Former Indian cricketer and national selector Jatin Paranjape has highlighted a crucial factor determining the outcome of the IPL 2026 final between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Gujarat Titans. The match in Ahmedabad may hinge on whether Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood can disrupt the formidable partnership of Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan early in the game.
The opening duo of Gill and Sudharsan has been the most dominant pair in this IPL season, accumulating 886 runs at an impressive average of 63.3 and a strike rate of 177. Their partnership significantly influences Gujarat Titans’ results, with the team winning most games when they bat together past the fifth over.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar, with his track record of dismissing Gill multiple times, and Hazlewood, who has troubled Sudharsan, are key players to watch. Bhuvneshwar is also in contention for the Purple Cap, trailing behind Kagiso Rabada, and could make history by winning it for the third time if he emerges as the top wicket-taker in IPL 2026.
“The key player battles are Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Hazlewood versus Sai Sudarshan and Shubman Gill,” stated Paranjape. He emphasized the importance of RCB containing the Gill-Sudharsan partnership to gain an advantage in the final.
