Published on: May 26, 2026 3:50 pm IST|Updated on: May 26, 2026 3:50 pm IST
The Tata IPL 2026 has entered its business end with only four teams left to go deep down the tournament and claim their hands on the coveted trophy. The reigning champions, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, became the first team to enter the playoffs, finishing at the top of the table, followed by 2022 champions Gujarat Titans, 2016 champions Sunrisers Hyderabad, and 2008 champions Rajasthan Royals.
With the group stage now done, it’s time for the first qualifier that’ll see reigning champions Royal Challengers locking horns against the 2022 champions, Gujarat Titans, at the serene and picturesque Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala. Ahead of this all-important game, let’s delve into the 4-player battles that could define the RCB vs GT fixture.
Shubman Gill is one of GT’s bankers in terms of runs. He, along with B Sai Sudharsan, has always done the bulk of the scoring for GT. The GT skipper has been brilliant against almost all bowlers he has faced in his IPL career, but his numbers take a hit when he is up against the swing king Bhuvneshwar Kumar.
The current Purple Cap holder has got the better of Shubman Gill 5 times in just 13 innings. Gill’s strike rate also goes down against the veteran pacer as he strikes at a mere rate of 106.66. This battle could well define the course of GT’s innings when they bat.
Josh Hazlewood vs B Sai Sudharsan will also be a battle to watch out for. Hazlewood has been RCB’s second-best bowler this season and has been a true companion of Bhuvneshwar Kumar with the new ball. B Sai is the current Orange Cap holder and will be a key wicket for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
Hazlewood and B Sai have crossed paths against each other twice, and on both those occasions, Hazlewood has got the better of the southpaw. In 2 innings, the left-hander has scored 28 runs at a strike rate of 133.33 but has been dismissed twice. This is another interesting battle that will be one to watch out for.
The battle that will catch a lot of eyeballs is going to be between Kagiso Rabada and Virat Kohli. Both are champions in their respective fields and have a lot of international experience backing them. These two champions have locked horns 9 times in the IPL, wherein Rabada has got the better of Kohli 4 times, but the veteran batter has managed to score 79 runs against him off 51 deliveries at a brilliant strike rate of 155.
In their last meeting that took place earlier this season at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, Kohli got the better of Rabada by hitting him for five consecutive boundaries, but the paceman had the last laugh when he dismissed the champion batter in his very next over for 28 off 13 deliveries.
Mohammed Siraj has been quite impressive of late this season. Already leading the charts for most dot balls this season, Siraj has scalped 17 wickets this season so far in 14 games. His battle against Devdutt Padikkal would be one to watch out for in the early part of the innings.
Siraj and Padikkal have had their battles in the past, as the two have come across each other 7 times in the IPL, wherein Siraj has dismissed the left-hander thrice. On the contrary, Devdutt has managed some runs against Siraj, as he has scored 41 off 29 deliveries at a fairly good strike rate of 141.37. This season, both Siraj and Devdutt have been at the top of their game, making this battle a highly anticipated one.
Tags: IPL 2026