Bollywood stars Varun Dhawan, Pooja Hegde, and Mrunal Thakur added a dash of glamour to the IPL 2026 final on Sunday, arriving in Ahmedabad for the high-stakes clash between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Gujarat Titans (GT) at the Narendra Modi Stadium. Videos of the trio at the Ahmedabad airport spread rapidly across social media, amplifying fan frenzy ahead of one of the biggest nights in Indian cricket.

Celebrity Arrivals Fuel Pre-Final Buzz

Varun Dhawan was spotted interacting warmly with supporters at the airport and even broke into a dance with fans — moments that quickly went viral. Pooja Hegde and Mrunal Thakur were also seen arriving in the city separately. The three stars are currently promoting their upcoming film 'Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai', and their simultaneous presence in Ahmedabad has fuelled speculation about appearances tied to the final's entertainment programme.

The IPL final has become as much a cultural spectacle as a sporting contest, drawing A-list celebrities each season. This year's edition was no different, with a packed house expected at the Narendra Modi Stadium — one of the world's largest cricket venues — adding to the occasion's grandeur.

GT vs RCB: What Happened on the Pitch

Pushed into batting first by RCB, Gujarat Titans endured a turbulent innings, eventually posting 155/8 in their 20 overs. Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar struck early, removing the in-form Shubman Gill (10) and B Sai Sudharsan (12) inside the Powerplay to leave GT reeling.

Nishant Sindhu and Jos Buttler attempted to steady the innings but could not break free against disciplined RCB seamers. Sindhu holed out to long-on for 20 off Rasikh Salam Dar, while Buttler was sharply stumped by Jitesh Sharma off Krunal Pandya for attempting to force the pace. Notably, Arshad Khan's six in the 13th over ended what was reportedly the longest boundary drought — 40 balls — before a team hit its first six in an innings in IPL 2026.

Washington Sundar's Fighting Fifty

Washington Sundar was the lone bright spot for GT, anchoring the innings with a composed, unbeaten fifty off 37 balls, laced with five boundaries. He survived a crucial reprieve when a catch taken by Jordan Cox was ruled to have been grounded, and he went on to guide GT past the 150-run mark. A late six from Rashid Khan off Rasikh pushed the total to 155 before Rashid holed out to deep square leg.

RCB's Bowling Performance

Rasikh Salam Dar delivered his best spell of the season, finishing with figures of 3/27. Krunal Pandya was excellent as the lone spinner, conceding just 23 runs in his quota. Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar exploited the mixed-soil pitch's bounce and movement consistently, bowling back-of-a-length throughout the Powerplay. GT's total of 155/8 mirrored the score to which they had restricted RCB in their league-stage meeting at this very venue — but in a final, chasing a batting line-up anchored by Virat Kohli, it looked below par.

What's at Stake

Both RCB and GT are chasing their second IPL title, making the final a historic contest regardless of the outcome. With RCB set a target of 156 to win, all eyes turn to Kohli and the batting order. The stage is set for a memorable conclusion to the IPL 2026 season.