NEW DELHI: Both Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Gujarat Titans are coming into today’s IPL 2026 match after facing defeat in their previous games. Defending champions RCB lost their last match against Delhi Capitals by six wickets at home in Bengaluru, while GT’s three-match winning streak also ended at home as they were hammered by Mumbai Indians in a 99-run thrashing.So, both teams will be looking to bounce back in Friday’s contest to keep their march towards the playoffs going.RCB are also playing their last home fixture of the season in Bengaluru and will be looking to sign off in style with a win at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.Despite losing their previous game, RCB are very much in the mix among the top four teams in the standings, with 8 points from six games, currently placed third. GT, who started the campaign with two defeats, were on a roll with a hat-trick of wins before stumbling against MI, and are currently in seventh position with 6 points from six games.Ahead of the crucial encounter in Bengaluru, here are the five key player battles that could shape today’s result:Bhuvneshwar Kumar vs Shubman GillIn this matchup, RCB’s veteran seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar has dominated, dismissing Shubman Gill four times in 11 innings. Gill has managed just 66 runs off 64 balls at a strike rate of 103.12 against Bhuvi, hitting only one six.Virat Kohli vs Kagiso RabadaRCB’s star batter Virat Kohli has a below-par record against Kagiso Rabada, scoring just 36 runs in seven innings. Rabada has dismissed him three times and hasn’t conceded a six in 32 balls to Kohli.Josh Hazlewood vs Jos ButtlerGT batter Jos Buttler has dominated this contest, scoring at a strike rate of 146.87 against Josh Hazlewood. In four IPL meetings, Buttler has scored 47 runs off 32 balls, while Hazlewood has dismissed him only once.Rajat Patidar vs Rashid KhanRCB skipper Rajat Patidar is in excellent form this season, scoring 230 runs at a strike rate of 212.96 in six innings. He will face Rashid Khan in the middle overs, a spinner who, despite a modest start this season, remains a major threat.Phil Salt vs Mohammed SirajGT pacer Mohammed Siraj has dismissed Phil Salt twice in four IPL meetings. However, Salt has struck at 200 against him, scoring 56 runs off 28 balls, including six maximums, and will be eyeing another big score.
