Performers of the Match
Probable Best Batter: Sai Sudharsan