Introduction
Few rivalries in the Indian Premier League have grown as quickly — or as dramatically — as the one between Gujarat Titans and Royal Challengers Bengaluru. In just five seasons, this fixture has produced a title-winning debut season, a record-breaking century chase, and a nail-biting 2026 playoff double-header that decided the IPL trophy itself.
If you’re searching for the complete Gujarat Titans vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru timeline, you’re in the right place. This guide walks through every major chapter of the rivalry — from Gujarat Titans’ explosive entry into the IPL in 2022, through Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill’s head-to-head battles, all the way to the dramatic 2026 IPL final where RCB finally got the better of GT on the biggest stage.
We’ll cover the full Gujarat Titans vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru timeline year by year, break down a match-by-match table, compare key stats, highlight records and milestones, and answer the most common questions fans are searching for in 2026. Whether you’re prepping for the next GT-RCB clash or just want the full story of this young but fierce rivalry, this article has everything you need.
Table of Contents
Gujarat Titans vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru Overview / Background
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (formerly Royal Challengers Bangalore) is one of the IPL’s original franchises, playing since the league’s inaugural 2008 season. For years, RCB were known as perennial title contenders who couldn’t close out the big one — until they finally broke through in 2025.
Gujarat Titans, by contrast, is one of the IPL’s newest franchises. The team was added ahead of the 2022 season as part of the league’s expansion to ten teams, alongside Lucknow Super Giants. Under the leadership of Hardik Pandya, GT stunned the cricketing world by winning the IPL title in their very first season — a feat almost no other franchise has managed.
Despite the age gap between the two clubs, the Gujarat Titans vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru fixture matters because both teams have consistently been among the IPL’s strongest sides since 2022. GT have made the playoffs in four of their five seasons, while RCB — after years of near-misses — have reached back-to-back finals in 2025 and 2026. Add star power like Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill, Rashid Khan, and Jos Buttler, and every meeting between these sides has turned into appointment viewing.
Early Era (2022 – 2023)
The rivalry began on 14 April 2022, when Gujarat Titans, playing their maiden IPL season, defeated Royal Challengers Bengaluru by 37 runs, posting 192/4 and restricting RCB to 155/9. It was an early statement of intent from Hardik Pandya’s brand-new franchise.
RCB responded later that season. On 19 May 2022, in a rematch at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Virat Kohli smashed 73 off 54 balls to guide RCB to a comfortable 8-wicket win over GT, chasing down 168 with more than an over to spare and earning Player of the Match honours. That 2022 season ended with Gujarat Titans lifting the IPL trophy in their debut year — one of the most remarkable stories in league history — while RCB missed out on the playoffs entirely.
The 2023 meeting between the two sides is still remembered as one of the finest individual performances in the rivalry. At the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, GT captain Shubman Gill produced a sensational 104 off just 52 balls*, powering Gujarat Titans to a stunning chase of 197 on RCB’s home turf. It remains one of the standout individual knocks in the entire Gujarat Titans vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru timeline.
Middle Era (2024)
The 2024 season brought a more even contest and marked a genuine turning point in the rivalry’s competitive balance.
In the first meeting on 28 April 2024 at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Gujarat Titans successfully chased down RCB’s 197/5, reaching 200/3 to win by 6 wickets.
RCB struck back just days later. On 4 May 2024 at Chinnaswamy Stadium, GT collapsed to 147 all out, with David Miller (30) and B Sai Sudharsan’s middle-order partners fighting hard but falling short. RCB, led by a blistering 64 from Faf du Plessis and 42 from Virat Kohli, chased the target down with 4 wickets and more than five overs to spare. This 2024 split (1-1) showed that RCB had found a genuine answer to GT’s dominant start to the rivalry, setting up a much tighter contest heading into 2025 and 2026.
Modern Era (2025 – Early 2026)
By 2025, both franchises had established themselves as genuine title contenders, and the rivalry’s intensity only grew.
On 2 April 2025, at Chinnaswamy Stadium, Gujarat Titans handed RCB a heavy defeat on their own home ground. Chasing 169/8, Jos Buttler anchored the innings with an unbeaten 73, guiding GT to victory by 8 wickets. It was a statement win on a ground RCB had made their fortress, and it came just after RCB had ended a long losing streak against Chennai Super Kings.
The 2025 IPL season itself ended in historic fashion for RCB — though not against GT. Royal Challengers Bengaluru won their maiden IPL title on 3 June 2025, beating Punjab Kings by 6 runs in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium, finally shedding their “nearly men” tag after 17 seasons without a trophy.
