IPL 2026 Final: How RCB Exposed Gujarat Titans' Over-Reliance on Their Big Three

For most of IPL 2026, Gujarat Titans' batting lineup looked virtually unstoppable.

Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan produced one of the greatest opening partnerships in IPL history, while Jos Buttler added stability and firepower at No. 3. Together, the trio scored 1,958 runs during the season and formed the backbone of Gujarat's march to the final.

But when Royal Challengers Bengaluru removed all three inside the first 10 overs of the IPL 2026 final at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Gujarat's batting blueprint collapsed.

The final exposed a reality that had remained hidden behind GT's remarkable consistency throughout the season - the batting lineup had become heavily dependent on its top three.

The Big Three Carried Gujarat Titans All Season

After the final, Gujarat's top-order numbers remained staggering.

Together, Gill, Sudharsan and Buttler contributed nearly 70 percent of Gujarat Titans' batting output during the season. More importantly, they consistently shielded a middle order that rarely faced pressure situations.

The Final Was Decided in Eight Deliveries

RCB's pace attack knew exactly where Gujarat's vulnerability lay. Josh Hazlewood removed Gill for 10 off eight balls in the third over. Six deliveries later, Bhuvneshwar Kumar dismissed Sudharsan for 12 off 12 balls.

At that point, Gujarat had lost the pair responsible for 1,454 runs during the season. The pressure immediately shifted onto Buttler.

Instead of counter-attacking, the England star struggled to find momentum and managed just 19 off 23 deliveries, consuming balls without providing the acceleration Gujarat desperately needed.

GT's Top Three in the IPL 2026 Final

Three batters who averaged nearly 45 and scored at strike rates above 150 throughout the season managed just 41 runs from 43 balls in the final. That collapse effectively decided the contest.

The Middle Order Never Looked Built for Rescue Missions

The biggest issue for Gujarat wasn't merely that their stars failed. It was that the rest of the batting lineup had not produced enough throughout the season to inspire confidence.

After the top three, Washington Sundar was the only player to score more than 300 runs.

Those numbers reveal a batting lineup that was rarely required to recover from difficult situations because the top order generally ensured smooth sailing.

When the final demanded adaptability and resilience, Gujarat found themselves in unfamiliar territory.

RCB Identified the Formula Earlier Than Everyone Else

According to CricViz, Gujarat Titans lost both Gill and Sudharsan inside the Powerplay four times during IPL 2026. Three of those four occasions came against Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

That statistic suggests RCB understood something that most teams failed to appreciate - Gujarat's batting dominance was built almost entirely around their opening partnership. Break that partnership early, and the rest of the lineup becomes significantly more vulnerable.

RCB executed that plan perfectly in the final.

A Great Season, But a Flawed Batting Structure

None of this should diminish what Gujarat Titans achieved during IPL 2026.

Gill and Sudharsan produced the third-highest partnership aggregate in IPL history with 934 runs. Gill finished among the tournament's leading run-scorers, while Sudharsan once again established himself as one of the most reliable batters in the league. Yet the final exposed a structural weakness.

For much of the season, Gujarat's top three covered for a middle order that was rarely tested. When all three failed together in the biggest match of the year, the Titans lacked the batting depth to recover.

RCB didn't just win the final. They exposed the one flaw that Gujarat had successfully hidden throughout an otherwise exceptional campaign.