Royal Challengers Bengaluru will host Gujarat Titans for match 34 of the 2026 Indian Premier League at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Friday.
RCB are placed third on the points table behind Punjab Kings and Rajasthan Royals. The Rajat Patidar-led side have defeated Sunrisers Hyderabad, Chennai Super Kings, Mumbai Indians and Lucknow Super Giants. Dehi Capitals and RR are the only teams that have notched victories against the defending champions this season.
Virat Kohli and Rajat Patidar have shouldered the responsibility of leading the team's run-scoring charts. The former skipper and the current captain have struck two fifties each, with Kohli amassing 247 runs and Patidar contributing 230. Opener Phil Salt has also been in fine touch, scoring over 200 runs in six outings. The trio forms the backbone of RCB's batting, while contributions from Tim David and Devdutt Padikkal add valuable depth.
On the bowling front, veteran Bhuvneshwar Kumar, with 10 wickets, has been the linchpin of the attack. He has found solid support from spinner Krunal Pandya, who has picked up six wickets. Jacob Duffy impressed early in the season, while Josh Hazlewood is gradually hitting his stride after a delayed start.
GT are languishing at seventh spot. The 2022 champions have had three wins and as many defeats so far. Their victories have come against DC, LSG and KKR while losing to PBKS, RR and MI.
The biggest strength of GT lies in its in-form top order, comprising captain Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan and Jos Buttler. Players like Shahrukh Khan, Washington Sundar and Rahul Tewatia have struggled to deliver when it matters most. There are also concerns around Glenn Phillips' form with the bat. While he remains a livewire in the field, his early dismissals have hurt the team's momentum.
On the bowling front, the pace duo of Prasidh Krishna (11 wickets) and Kagiso Rabada (10 wickets) has been impressive, with Mohammed Siraj providing strong support-especially as he prepares to face his former side. Meanwhile, in Rashid Khan, GT boast a dependable and experienced spin option.
Weather, Pitch
The IMD predicts partly cloudy sky in Bengaluru on Friday evening.
The pitches at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium are batting friendly so expect another pitch tailor-made for a big score.
Head to Head
- Matches Played: 6
- Royal Challengers Bengaluru wins: 3
- Gujarat Titans wins: 3
Players to Watch
- Virat Kohli (Royal Challengers Bengaluru): This is the final home game that RCB will be playing at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium this season. Before the team signs off from here, Virat Kohli will be fired up to come up with a special knock as a parting gift for the RCB supporters. The veteran has been in good form so expect some fireworks from Kohli's bat.
- Mohammed Siraj (Gujarat Titans): Mohammed Siraj will be up against his former team for whom he played for seven years. The pacer used to love playing along side Kohli, so he will have that extra motivation to be amongst wickets in this game.
Possible XI
- RCB: Virat Kohli, Phil Salt, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar (capt), Tim David, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Romario Shepherd/Jacob Bethell, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Suyash Sharma, Josh Hazlewood
- GT: Shubman Gill (capt), Sai Sudharsan, Jos Buttler (wk), Washington Sundar, Kumar Kushagra, Jason Holder , Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna
Live Telecast
The Indian Premier League is being broadcasted on the Star Sports television channels.
Live Stream Details
DC v PBKS match can be streamed LIVE on the JioHotstar app and website.
ALSO READ: IPL 2026 Points Table: Samson Century, Hosein's 4/17 Power CSK To 103-Run Rout Over MI
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