Final
RCB vs GT
Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Gujarat Titans
Indian Premier League 2026
Editorial
Expert Match Opinions
Tactical reads, pre-match calls and post-mortems from the Crickpal desk.
Final
RCB vs GT
Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Gujarat Titans
Indian Premier League 2026
VerdictGujarat Titans to win the IPL 2026 Final and lift their second IPL trophy. GT enter the final with a more balanced squad, stronger bowling depth and the tournament's most consistent opening pair in Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan. While RCB carry the confidence of their Qualifier 1 victory and the experience of Virat Kohli, GT's ability to control the middle overs through Rashid Khan and strike early through Rabada gives them a slight advantage in pressure situations. Ahmedabad conditions also suit GT's batting-first approach. However, RCB remain a serious threat if Kohli or Patidar produce a match-defining innings. Expected score range: 200-225. GT are likely to win by 10-20 runs if batting first or by 4-5 wickets while chasing.
Qualifier 2
GT vs RR
Gujarat Titans vs Rajasthan Royals
Indian Premier League 2026
VerdictRajasthan Royals to win and reach the IPL 2026 Final — RR are narrow favourites at 57% based on three overlapping factors. First, their 3-match winning streak and Sooryavanshi's back-to-back playoff masterclasses (97 off 29 in the Eliminator, 43 off 21 against PBKS earlier) give them the form momentum that GT simply cannot match after a 97-run Qualifier 1 humiliation. Second, on this specific used Mullanpur pitch that RR have already played on (and posted 243/8), their batting is perfectly calibrated for the surface — Sooryavanshi and Jaiswal know exactly where the boundaries are and how the ball behaves here. Third, GT's batting (outside Sudharsan, Tewatia's heroics, and occasional Buttler fireworks) is psychologically fragile after the Qualifier 1 collapse. However, GT at 43% is a very real chance — Rashid Khan in a knockout match is the most dangerous single bowling asset either team possesses, and Rabada removing Jaiswal three times in this head-to-head is a blueprint that can still be executed. Expected score range: 195–230. RR win by 25–40 runs or with 5 wickets in hand chasing in over 17.
Eliminator
SRH vs RR
Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Rajasthan Royals
Indian Premier League 2026
VerdictThis Eliminator feels designed for chaos. Two ultra-aggressive batting teams, a fresh Mullanpur surface, short square boundaries, playoff pressure, and dew later in the night — everything points toward another high-scoring thriller.
SRH enter with slightly more momentum and tactical clarity. Their ability to recover from difficult situations through Klaasen and Nitish Reddy gives them greater batting flexibility than RR. The emergence of Praful Hinge and Sakib Hussain has also transformed SRH's powerplay bowling unexpectedly this season.
Qualifier 1
RCB vs GT
Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Gujarat Titans
Indian Premier League 2026
VerdictRCB are narrow favourites (55%) — primarily because they are the defending IPL champions, the table-toppers with the best NRR, and have the best middle-overs batting record in the tournament (10.40 runs per over). Their batting depth (Bethell–Kohli–Padikkal–Patidar–David–Shepherd) means they can post totals of 210–220 even if three of the top six fail. Their pace attack (Bhuvneshwar 20 wickets, Hazlewood, Rasikh Salam) is the most experienced and consistent bowling unit in IPL 2026. However, GT are 45% for a reason: they are the better-balanced side tactically, Rashid Khan in the middle overs of a knockout match is arguably the most dangerous single bowler in world T20 cricket, Sai Sudharsan is the most consistent batter of the entire season (avg 58.33), and GT won convincingly at Ahmedabad when these two sides met in April. This is the closest and highest-quality match of IPL 2026 — a genuine 50–50 that the toss, the first three overs, and the Rashid vs Kohli battle in over 11 will ultimately decide. Expected score range: 195–220. RCB win by 5–6 wickets chasing in over 18, or by 15–20 runs defending 210+.
