IPL 2026 Qualifier 1: GT win toss, bowl first vs RCB in Dharamshala
Synopsis
RCB and GT — deadlocked at 18 points apiece after the league stage — meet in IPL 2026 Qualifier 1 at Dharamshala with a direct final berth on the line. Dew handed GT the toss call, Jacob Duffy is back for RCB, and the defending champions are one win away from a shot at back-to-back titles.
Key Takeaways
Gujarat Titans won the toss and elected to bowl first against RCB in IPL 2026 Qualifier 1 at Dharamshala on 26 May .
The match winner advances directly to the IPL 2026 final ; the loser gets a second chance via Qualifier 2.
Jacob Duffy returns to the RCB XI, replacing Romario Shepherd ; Kulwant Khejrolia comes in for Arshad Khan in the GT lineup.
Both teams finished on 18 points each, separated only by net run rate; they are level 4-4 head-to-head overall.
RCB are defending champions bidding for back-to-back titles; GT seek to reclaim the trophy they last won in their debut season of 2022 .
Gujarat Titans (GT) won the toss and chose to bowl first against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in IPL 2026 Qualifier 1 at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamshala on Tuesday, 26 May. The winner of this knockout fixture advances directly to the final, while the losing side drops into Qualifier 2 for a second chance at the title.
Toss and Team Changes
GT captain Shubman Gill opted to field, citing dew as the decisive factor. 'It looks like a good wicket, but we have seen, and in this ground particularly, there is a bit of dew in the second inning, so it's always good to have a total on the board and then try to chase it down,' Gill said at the toss. He also noted his personal familiarity with the ground, having played there at under-14 and under-16 levels.
GT made one change to their lineup: Kulwant Khejrolia comes in for Arshad Khan. RCB also made one change, bringing back Jacob Duffy in place of Romario Shepherd.
Captains Speak
RCB skipper Rajat Patidar, speaking after losing the toss, expressed confidence in the batting surface. 'The wicket looks pretty good. It's pretty hard. It will come nicely on the bat, so I think it will not change in 40 overs. We'll try to put a good total on the board and keep them under pressure,' Patidar said. He added that RCB's focus this season has been on playing to their own strengths rather than dwelling on the opposition.
Where the Two Sides Stand
RCB and GT finished first and second on the IPL 2026 points table respectively, both on 18 points, separated only by net run rate. The two sides have split their head-to-head contests evenly — 1-1 this season and 4-4 overall. GT's bowling unit had troubled RCB in their first meeting, though RCB avenged that loss in the reverse fixture.
What's at Stake
Both franchises are chasing their second IPL title. RCB, the defending champions, are bidding for back-to-back silverware — a feat few sides have managed in the league's history. GT, who won their debut-season title in 2022, are equally motivated to reclaim the trophy they have not held since.
Playing XIs
Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar (c), Venkatesh Iyer, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Krunal Pandya, Jacob Duffy, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Suyash Sharma, Rasikh Salam Dar. Impact substitutes: Romario Shepherd, Suyash Sharma, Kanishk Chauhan, Abhinandan, Jordan Cox.
Gujarat Titans: Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (c), Jos Buttler (wk), Nishant Sindhu, Washington Sundar, Jason Holder, Rashid Khan, Prasidh Krishna, Kagiso Rabada, Kulwant Khejrolia, Mohammed Siraj. Impact substitutes: Rahul Tewatia, Anuj Rawat, Glenn Phillips, Sai Kishore, Kumar Kushagra.
With both sides level on points and evenly matched head-to-head, Tuesday's contest at one of cricket's most scenic venues promises to be a high-stakes battle that could define the IPL 2026 final.
Point of View
And Gill's decision to field reflects a calculated read of conditions rather than default instinct. What is striking is how closely matched these two sides are: identical points, a 4-4 head-to-head, and a 1-1 split this very season. The Jacob Duffy recall is a bowling-depth signal from RCB — they are clearly wary of GT's middle-order firepower. The bigger narrative, however, is RCB's shot at back-to-back titles in a league where consistency across two full seasons is historically rare. Whether Patidar's 'focus on our strength' mantra holds under knockout pressure is the real question this evening.
NationPress
9 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the toss in IPL 2026 Qualifier 1 between RCB and GT?
Gujarat Titans captain Shubman Gill won the toss and chose to bowl first against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Gill cited the prospect of dew in the second innings at Dharamshala as the key reason for fielding first.
What changes did RCB and GT make for Qualifier 1?
RCB brought back Jacob Duffy in place of Romario Shepherd, while Gujarat Titans replaced Arshad Khan with Kulwant Khejrolia. Both teams made one change each to their playing XIs.
What happens to the winner and loser of IPL 2026 Qualifier 1?
The team that wins Qualifier 1 advances directly to the IPL 2026 final. The losing side is not eliminated — they drop into Qualifier 2, where they get one more chance to reach the final.
How did RCB and GT finish in the IPL 2026 league stage?
Both Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Gujarat Titans finished on 18 points each, with RCB topping the table on superior net run rate. They split their two league-stage meetings 1-1 and are level 4-4 head-to-head overall.
Are RCB the defending IPL champions?
Yes, Royal Challengers Bengaluru are the reigning IPL champions and are bidding for back-to-back titles in 2026. Gujarat Titans, who won their debut-season title in 2022, are seeking to reclaim the championship.
