Top News

IPL 2026: RCB, GT eye return to winning ways
23 Apr 2026

Royal Challengers Bengaluru will host Gujarat Titans in Match 34 of the 2026 Indian Premier League.

The game is scheduled for Friday at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.

While RCB struggled against Delhi Capitals in their last game, also in Bengaluru, the Titans are coming off a massive 99-run defeat to Mumbai Indians.

Here's the preview.

Pitch report and match conditions
Match details

The Chinnaswamy Stadium pitch is usually good for batting. Shorter boundaries further make life difficult for bowlers.

However, bowlers can still make an impact if the surface slows down later in the game. Dew is likely to set in, thereby favoring the chasing side.

During the match, the Bengaluru weather will be "partly cloudy," according to AccuWeather.

RCB, GT look to bounce back
League standing

Despite the defeat to DC, the Royal Challengers still sit third on the points table with eight points.

Barring Philip Salt, their batting unit failed as a unit against DC. Besides, RCB's bowling attack remains robust.

Gujarat Titans, too, have been struggling with their batting. They were bowled out for a mere 100 runs by MI, suffering a massive 99-run defeat.

It remains to be seen if GT back their finisher Rahul Tewatia amid his nominal run.

A look at likely XIIs
Lineups

RCB (Probable XII): Virat Kohli, Philip Salt, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar (captain), Jitesh Sharma (wicket-keeper), Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Suyash Sharma, Josh Hazlewood, and Rasikh Salam Dar.

GT (Probable XII): Shubman Gill (captain), Sai Sudharsan, Jos Buttler (wicket-keeper), Washington Sundar, Glenn Phillips, Rahul Tewatia, Shahrukh Khan, Rashid Khan, Mohammed Siraj, Kagiso Rabada, Prasidh Krishna, and Ashok Sharma.

Here's the head-to-head record
Fact

As per ESPNcricinfo, the rivalry between RCB and GT in the IPL has been neck-to-neck. Across six encounters, the two teams have prevailed thrice each. Meanwhile, GT have a 2-1 lead over RCB at M Chinnaswamy Stadium.

Milestones in sight
Milestones

Virat Kohli, the league's highest run-scorer, is 92 away from completing 9,000 runs in the IPL. He is also closing in on 800 fours (799*) and 300 sixes (299*).

Gill also requires one more to complete 400 fours in the IPL.

Hazlewood is set to complete 50 IPL wickets for RCB. He has taken 48 wickets for the franchise so far.