RCB vs GT IPL 2026 Interesting Matchups: From Kohli vs Rabada to Buttler vs Hazlewood , top battles that could decide the final

Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru are set to face Gujarat Titans in the IPL 2026 final at the iconic Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday. The much-anticipated RCB vs GT title clash will get underway at 7:30 PM IST.

Also Read: GT vs RCB Live Score Updates

Key Matchups to Watch in IPL 2026 Final

1. Virat Kohli vs Rabada & Holder

Virat Kohli will once again be the centre of attention for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, with expectations high for a match-defining innings. However, his face-off against Kagiso Rabada and Jason Holder makes this contest even more compelling. Holder has dismissed Kohli four times in previous meetings, while Rabada has got the better of him on five occasions. Despite these numbers, Kohli will be eager to rise to the challenge and deliver when it matters most.

2. Shubman Gill & Sai Sudharsan vs Bhuvneshwar Kumar: Battle in the Powerplay
Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan have been in excellent form for Gujarat Titans, regularly building strong opening partnerships. However, they will face a tough test against Bhuvneshwar Kumar. The experienced pacer has had the upper hand in past encounters, dismissing Gill six times and Sudharsan seven times so far, making this an exciting contest to watch early in the innings.

3. Rashid Khan vs Tim David: Spin vs Power at the Death
Rashid Khan has largely dominated his head-to-head battle against Tim David, dismissing him three times in six IPL innings. In addition, David has struggled to score freely against the leg-spinner, managing a strike rate of just 100 and an average of only six.

4. Devdutt Padikkal vs Rashid Khan: A Test Against Spin Mastery
Devdutt Padikkal faces a challenging matchup against Rashid Khan, making it one of the key battles to watch. Rashid has enjoyed significant success in this contest, dismissing Padikkal five times in previous encounters. The RCB batter will be determined to overcome this hurdle and deliver a valuable innings for his side.

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5. Jos Buttler vs Josh Hazlewood: Power Meets Precision
The contest between Jos Buttler and Josh Hazlewood stands out as one of the most exciting middle-order battles in the final. Across T20 internationals and franchise cricket, Hazlewood has dismissed Buttler six times, highlighting a strong rivalry between the two. Their latest face-off came in Qualifier 1, where Buttler initially dominated while chasing a massive target of 255, smashing Hazlewood for 4, 6, and 4 in quick succession. However, the Australian pacer made a smart comeback, deceiving Buttler with a well-disguised slower knuckle-ball leg cutter to win the duel.