The stage was set, the ambiance on the Narendra Modi Stadium was electrical, and the stakes couldn’t have been greater as Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) clashed with the Gujarat Titans (GT) within the extremely anticipated IPL 2026 Final on Sunday. After successful the toss and electing to subject, RCB’s designated house recreation, which had been strategically shifted to Ahmedabad, obtained off to a flyer, fuelled by a second of pure fielding genius that left followers and commentators completely shocked.
Jitesh Sharma dazzles with a panoramic catch to dismiss Sai Sudharsan in IPL 2026 Last
The defining visible of the early powerplay arrived within the fourth over, courtesy of some good bowling by veteran speedster Bhuvneshwar Kumar and absolute athleticism from wicketkeeper Jitesh Sharma.
On the fourth supply of the over (3.4 overs), Bhuvneshwar Kumar executed a superbly directed bouncer at 138.6 kmph, banging it brief and out of doors the off stump. Gujarat’s star younger batter, B Sai Sudharsan, was lured right into a false shot, trying to fetch the ball from effectively outdoors his consolation zone.
The ensuing top-edge ballooned excessive into the evening sky towards the brief fine-leg area. Exhibiting immense composure and spatial consciousness, Jitesh Sharma turned and sprinted backward, monitoring the excessive ball completely earlier than executing a spectacular catch. Sudharsan was despatched packing for a affected person 12 off 12 balls, leaving Gujarat Titans in a spot of early hassle at 26 for the lack of two wickets, whereas Bhuvneshwar registered stellar early figures of 1/21.
Right here’s the video:
2️⃣ huge wickets. 1️⃣ dream begin! 💥
What a begin for #RCB in Ahmedabad 🔥
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— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 31, 2026
Additionally WATCH: Rajat Patidar takes a sensational running catch to remove Shubman Gill during IPL 2026 Final
Gujarat Titans rocked by early batting meltdown versus RCB
Sudharsan’s dismissal was only one chapter in a bigger narrative of an early batting collapse for the Gujarat Titans, who discovered themselves completely choked by a disciplined RCB bowling unit. GT skipper Shubman Gill was the primary to fall, lasting solely 8 balls for his 10 runs earlier than chipping a supply from Josh Hazlewood straight to Rajat Patidar within the third over (2.2 overs).
The bleeding didn’t cease there. Nishant Sindhu confirmed a quick flash of resistance, scoring 20 runs off 18 deliveries, however his keep was minimize brief within the eighth over when he fell to Rasikh Salam, caught by Devdutt Padikkal.
The stress proved immense even for the skilled Jos Buttler. The wicketkeeper-batter laboured to a closely constrained 19 off 23 balls, failing to search out any boundaries earlier than being brilliantly stumped by the hyper-active Jitesh Sharma off Krunal Pandya‘s bowling at 12.1 overs.
When Arshad Khan performed a quick cameo of 15 runs from simply 6 balls earlier than turning into Hazlewood’s second sufferer at 14.1 overs, GT slumped to a depressing 99 for five. By the 15 over mark, Gujarat Titans had been crawling at a present run charge of 6.92, with Washington Sundar remaining unbeaten on a gritty 23 off 22 balls alongside Rahul Tewatia. RCB’s bowling unit remained relentless, with Hazlewood selecting up 2 wickets for 21 runs in his 3 overs, and Pandya choking the center order with figures of 1 for 23 throughout his full 4-over quota.
Additionally READ: What happens if RCB vs GT IPL 2026 final gets washed out due to rain in Ahmedabad?