70th Match
KKR vs DC
Kolkata Knight Riders vs Delhi Capitals
Indian Premier League 2026
VerdictKKR to win — but only if the afternoon result keeps them in contention. Assuming RR lose to MI, KKR will go into this match with everything to play for and the Eden Gardens crowd in full, deafening voice. Their bowling (Narine, Varun if fit, Tyagi) is well-suited to this surface, their chasing record at Eden this season is perfect (4 wins from 4 chases), and Finn Allen's current form is genuinely frightening. However, DC arrive fresh from chasing 194 vs RR last week, with KL Rahul in extraordinary form (533 runs, SR 171) and Mitchell Starc finding his best bowling of the season. This is not a comfortable match for KKR — DC's "nothing to lose" energy and their specific recent form record against KKR (won the most recent encounter) makes them genuinely dangerous. Expected score range: 165–190. KKR win by 4–5 wickets in over 16.4, boosting NRR just enough to squeeze into the playoffs. But it could easily go the other way — DC spoil the party at Eden and end KKR's season.
69th Match
MI vs RR
Mumbai Indians vs Rajasthan Royals
Indian Premier League 2026
VerdictMumbai Indians to win — their desperation, the return of Parag and Jadeja, and the quality of Sooryavanshi and Archer make them the right team to back on paper. But this is a 38% chance for MI, who have already shown they are the tournament's most dangerous "party-pooper" team — beating PBKS (Match 58) and pushing KKR very close (Match 65, won by just 4 wickets chasing 148 after rain interruption). On a slower afternoon Wankhede pitch, Bumrah's variations are at their most dangerous, and RR's recent form (3 consecutive losses since Match 64) carries psychological weight. The Sooryavanshi vs Bumrah rematch will set the match's tone in literally the first ball. Expected score range: 168–190, with the result typically decided in the first 6 overs and the final 4. MI win by 4–5 wickets or 15–20 runs in an anxious, pressure-soaked afternoon match.
68th Match
LSG vs PBKS
Lucknow Super Giants vs Punjab Kings
Indian Premier League 2026
VerdictPunjab Kings to win — but LSG's "nothing to lose" danger and their home ground advantage at Ekana makes this a genuine contest rather than a walkover. PBKS have overwhelmingly superior motivation, a bowling attack (Arshdeep + Chahal + Jansen) that is specifically calibrated for Ekana's slow surface, and the existential desperation of a team whose season ends tonight if they lose. The Ekana surface suits PBKS's style of bowling-first cricket. However, LSG have posted 220/5 in their last match (vs RR in Match 64), showing their batting is capable of competitive totals on any surface. Mitchell Marsh (563 runs this season) is exactly the kind of settled, experienced batter who can counterattack against even a disciplined PBKS attack. The key: PBKS must restrict LSG to 165–175 and then chase it in 15.2–16.4 overs to meaningfully boost their NRR. Simply winning by a narrow margin may not be enough for their playoff hopes. Expected score range: LSG 158–178, PBKS chase it in 16–17 overs. PBKS win by 4–5 wickets or 20–25 runs.
67th Match
SRH vs RCB
Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru
Indian Premier League 2026
VerdictThis is the match of the final weekend of the IPL 2026 league stage — the best game on the entire matchday card, between the two most complete teams in the tournament. SRH are narrow favourites (55%) based on three overlapping factors: their unbeaten home night record (4/4), RCB's poor away form (3 of 4 defeats on road), and the SRH home-crowd atmosphere that has been their fortress all season. However, RCB have the tournament's leading run-scorer (Kohli, 413 runs), leading wicket-taker (Bhuvneshwar, 22 wickets), and the best NRR-backed squad depth in the competition. SRH need a big win to overtake GT's NRR — that attacking intent could leave them exposed. A SRH total of 200–220 and RCB chase down 195–205 is the most balanced prediction. Expect 400+ combined runs. SRH win by 15–25 runs in a classic, or RCB chase it down in the final over.
66th Match
GT vs CSK
Gujarat Titans vs Chennai Super Kings
Indian Premier League 2026
VerdictGT remain the overall favourites at 62% based on form, home conditions, and squad depth. But this is a 38% probability for CSK — in cricket terms, that means roughly a 1-in-3 chance, which is far from a long shot. The 2023 IPL Final was the ultimate example of CSK defying logic in this specific rivalry. In a do-or-die match where every CSK player knows the season ends tonight without a win, the desperation factor is a genuine variable. The CSK win path is clearly defined and achievable: win toss → bowl first → Noor/Kamboj restrict GT to 175 → Samson powers the chase in the first half → Dube/Sarfaraz finish it off with dew helping in the back-end. Expected score if CSK's plan works: GT 172–182, CSK chase it down in 18.3–19.2 overs. CSK win by 5–6 wickets.