Royal Challengers Bengaluru captain Rajat Patidar won the toss at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium tonight and decided to put Gujarat Titans in to bat. It was the expected call given how much the dew affects the second innings at this ground. Patidar said it was a straightforward decision and that his bowlers are fresh and ready to go. RCB have bowled first in every home game this season under Patidar, and the plan has mostly worked in their favour.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru come into this game as defending champions with four wins from six matches, sitting third on the points table. But their last game against Delhi Capitals on April 18 did not go well. RCB managed only 175 runs Phil Salt top-scored with 63 off 38 balls but the rest could not keep up. DC chased it down in 19.5 overs with 6 wickets in hand. Bhuvneshwar Kumar took 3 for 26 but it was not enough. That loss at home will sting.
The Gujarat Titans are going through a mixed run this season. They started with two losses, then won three in a row. But their last match against Mumbai Indians on April 20 was a disaster. GT won the toss and bowled first, but Tilak Varma smashed a stunning 101 off just 45 balls as MI posted 199 for 5. In reply, GT collapsed to just 100 all out in 15.5 overs losing by a massive 99 runs. Bumrah and Santner were the key wicket-takers. That kind of collapse will have the GT camp really worried.
PITCH REPORT
Chinnaswamy Stadium is one of the most batter-friendly grounds in the IPL. The average first innings score here in IPL 2026 is 193 runs. Boundaries are short and the outfield is fast. Seamers get some early swing but after the powerplay, batters can go after the bowling freely. The key factor in evening games is dew it sets in from around the 13th to 15th over of the second innings, making it very hard for bowlers to execute their plans. The chasing team holds a big advantage at this venue. Both captains were expected to bowl first if they won the toss.
RCB Playing XI
Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar(c), Jitesh Sharma(w), Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Suyash Sharma, Rasikh Salam Dar
GT Playing XI
Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill(c), Jos Buttler(w), Washington Sundar, Shahrukh Khan, Jason Holder, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Manav Suthar, Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj
LAST MATCH
RCB vs DC (April 18, M26): RCB 175/8 (20 ov): DC 179/4 (19.5 ov). DC won by 6 wickets. Salt: 63 (38), Bhuvneshwar: 3/26. Tristan Stubbs: 60 (47), KL Rahul: 57 (34).
GT vs MI (April 20, M30): MI 199/5 (20 ov): GT 100 all out (15.5 ov). MI won by 99 runs. Tilak Varma: 101* (45). Bumrah and Santner led MI’s bowling.
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