The IPL 2026 final between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Gujarat Titans is scheduled for Sunday, May 31, at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Both franchises are eyeing to win their second IPL championship. As the reigning champions, RCB will try to become just the third team to win the IPL in back-to-back editions. The Gujarat Titans, who won the trophy in their first season itself, will be looking to extend their winning streak. It is unclear if the venue will host a formal closing ceremony as the end draws near.
Will There Be a Closing Ceremony?
The final’s closing ceremony has not yet been officially announced by the Board of Control for Cricket in India. This season, the BCCI has kept a low profile when it comes to pre-match celebrations. Additionally, the board had decided against holding a grand opening ceremony at the beginning of the season. As of the day of the last game, the board has not formally confirmed that a grand closing ceremony will take place. The strategy is comparable to how the IPL 2026 got underway without a customary opening ceremony.
In the wake of the Bengaluru stampede disaster in 2025, which resulted in 11 casualties during RCB victory celebrations, IPL chairman Arun Dhumal has previously suggested a more controlled style to celebrations. In Bengaluru, the season had begun with a memorial service for the victims.
Similar to the preparations seen in Qualifier 1 in Dharamshala, which featured a violin performance, light and laser show, and fireworks, the IPL is anticipated to have a mid-innings entertainment part during the final, though official confirmation is still awaited.
RCB vs GT Squads
Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Venkatesh Iyer, Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar(c), Jitesh Sharma(w), Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jacob Duffy, Josh Hazlewood, Rasikh Salam Dar, Romario Shepherd, Suyash Sharma, Kanishk Chouhan, Abhinandan Singh, Jordan Cox, Philip Salt, Richard Gleeson, Swapnil Singh, Vicky Ostwal, Vihaan Malhotra, Mangesh Yadav, Satvik Deswal.
Gujarat Titans: Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill(c), Jos Buttler(w), Washington Sundar, Rahul Tewatia, Nishant Sindhu, Jason Holder, Rashid Khan, Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore, Kagiso Rabada, Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj, Glenn Phillips, Anuj Rawat, Kumar Kushagra, Arshad Khan, Luke Wood, Connor Esterhuizen, Ishant Sharma, Jayant Yadav, Shahrukh Khan, Kulwant Khejroliya, Manav Suthar, Gurnoor Brar, Ashok Sharma.
