Pacers have ruled the roost at the Narendra Modi Stadium in IPL 2026. | Photo Credit: AP

Royal Challengers Bengaluru will look to secure a second consecutive IPL title when it takes on Gujarat Titans in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday.

The defending champion had won its maiden title at the same venue last year, when it defeated Punjab Kings by six runs.

RCB qualified for the final by thumping GT in first Qualifier by 92 runs and has the chance to become the third team to win consecutive seasons.

GT reached the title clash, its third in five seasons, by overcoming a spirited Rajasthan Royals by seven wickets.

Ahmedabad pitch report

The pitch at Ahmedabad has supported a more orthodox brand of cricket this season, offering equal help to batters and bowlers.

Even as 200-run totals were posted regularly at some of the other venues in the tournament, the mark was breached only twice in seven games at the Narendra Modi Stadium.

This has suited GT and its strength, its bowling. It won five of its seven games here and even defended 168 runs against Sunrisers Hyderabad during the league stage.

Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj, and Jason Holder have been crucial in winning games for their side, and share 63 wickets between them so far. Even Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood in the opposite camp will be rubbing their hands at the prospect of bowling at the venue.

In seven games, pacers have 77 wickets at an average of 22.84 and an economy of under nine per over. Spinners have been used sparingly and have just 22 wickets.

Pacers have struck the most by bowling at a length, which has got them 38 wickets at an economy of 7.86. The back-of-a-length delivery has not been as potent but has restricted the scoring rate which drops to 7.73 off this length.

Published on May 31, 2026