Momentum swung again in early 2026. On 30 April 2026, in a tightly fought group-stage clash at Ahmedabad, Gujarat Titans chased down RCB’s 155 to win by 4 wickets, with Shubman Gill top-scoring with 43 off 18 balls and Jason Holder winning Player of the Match. At this stage of the Gujarat Titans vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru timeline, GT appeared to hold the edge once again heading into the playoffs.
2025–2026 Update: The Playoff Showdown
This is where the rivalry reached its peak. Both Gujarat Titans and Royal Challengers Bengaluru finished the 2026 group stage on 18 points each, with RCB topping the table on net run rate to claim first place and a direct route to Qualifier 1, while GT settled for second.
Qualifier 1 — 26 May 2026, HPCA Stadium, Dharamsala: Batting first, RCB posted a massive 254/5, powered by an explosive 93 off 33 balls from captain Rajat Patidar, who was named Player of the Match. In reply, RCB’s bowlers ran through GT’s batting line-up, restricting the Titans to just 162 all out, sealing a dominant 92-run win and a direct spot in the final.
Gujarat Titans regrouped and beat Rajasthan Royals in Qualifier 2 to book their place in the final — setting up a rematch with RCB for the title itself.
The 2026 IPL Final — 31 May 2026, Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad: In front of a packed home crowd, Royal Challengers Bengaluru completed their playoff double over Gujarat Titans, winning by 5 wickets to claim back-to-back IPL titles. Virat Kohli was named Player of the Match, capping a stellar 2026 season in which he finished as the tournament’s leading run-scorer with 675 runs.
That result flipped the overall Gujarat Titans vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru head-to-head record, with RCB pulling ahead 6-4 — a dramatic turnaround from the two GT wins that opened the rivalry back in 2022 and 2023.
Complete Timeline Table: Gujarat Titans vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru
| Year | Event/Match | Result/Outcome | Key Highlight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | GT enters the IPL as an expansion franchise | New franchise launched | Hardik Pandya named inaugural GT captain |
| 14 Apr 2022 | GT vs RCB, league match, Navi Mumbai | GT won by 37 runs | GT posted 192/4; RCB restricted to 155/9 |
| 19 May 2022 | RCB vs GT, league match, Ahmedabad | RCB won by 8 wickets | Virat Kohli’s 73 off 54 wins Player of the Match |
| 29 May 2022 | 2022 IPL Final (GT vs Rajasthan Royals) | GT won by 7 wickets | GT become IPL champions in debut season |
| 21 May 2023 | GT vs RCB, league match, Bengaluru | GT won the chase | Shubman Gill’s 104* off 52 balls headlines the rivalry |
| 28 Apr 2024 | GT vs RCB, league match, Ahmedabad | GT won by 6 wickets | GT chase down 197/5 with ease |
| 4 May 2024 | RCB vs GT, league match, Bengaluru | RCB won by 4 wickets | Faf du Plessis (64) and Kohli (42) chase down 148 |
| 2 Apr 2025 | GT vs RCB, league match, Bengaluru | GT won by 8 wickets | Jos Buttler’s unbeaten 73 seals the win |
| 3 Jun 2025 | 2025 IPL Final (RCB vs Punjab Kings) | RCB won by 6 runs | RCB win their maiden IPL title after 17 years |
| 30 Apr 2026 | GT vs RCB, league match, Ahmedabad | GT won by 4 wickets | Shubman Gill’s 43 off 18; Jason Holder named Player of Match |
| 2026 | IPL 2026 group stage finish | RCB 1st, GT 2nd (18 pts each) | RCB top the table on net run rate |
| 26 May 2026 | Qualifier 1, RCB vs GT, Dharamsala | RCB won by 92 runs | Rajat Patidar smashes 93 off 33 balls |
| 29 May 2026 | Qualifier 2, GT vs Rajasthan Royals | GT won, advance to final | GT book a final rematch with RCB |
| 31 May 2026 | 2026 IPL Final, RCB vs GT, Ahmedabad | RCB won by 5 wickets | RCB retain the title; Virat Kohli named Player of the Match |
| 2026 (season) | Overall head-to-head after final | RCB lead 6-4 | Tide shifts in RCB’s favour for the first time |
| 2026 | Most runs in IPL 2026 | Virat Kohli (RCB) — 675 runs | Kohli tops the run-scoring charts |
| 2026 | Most wickets in IPL 2026 | Kagiso Rabada (GT) — 29 wickets | Rabada leads GT’s bowling attack |
| Ongoing | Venue trend — M. Chinnaswamy Stadium | GT hold a slight edge | Includes the iconic 2023 Gill 104* chase |
| Ongoing | Venue trend — Narendra Modi Stadium | RCB hold a slight edge | Includes the decisive 2026 IPL final win |
| Ongoing | Total meetings (IPL, all formats) | 10 matches played since 2022 | One of the IPL’s most closely fought new-era rivalries |
Head-to-Head Stats / Key Statistics
| Category | Gujarat Titans | Royal Challengers Bengaluru |
|---|---|---|
| IPL titles won | 1 (2022) | 2 (2025, 2026) |
| Head-to-head wins vs opponent | 4 | 6 |
| Highest individual score vs opponent | 104* (Shubman Gill, 2023) | 93 (Rajat Patidar, 2026) |
| Highest team total vs opponent | 200/3 (2024) | 254/5 (2026, Qualifier 1) |
| Lowest team total vs opponent | 147 all out (2024) | 155 all out (2026) |
| Franchise founded / entered IPL | 2022 (expansion team) | 2008 (founding franchise) |
| 2026 season finish | Runners-up | Champions |
| Key batter in this rivalry | Shubman Gill | Virat Kohli |
| Key bowler in this rivalry | Rashid Khan | Josh Hazlewood |
| Home fortress advantage | M. Chinnaswamy Stadium (slight edge) | Narendra Modi Stadium (slight edge) |
Top Records & Milestones
Individual records:
- Shubman Gill’s 104 off 52 balls* (2023) remains the standout individual innings in the rivalry — an unbeaten century that powered a successful chase of 197 on RCB’s home ground.
- Rajat Patidar’s 93 off 33 balls in the 2026 Qualifier 1 is the fastest big score against GT in the fixture’s history, striking at over 280.
- Virat Kohli has been the most consistent run-scorer across the rivalry, including a Player of the Match 73 in 2022 and a Player of the Match performance in the 2026 IPL final itself.
- Jos Buttler’s unbeaten 73 in 2025 is regarded as one of GT’s most complete away-chase performances against RCB.
Team records:
- Gujarat Titans became IPL champions in their debut season (2022), a rare achievement matched by very few franchises in league history.
- Royal Challengers Bengaluru ended a 17-year title drought in 2025, then defended their crown by beating GT in the 2026 final — their first back-to-back IPL titles.
- RCB’s 254/5 in the 2026 Qualifier 1 is the highest team total either side has posted against the other.
- GT’s 147 all out in 2024 remains their lowest total in this fixture.
Interesting facts & trivia:
- GT and RCB have now met 10 times across all competitions since 2022, including two knockout-stage clashes in the same 2026 season.
- The 2026 season produced the rivalry’s first-ever meeting in a Final — and RCB won it.
- Despite GT’s fast start to the rivalry (winning the first two meetings across 2022–2023), RCB have now pulled ahead 6-4 overall following their 2026 playoff sweep.
- Both captains in the 2026 clashes — Shubman Gill (GT) and Rajat Patidar (RCB) — have become two of the most-watched young leaders in the IPL.
FAQs
Q: Who leads the Gujarat Titans vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru head-to-head record? A: As of the end of the 2026 IPL season, Royal Challengers Bengaluru lead the head-to-head 6-4 after sweeping both playoff meetings against Gujarat Titans, including the 2026 IPL final.
Q: When did Gujarat Titans and Royal Challengers Bengaluru first play each other? A: The two teams first met on 14 April 2022, in GT’s debut IPL season. Gujarat Titans won that opening fixture by 37 runs.
Q: Has Gujarat Titans ever beaten RCB in a final? A: No. The only final meeting between the two teams came in the 2026 IPL Final, which Royal Challengers Bengaluru won by 5 wickets.
Q: What is the biggest individual innings in the GT vs RCB rivalry? A: Shubman Gill’s unbeaten 104 off 52 balls in 2023, which powered a GT chase of 197 at Chinnaswamy Stadium, is widely regarded as the standout individual performance in the fixture’s history.
Q: Did GT and RCB meet more than once in the 2026 IPL season? A: Yes. They met three times in 2026 — once in the group stage (GT won), once in Qualifier 1 (RCB won by 92 runs), and once in the final (RCB won by 5 wickets).
Q: Which venue favors which team in this rivalry? A: Gujarat Titans hold a slight historical edge at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, while Royal Challengers Bengaluru have the advantage at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, including their decisive 2026 final win.
Conclusion
The Gujarat Titans vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru timeline has evolved from a one-sided early rivalry favoring the newer franchise into one of the IPL’s most competitive modern matchups. Gujarat Titans burst onto the scene with a title-winning debut season and a rivalry-defining century from Shubman Gill, while Royal Challengers Bengaluru answered with sustained batting firepower from Virat Kohli and, ultimately, back-to-back IPL titles in 2025 and 2026 — the second of which came directly at GT’s expense in the final.
With both franchises boasting deep, star-studded squads and a knack for producing knockout-stage drama, this rivalry shows no signs of slowing down. As IPL 2027 approaches, fans can expect the next chapter of the Gujarat Titans vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru story to be just as thrilling as the last.
