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Gujarat Titans and Royal Challengers Bengaluru meet at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on 31 May 2026 in the IPL 2026 Final — a rematch of Qualifier 1 just five days ago, only this time GT play at home, RCB defend their title, and there’s no second chance for either side. Here’s the best Dream11 team, captain picks, and pitch tips you need before the toss.
Quick Pick — GT vs RCB Dream11, IPL 2026 Final
Captain: Shubman Gill (100 off 53 in Q2 at this exact venue; GT’s batting backbone at home). Vice-captain: Virat Kohli (600+ runs this season, avg 60+ vs GT in IPL career). Differential: Krunal Pandya (handy scorer + middle-overs wickets, low ownership in finals). Toss factor: Chasing teams hold a slight edge at Ahmedabad due to dew — toss winner is expected to bowl first.
हिन्दी: ग्रैंड लीग कप्तान — शुबमन गिल (क्वालिफायर 2 में 100 रन); विराट कोहली उप-कप्तान। दोनों में से कोई एक आपकी टीम का नेतृत्व करे।
Narendra Modi Stadium Pitch & Conditions
Ahmedabad’s red-soil surface suits stroke-making in the powerplay — the true bounce means batters can time the ball cleanly from ball one. Once past the 10th over, the pitch slows and Rashid Khan’s wrist spin picks up decisive grip, making overs 8–16 the most wicket-friendly phase. The average first-innings score across recent IPL seasons sits around 176, with teams that cross 185 defending comfortably on dry evenings. Dew is a genuine factor at Narendra Modi Stadium in late May — the outfield slows, the ball skids onto the bat, and chasers benefit from a more predictable surface. Any team winning the toss is expected to insert the opposition. Check the full Narendra Modi Stadium pitch report for deeper venue analysis.
GT Probable Playing XI
Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (c), Jos Buttler (wk), Washington Sundar, Nishant Sindhu, Jason Holder, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj, Arshad Khan. Impact sub options: Prasidh Krishna, Glenn Phillips.
RCB Probable Playing XI
Phil Salt / Venkatesh Iyer, Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar (c), Jitesh Sharma (wk), Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Rasikh Salam Dar, Jacob Duffy / Suyash Sharma. Impact sub options: Romario Shepherd, Phil Salt (if not in XI).
Selection Dilemma — RCB
Phil Salt is fully fit and available for the final. RCB opted for Venkatesh Iyer in Q1 (19 off 7, useful powerplay boost) and won comfortably. If they stick with Iyer, RCB can play both Hazlewood and Jacob Duffy — a premium overseas pace option. If Salt returns, Romario Shepherd or a spinner comes in. For Dream11, if Salt plays, he’s a top pick; if Iyer opens, build your team without Salt and add Iyer as an all-rounder option.
Top Captain & Vice-Captain Picks
Shubman Gill (GT) — C Pick #1 — The GT captain is batting in the form of his life. In Q2 against RR on 29 May at this exact Ahmedabad ground, he smashed 104 off 53 balls (15 fours, 3 sixes) and combined with Sai Sudharsan for a 167-run stand — the highest partnership in IPL playoff history. Gill has 618+ runs in IPL 2026 at a strike rate of 160.46, including five fifties and that playoff hundred. He’s at home here and motivated by revenge.
Virat Kohli (RCB) — VC Pick #1 / Safe C — Kohli crossed 600 runs for the season in Q1, his best IPL tally since 2016. He averages over 60 against GT in IPL meetings and scored 43 off 25 in Dharamsala before Holder got him. On a flat Ahmedabad surface with no altitude factor, Kohli is set up perfectly. He’s the safest pick if you want a floor-ceiling combination in small leagues.
Sai Sudharsan (GT) — C Pick #2 / Premium — The Orange Cap leader has 650+ runs this season and owns eleven century-stand partnerships with Gill in T20 cricket — a world record. He fell for a duck in Q1 but roared back with a classy 50+ in Q2. Playing his home ground, this is his ground, his conditions. He’s a must-have in any GT-heavy team.
Rashid Khan (GT) — Differential C / Bowler Pick — Rashid has 19+ wickets at excellent economy this season and is the reason why Ahmedabad’s overs 10–18 are so bowler-friendly. RCB’s middle order (Padikkal, Patidar, Krunal) features right-handers who can be tied down by his googlies. In a final where the pitch will play to his strengths, Rashid at a lower captain percentage could separate your team from the crowd.
The Stat Nobody’s Talking About
Every IPL final since 2018 has been won by the team whose opening partnership crosses 60 runs. Gill + Sudharsan just put on 167 in Q2. RCB’s opening combination is still uncertain (Salt vs Iyer) while GT’s is settled, proven, and playing at home. That 60-run opening threshold is the one number that should shape your captain choice — if GT’s openers fire, the title goes with them.
