IPL 2026 final | 'If you want to win the competition, you need a good bowling attack...': Rajat Patidar ahead of clash against GT

Rajat Patidar (Pic: File Pic)

The title clash of the IPL 2026 is all set to be played between Gujarat Titans (GT) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on May 31 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

Ahead of the match, RCB's skipper Rajat Patidar said that a team needs a good bowling attack to win the competition.

"If you want to win the competition, you need a good bowling attack. It's important to take wickets because on this track, it's easy to score 220-200. But defending 200-220 is more difficult. So, you need a better bowling side," he said during the pre-match press conference.

RCB's star pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar is also the second leading wicket-taker in the ongoing edition of the cash-rich league. So far in 15 matches, he has bagged 26 wickets.

The skipper heaped praise on the pacer by saying that he has clarity about his game.

"I think he bowled superbly. He's an experienced bowler. It's not easy for the bowlers in this high-class competition. I think he has a lot of clarity. His plannings and strategies are very clear, and it is playing a big role," said Patidar.

However, the Madhya Pradesh-born cricketer did not give any clarity on Phil Salt's availability for the title clash.

"Right now, he's there at the nets, doing some sort of drills and batting. And again, we have not decided yet. We'll see how the doctor and all the management will look at it," said Patidar.

IPL 2026, Gujarat Titans vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Full squads

Gujarat Titans: Ishant Sharma, Jos Buttler (WK), Jason Holder, Jayant Yadav, Kagiso Rabada, Rahul Tewatia, Luke Wood, Shahrukh Khan, Glenn Phillips, Prasidh Krishna, Rashid Khan, Mohammed Siraj, Washington Sundar, Sai Kishore, Shubman Gill (C), Tom Banton (WK), Yarra Raj, Anuj Rawat, Sai Sudharsan, Manav Suthar, Kumar Kushagra (WK), Arshad Khan, Nishant Sandhu, Gurnoor Brar, Ashok Sharma.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Virat Kohli, Josh Hazlewood, Swapnil Singh, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jacob Duffy, Krunal Pandya, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Venkatesh Iyer, Phil Salt (WK), Rajat Patidar (C), Nuwan Thushara, Romario Shepherd, Tim David, Devdutt Padikkal, Yash Dayal, Rasikh Salam, Jordan Cox, Jacob Bethell, Vicky Ostwal, Mangesh Yadav, Suyash Sharma, Vihaan Malhotra, Abhinandan Singh, Kanishk Chouhan, Satvik Deswal.