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A high-voltage contest awaits in Dharamsala as Royal Challengers Bengaluru take on Gujarat Titans in the first Qualifier match of IPL 2026 on 26th May at 7:30 PM IST.
Get the best RCB vs GT Dream11 prediction, fantasy cricket tips, probable playing XI, and match insights for the 1st Qualifier match of the IPL 2026. Expert analysis and more.
Also Read: "Finest batting pair in IPL history": Gujarat Titans opening duo lauded by CSK legend
Hot Picks for RCB vs GT Dream11 Prediction and Fantasy Cricket Tips:
Captaincy Picks:
Jos Buttler – Gujarat Titans benefited immensely from Buttler’s aggressive approach, as the England star piled up 469 runs while consistently accelerating during crucial phases. 
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Virat Kohli – With 557 runs from 14 outings, Kohli blended experience and attacking intent superbly, giving Royal Challengers Bengaluru exceptional stability at the top. |
Top Picks:
Devdutt Padikkal – Padikkal impressed with fluent stroke-making throughout the campaign, producing 433 runs and maintaining a commanding strike rate above 170. |
Sai Sudharsan – Calm under pressure and technically polished, Sudharsan dominated the season with 638 runs, finishing as Gujarat’s most dependable batting force. |
Budget Picks:
Rajat Patidar – Leading from the middle order, Patidar transformed matches with fearless batting, striking boundaries regularly while scoring at an extraordinary tempo. |
Rashid Khan – The Afghan leg-spinner delivered another impactful IPL season, claiming 19 wickets through disciplined spells and sharp wicket-taking variations. |
RCB vs GT IPL 2026 Captain and Vice-captain Choices:
Captain | Virat Kohli & Jos Buttler |
Vice-Captain | Sai Sudharsan & Devdutt Padikkal |
RCB vs GT Dream11 Prediction Team 1:
- Keepers – Jos Buttler
- Batsmen – Virat Kohli ©, Venkatesh Iyer, Shubman Gill, Devdutt Padikkal, Sai Sudharsan (vc)
- All-rounders – Jason Holder, Krunal Pandya
- Bowlers – Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj
RCB vs GT Dream11 Prediction Team 2:
- Keepers – Jos Buttler ©
- Batsmen – Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, Shubman Gill, Devdutt Padikkal (vc), Sai Sudharsan
- All-rounders – Jason Holder, Krunal Pandya
- Bowlers – Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Kagiso Rabada, Rashid Khan
RCB vs GT Dream11 Prediction Today Match Qualifier 1 IPL 2026 Players to Avoid:
Players | Dream11 Credits | Dream11 Points (Last match) |
Abhinandan Singh | 7.0 credits | NA |
Glenn Phillips | 7.5 credits | NA |
RCB vs GT Dream11 Prediction Today Match Qualifier 1 IPL 2026 Expert Advice:
SL Captaincy Choice | Virat Kohli |
GL Captaincy Choice | Jos Buttler |
Punt Picks | Rashid Khan and Rajat Patidar |
Dream11 Combination | 1-5-2-3 |
RCB vs GT Match Preview:
Royal Challengers Bengaluru will take on Gujarat Titans in the high-pressure Qualifier 1 clash of the Indian Premier League 2026 playoffs at the picturesque Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, with the contest set to begin at 7:30 PM IST. This marquee knockout fixture brings together the top two teams of the league stage, with both franchises aiming to secure a direct entry into the grand final.
The rivalry between these two dominant sides remains perfectly poised, with both teams sharing four wins each across their eight previous meetings. Moreover, they finished level at 1-1 during the league stage this season. Royal Challengers Bengaluru claimed the first encounter on April 24, 2026, at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, where Virat Kohli guided the chase brilliantly with an unbeaten half-century to seal a five-wicket victory.
However, Gujarat Titans responded strongly in the reverse fixture on April 30, 2026, at Ahmedabad. Jason Holder produced a disciplined bowling performance to restrict Bengaluru to 155, before Shubman Gill’s explosive 43 off 18 deliveries powered Gujarat towards a composed four-wicket win.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru enter the playoffs as league leaders after collecting 18 points alongside an impressive net run rate of +0.783. Despite suffering a heavy 55-run defeat against Sunrisers Hyderabad in their final league fixture, Rajat Patidar’s side has displayed remarkable consistency throughout the season. Their experienced batting lineup, led by Virat Kohli, Phil Salt, and Venkatesh Iyer, combined with a disciplined pace attack spearheaded by Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, continues to make them one of the most balanced units in the competition.
Meanwhile, Gujarat Titans finished second on the table with the same number of points but a slightly lower net run rate of +0.695. Shubman Gill’s men arrive in Dharamsala with tremendous confidence after dismantling Chennai Super Kings by 89 runs in their final league match, where they posted a massive 229-run total. Gujarat’s batting order has delivered consistently this season through the likes of Sai Sudharsan, Jos Buttler, and Gill, while their bowling attack featuring Rashid Khan, Kagiso Rabada, and Mohammed Siraj has provided crucial breakthroughs under pressure.
RCB vs GT Head-to-Head Record:
Teams | Matches Won |
Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 4 |
Gujarat Titans | 4 |
RCB vs GT Weather & Pitch Report:
Temperature | 23°C |
Weather Forecast | Partly Cloudy |
Pitch Behaviour | Batting-friendly |
Best Suited To | Pace |
Average 1st innings score | 185 |
Record of chasing teams:
Records | Good |
Winning % | 60% |
RCB vs GT Playing 11s (Predicted):
Royal Challengers Bengaluru Playing 11:
1) Virat Kohli
2) Phil Salt / Venkatesh Iyer
3) Devdutt Padikkal
4) Rajat Patidar ©
5) Jitesh Sharma
6) Romario Shepherd
7) Tim David
8) Krunal Pandya
9) Bhuvneshwar Kumar
10) Jacob Duffy / Suyash Sharma
11) Josh Hazlewood
12) Rasikh Salam
Gujarat Titans Playing 11:
1) Shubman Gill ©
2) B Sai Sudharsan
3) Jos Buttler (wk)
4) Washington Sundar
5) Jason Holder
6) Rahul Tewatia
7) Nishant Sindhu
8) Rashid Khan
9) Arshad Khan
10) Kagiso Rabada
11) Mohammed Siraj
12) Prasidh Krishna
RCB vs GT Match Winner Prediction:
Based on the overall squad balance, Royal Challengers Bengaluru appears well-positioned to win this match.