Grand League Team
- Differential C: Rashid Khan (bowler captain, low ownership)
- Differential VC: Krunal Pandya (bat + ball, underused)
- Jason Holder (took 2/39 in Q1, death specialist)
- Jacob Duffy (if playing — low pick rate, could take 2–3 wickets)
Small League Safe Team
- C: Virat Kohli (600+ runs, final record batter)
- VC: Shubman Gill (100 in Q2, batting home)
- Sai Sudharsan (Orange Cap leader)
- Bhuvneshwar Kumar (26 wickets, Purple Cap, death bowling precision)
GT vs RCB Dream11 Best Team — IPL 2026 Final (Grand League)
- Wicketkeeper: Jitesh Sharma
- Batters: Virat Kohli, Sai Sudharsan, Devdutt Padikkal, Shubman Gill (c)
- All-rounders: Krunal Pandya, Rahul Tewatia
- Bowlers: Rashid Khan (vc), Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Jason Holder
Small League Best Team
- Wicketkeeper: Jos Buttler
- Batters: Virat Kohli (c), Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (vc), Rajat Patidar
- All-rounders: Krunal Pandya, Washington Sundar
- Bowlers: Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Kagiso Rabada, Rashid Khan, Josh Hazlewood
I’m backing GT to win the final, and here’s why: they’re playing at home, their openers have just broken the IPL playoff partnership record, and Rashid Khan on this surface is worth an extra 40–50 runs in bowling impact alone. RCB were brilliant in Q1 — Patidar’s 93 off 33 was one of the great IPL innings — but that performance came at altitude in Dharamsala where conditions helped pace. Ahmedabad is Rashid’s manor.
For Dream11, I’m going GT-heavy with Gill as captain — the 100 in Q2 wasn’t a fluke, it was a statement. My differential is Rashid at vice-captain in grand leagues, where most players will default to Kohli or Gill. If GT’s openers put up 50+ in the powerplay, Rashid can strangle RCB’s middle order and win the match almost single-handedly. One hedge: if you see the toss result and RCB bowl first, swap Gill’s captain armband to Kohli.
GT vs RCB Dream11 — IPL 2026 Final FAQs
Who should be captain in GT vs RCB Dream11 today for the IPL 2026 Final?
Shubman Gill is the top grand league captain pick — he just hit 104 in Q2 at this very Ahmedabad ground and is batting at home. For small leagues, Virat Kohli is the safer floor-ceiling option with 600+ runs this season. If you want a high-risk differential, Rashid Khan as bowling captain can blow the bank open.
Is the Narendra Modi Stadium pitch good for batting or bowling in IPL 2026?
Batting-friendly in the powerplay on a true red-soil surface, then spinner-friendly from overs 10–16 as the pitch slows and grips. Average first innings sits around 176. Dew makes the second innings easier to chase, so the toss winner is expected to bowl first. Prioritise quality top-order batters and spin options like Rashid Khan in your fantasy XI.
What is the GT vs RCB head-to-head record in the IPL?
GT and RCB are level at 5–5 across their 10 IPL meetings. In IPL 2026, RCB won in the league stage and again in Qualifier 1 by 92 runs. GT have the home-ground advantage tonight at Narendra Modi Stadium, where they have a strong record. Check the full GT vs RCB head-to-head stats page for the complete breakdown.
What time does the GT vs RCB IPL 2026 Final start?
The toss for the IPL 2026 Final is at 7:00 PM IST on 31 May 2026 at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad. First ball is at 7:30 PM IST. The match is broadcast live on Star Sports Network and streaming on JioCinema. Lock your Dream11 team at least 30 minutes before toss to account for last-minute XI changes.
Bottom Line
Gill at home after a match-winning century, Rashid on his favourite spin surface, and GT with revenge in mind — the Titans have every reason to win this final. That said, RCB’s bowling depth (Bhuvi + Hazlewood + Rasikh) is outstanding, and Patidar showed in Q1 that he can take any game away in 10 overs. Build your Dream11 around Gill + Kohli as your captain-VC core, load up on GT’s top three in batting slots, and trust Rashid Khan and Bhuvneshwar to deliver wickets. Check the IPL 2026 points table for the full season story before you lock in.
Disclaimer: Fantasy cricket involves an element of skill. The Dream11 picks suggested in this article are based on form, conditions, and venue history at the time of publication. Players’ actual performance may vary. IPL Daily does not promote or facilitate any form of betting. Please play responsibly and only on legally permitted fantasy platforms in your region.
