Legendary South African batter AB de Villiers has admitted that he is feeling nervous ahead of the IPL 2026 final between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Gujarat Titans (GT). The former cricketer said that Gujarat' strong bowling attack is a major threat to the Royal Challengers' hopes of winning the title.
The IPL 2026 final between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Gujarat Titans is scheduled to take place on Saturday, May 31, at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The highly anticipated title clash will begin at 7:30 PM IST, with a packed crowd expected to witness the biggest match of the marquee tournament.
I'm nervous - AB de Villiers Drops Major Prediction
Speaking on the ESPNcricinfo Awards show, AB de Villiers stated that the IPL 2026 final is difficult to predict. The former RCB star said that Gujarat Titans have plenty of reasons to be confident and added that their bowling attack is a major concern for RCB.
"I'm nervous. GT have a lot to be confident about - playing in Ahmedabad, the way they've played, and that win the other night. Even though the Suryakumar factor was there, they still came out on top," de Villiers said.
It once again shows that good bowling attacks tend to come out on top at the end of the day. So I'm worried about that bowling attack in the final. But I think it's going to be edge-of-the-seat stuff and a fantastic final, hopefully a close one for all the fans around the world to enjoy."
🔴 I'M NERVOUS - BIG STATEMENT BY AB DE VILLIERS ON RCB 🤯
Mr Nags🎙️: Do you think it's finally RCB's day tomorrow? 🏆
AB🎙️: "I think RCB can do it, but I'm nervous. GT have plenty to be confident about, especially in Ahmedabad, & their bowling attack worries me. It should be… pic.twitter.com/5dfBMe6iaU— Sam (@cricsam02) May 31, 2026
Gujarat Titans booked their place in the final after bouncing back strongly from their Qualifier 1 defeat. Their bowling unit has been one of the biggest reasons behind their success, with Kagiso Rabada leading the attack and Jason Holder making a strong impact since joining the playing XI.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru Eye Rare Back-To-Back IPL Titles
Royal Challengers Bengaluru have chances of winning back-to-back IPL titles. Bengaluru have played excellent cricket this season, but the final is always unpredictable and can go either way.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru enter the title clash with a chance to become only the third team in IPL history to successfully defend their crown. Their batting unit has been one of the most explosive in the tournament, crossing the 200-run mark nine times and completing two successful chases of 200 or more.
Virat Kohli is the only RCB batter among the top 10 run-scorers this season. Rajat Patidar, Devdutt Padikkal, Tim David, Krunal Pandya, and Venkatesh Iyer have all played important roles, giving Bengaluru one of the deepest batting lineups in the competition.
Pitch No. 6 Could Play Key Role In IPL 2026 Final
The pitch is expected to play a major role in the IPL 2026 final at the Narendra Modi Stadium. The selected surface has generally favoured strokeplay, although the new ball can offer some assistance to fast bowlers during the opening overs.
Ground staff have prepared Pitch No. 6, a mixed-soil surface, for the title clash. The same pitch was used during the match between RCB and GT earlier this season and is known for providing good pace and bounce.
Gujarat Titans will take confidence from their record at the venue and their previous win over Royal Challengers Bengaluru on this surface earlier in the season. However, they face a quick turnaround after their Qualifier 2 victory over Rajasthan Royals, while RCB have enjoyed a longer break before the final.
