RCB vs GT, IPL 2026 Final: The caravan of IPL 2026 has reached its final destination as defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) are gearing up to face the Gujarat Titans on May 31, Sunday at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. While the Royal Challengers appear stronger, the Titans’ confidence will also be high after beating the Rajasthan Royals convincingly in Mullanpur to progress to the final. With the impact player rule that was introduced in the 2024 edition and changing the face of IPL, it will yet again be in focus on the night of the final. The likes of Rasikh Dar, Phil Salt and Rahul Tewatia will be in focus.
GT vs RCB Impact players for today’s IPL match
3) Rahul Tewatia
Gujarat Titans’ all-rounder Rahul Tewatia has featured as an impact sub more often than not in IPL 2026 and has done a serviceable job. The left-hander was the lone silver lining against the Royal Challengers in the Qualifier 1, scoring 68 to significantly reduce the margin of the defeat. But Tewatia may need to make a bigger and a more impactful contribution if needed against the reigning champions.
2) Rasikh Salam Dar
Rasikh Salam Dar’s contribution of 16 wickets in 11 matches have slipped under the radar due to Bhvuneshwar Kumar’s brilliant display with the ball. The right-arm pacer has played as an impact player on multiple occasions and made sizeable contributions to RCB’s cause and looks set for the same role again.
1) Phil Salt
Almost every RCB has been eager about whether or not Phil Salt will play another match in IPL 2026. The explosive England opener last played in the game against the Delhi Capitals at the Chinnaswamy Stadium during which he sustained a finger injury, forcing him to fly home to recuperate from that. While Salt joined the squad ahead of the fixture against the SunRisers Hyderabad, he hasn’t played any match since that. There are chances that the 28-year-old will warm the bench again in the final due to Venkatesh Iyer’s aggressive starts but if there’s a role that could fit Salt, it’s that of an impact sub.
RCB vs GT Predicted Playing XIs And Impact Players
Royal Challengers Bengaluru XI: Venkatesh Iyer, Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar(c), Jitesh Sharma(w), Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jacob Duffy, Josh Hazlewood, Suyash Sharma.
(Impact players: Romario Shepherd, Rasikh Salam Dar, Kanishk Chouhan, Abhinandan Singh, Jordan Cox).
Gujarat Titans XI: Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill(c), Jos Buttler(w), Nishant Sindhu, Washington Sundar, Jason Holder, Rashid Khan, Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore, Kagiso Rabada, Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj.
(Impact players: Rahul Tewatia, Glenn Phillips, Anuj Rawat, Kumar Kushagra, Arshad Khan).
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