Richard Mann previews the final of IPL 2026 between Gujarat Titans and Royal Challengers Bengaluru, which takes place on Sunday afternoon.
Cricket tips: IPL final
2pts Virat Kohli to make a fifty in the match at 7/4 (bet365, betway)
2pts Sai Sudharsan to make a fifty in the match at 2/1 (bet365, betway)
Just as it should be, the final of IPL 2026 will be contested by the two best teams in the competition, the top two sides in the league table who subsequently eased through the playoffs.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru are bidding to win back-to-back IPL titles having claimed a breakthrough success 12 months ago, and the champions topped the league table this time around with another wonderful campaign.
Gujarat Titans finished just behind RCB in the regular season following an impressive late surge, and though RCB comprehensively won Qualifier 1 when these sides met in Dharamsala just under a week ago, this final isn't easy to call.
The market has RCB as marginal favourites, perhaps justified, but the Titans pulled off a brilliant run chase against Rajasthan Royals on Friday as captain as Shubman Gill compiled a world-class hundred. Make no mistake, the side he leads is a very good one.
What makes these two outfits special is just how well-rounded both units are. This tournament is littered with teams lacking balance, their auctions focussed too much on either bat or ball, usually bat. That is not the case with these two franchises
The RCB opening bowling pair of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood boast experience and outstanding new-ball skills. Bhuvneshwar has taken 26 wickets in 15 matches this term.
The batting is headed by that man Virat Kohli who is enjoying another fine tournament, while the likes of Rajat Patidar, Devdutt Padikkal and Tim David have more than pulled their weight. RCB tick so many boxes.
I have a soft spot for the Titans, but they probably lack the depth of RCB, especially with the bat, relying on Gill, Sai Sudharsan and Jos Buttler who make up a quite brilliant top three.
Kagiso Rabada is currently the leading wicket-taker in the competition, Jason Holder has been a revelation since coming into the team, and Rashid Khan provides spin to round out the bowling.
High totals have been the theme of IPL 2026, and with Ahmedabad usually ultra-reliable for runs, another high-scoring contest seems likely.
With that in mind, backing both VIRAT KOHLI and SAI SUDHARSAN TO MAKE A FIFTY appeals as a solid strategy.
Kohli continues to be a run machine with a penchant for the big occasion. Evidence of that in this format came in the T20 World Cup final of 2024 when he struck a valuable 76 to haul India to victory. He added 43 in last year's IPL final.
The 37-year-old has looked as good as ever this year, averaging 50.00, and his brilliant 105 not out against Kolkata Knight Riders just a few games back was a masterclass.
With one hundred and eight fifties from 16 matches, Sai is about to finish another remarkable season, and eight fifty-plus scores in his last 10 innings makes for impressive reading.
Like Kohli, Sai's form is clearly red-hot, and I'm keen to stick with both men.
Posted at 08:15 BST on 30/05/26
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