In final,even toss feels like half-match sometimes ah .
RCB are not just playing another final here . They are trying to defend their championship won in 2025,and if they win,this becomes back-to-back title story for them. GT,on other side,are chasing their second IPL title after their victory in 2022 at same venue .
And honestly,that makes whole match feel extra loaded . One team wants to prove last year was not fluke,other team wants to return to that 2022 feeling in same stadium.
RCB captain Rajat Patidar said playing eleven remains unchanged from their Qualifier 1 win over GT . He also sounded pretty calm about pitch,stating,"It's pretty good wicket. The ball will come nicely on the bat,but to be honest, it will not change in 40 overs." That kind of clarity before final is not small thing.
Few things standing out before match:
- RCB are aiming for back-to-back titles and a win would place them alongside MI and CSK as teams to defend their title.
- GT arrived late due to inclement weather but are still focused on their strategy.
- Pitch number six with equidistant square boundaries could create balanced contest between bat and ball.
And then there is that fan pressure also . RCB's passionate fans,the "12th man army," always bring crazy energy,but in final that support can feel like boost and burden at same time.
But GT captain Shubman Gill seemed to prefer batting first,so toss result clearly changed how things started for them . He also confirmed left-arm all-rounder Arshad Khan replaces R Sai Kishore in lineup. Small change maybe,but in final every selection gets judged later .
Gill also spoke about challenge of playing in such massive stadium and possible movement in first few overs . That is where GT bowlers may feel they still have opening,even after losing toss. Early swing,early wickets,one nervous over… finals change very fast.
Cricket analysts Aaron Finch and Ian Bishop feel mixed-soil pitch can keep both batting and bowling in game . So this may not be simple flat-track final where batters just enjoy. Strategy,match-ups,who handles pressure better… all that will matter.
And tbh,this RCB vs GT final already feels like one of those matches where toss,weather,pitch and nerves are all sitting in same room . Now question is,who blinks first under lights…
