The TATA IPL 2026 is delivering non-stop thrills, and Match 34 promises to be one of the most entertaining clashes yet. Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) take on Gujarat Titans (GT) at the iconic M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Friday, April 24, 2026, at 7:30 PM IST. Fans across India can catch every moment live on JioHotstar.
As highlighted in the official JioHotstar preview video, this is RCB’s final home game of the season at Chinnaswamy before they shift base to Raipur. It’s a classic battle of contrasting styles: RCB’s aggressive, power-packed batting versus GT’s methodical, top-order dominance backed by a world-class bowling attack.
Current Form and Points Table Standings
RCB are flying high in 3rd place with 4 wins and 2 losses (8 points, NRR +1.171). They’re coming off a narrow loss to Delhi Capitals but have been exceptional at home (3 wins in 4 games). Virat Kohli and Co. are determined to sign off their Bengaluru leg with a bang and climb into the top two.
GT sit 7th with 3 wins and 3 losses (6 points, NRR -0.821). After a strong mid-season run, they suffered a heavy 99-run defeat to Mumbai Indians in their last outing. The Titans need a big performance to keep their playoff hopes alive.
Pitch Report: Chinnaswamy Ready for a Run-Fest
The JioHotstar preview rightly calls the M. Chinnaswamy a batting paradise. The average first-innings score in the first four games here this season has been around 193, with three chases successful. Short boundaries, true bounce, and expected dew in the second innings make this a high-scoring affair. Teams winning the toss will likely opt to chase. Expect scores in the 190-210 range if batters get going early.
Head-to-Head Record
Perfectly balanced! In 6 previous IPL meetings:
- RCB wins: 3
- GT wins: 3
The last encounter (April 2025) went to GT, but RCB will be itching for revenge on home soil.
Probable Playing XIs
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB):
Phil Salt, Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar (c), Jitesh Sharma (wk), Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Rasikh Salam Dar, Suyash Sharma
Impact Player: Devdutt Padikkal / Venkatesh Iyer
Gujarat Titans (GT):
Shubman Gill (c), Sai Sudharsan, Jos Buttler (wk), Washington Sundar, Shahrukh Khan / Kumar Kushagra, Rahul Tewatia, Jason Holder / Glenn Phillips, Rashid Khan, Mohammed Siraj, Kagiso Rabada, Prasidh Krishna
Impact Player: Ashok Sharma / Rahul Tewatia
RCB are unlikely to tinker much unless they want to bring in Jacob Bethell. GT might tweak their middle order, with Jason Holder potentially making his debut.
Players to Watch
- Virat Kohli (RCB): The King at Chinnaswamy. Fresh from a minor ankle niggle, he’s the anchor who can accelerate like no other.
- Phil Salt & Rajat Patidar (RCB): Explosive openers and middle-order destroyer. Patidar’s strike rate this season has been insane.
- Shubman Gill (GT): In red-hot form (265 runs in 5 innings). The GT skipper sets the tone.
- Sai Sudharsan & Jos Buttler (GT): The top-order trio that builds platforms before the finishers take over.
- Bowling Stars: Bhuvneshwar Kumar & Josh Hazlewood (RCB) vs Kagiso Rabada, Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj & Rashid Khan (GT). A mouth-watering pace + spin battle!
Key Battles: Kohli vs Rabada, Patidar vs Rashid Khan, and the powerplay duel between Salt and GT’s new-ball bowlers.
Match Prediction
RCB are the clear favourites (around 60% win probability) thanks to their home record, explosive batting depth, and recent momentum at Chinnaswamy. However, GT’s bowling attack (especially the pace quartet) can exploit any early movement and restrict RCB. A high-scoring thriller is on the cards – expect the chasing team to have the edge once dew sets in.
Don’t miss this blockbuster tonight on JioHotstar. Who are you backing – the home heroes in red or the resilient Titans in blue? Drop your predictions in the comments!
Stay tuned for live updates, fantasy tips, and post-match analysis right here.
