The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) became the first side to qualify for the final after obliterating Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 1 of the IPL 2026 season. Deservingly so, the defending champions had also topped the 10-team points table earlier in the tournament to become the first side to make it to the playoffs.
Under the leadership of Rajat Patidar, the team started off the season with four wins in five matches, before slightly losing track in the middle as they succumbed to three defeats off their next five appearances.
The defending champions eventually regained their lost mojo towards the end, registering three wins on the trot before losing their final league fixture to SRH by 55 runs. However, by reaching 200 in a chase of 256, Patidar and co. confirmed a top finish for themselves just before the knockouts.
With 18 points courtesy of nine wins from 14 matches, RCB’s NRR also reads a formidable 0.783, the best among all sides in the league stage.
Ahead of RCB’s upcoming IPL 2026 final shootout against fellow favorites and second-placed Gujarat Titans, here is a look at their overall track record in IPL finals so far.
RCB Record in IPL Finals
Criterion
Stats
Matches
4
Wins
1
Losses
3
The RCB franchise has so far featured in four different IPL finals. After suffering heartbreaking defeats in 2009, 2011 and 2016; the franchise finally broke the curse in 2025 last year by overcoming a high-flying Punjab Kings unit in the final.
Fortunately for RCB fans, their lone-IPL winning skipper Rajat Patidar is once again leading the side into the summit clash this season. Adding to their optimism, the final will be hosted by the iconic Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, the very venue where RCB clinched its maiden IPL title last year.
RCB Record vs Gujarat Titans
Criterion
IPL League Games
Playoffs
Matches
8
1
Wins
4
1
Losses
4
0
The RCB franchise has so far faced Gujarat Titans nine times in the IPL since the latter’s induction into the tournament back in 2022. RCB leads their short-yet-entertaining rivalry with five wins and four defeats.
In their lone playoff battle, one which occurred earlier this week, Rajat Patidar and co. pulverized the Titans by 92 runs at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala.
RCB Record in Ahmedabad
Criterion
Overall
Playoffs
Matches
8
3
Wins
4
1
Losses
4
2
The RCB franchise has played eight IPL matches in Ahmedabad, and seven since the Motera Stadium was transformed into Narendra Modi Stadium in 2021. In their eight appearances, RCB has managed to register four wins at an expense of four defeats with zero no-results.
While the team suffer from a poor record in the playoffs at the venue with two defeats and just one win from three games, Rajat Patidar and co. won their lone final here back in IPL 2025 last year.
Conclusion: Defending Champions tag, recent form backs RCB
Even though the RCB franchise holds a topsy-turvy track record at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium, a sensational table-topping run this IPL 2026 season makes them favorites to clinch the coveted title this Sunday, May 30.
The team boasts of a formidable batting line-up, backed by legendary and in-form fast bowlers like Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood. Krunal Pandya, who bagged the ‘Player of the Match’ award in last year’s final against the Punjab Kings, has already picked up 13 wickets this season at an economy of 8.64.
Uncapped paceman Rasikh Salam might also ruffle Gujarat Titans in their home conditions, considering the 26-year-old has emerged as RCB’s second most successful bowler this year.
On top of it all, the ‘defending champions’ tag only strengthens RCB’s credentials while heading into the IPL 2026 final.
Virat Kohli & Shubman Gill (Source: AP)
