Ahmedabad, May 31: The IPL 2026 final is set to take place on Sunday at the Narendra Modi Stadium, featuring the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) against the Gujarat Titans (GT) at 7:30 PM. Both teams are gearing up to secure their second title. Playing on home ground, GT will have a strong fan presence in the stadium, while RCB boasts a massive fan base across the country, all hoping for their team’s victory.
Anurag Thakur, BJP MP from Hamirpur and former cabinet minister, stated, “The world’s largest cricket league is culminating with the IPL final at Narendra Modi Stadium, the biggest stadium globally. We are ready to witness a fierce contest between two teams that have performed excellently throughout the tournament. The team that plays best will win—I can only say that. The stadium is packed, and there’s no room to move.”
Nitesh Rane, Minister of Fisheries and Port Development in Maharashtra, told reporters, “Cricket has a massive fan following in our country. That’s why we have come to enjoy the IPL match with our family at Narendra Modi Stadium. Being in Gujarat, I cannot say that RCB will win.”
At Ahmedabad Airport, cricket enthusiasts from various parts of the country flocked to official merchandise stalls. Fans purchased jerseys, caps, and flags of their favorite teams, transforming the terminal into a vibrant hub for cricket lovers ahead of the highly anticipated final.
The excitement for RCB’s title bid in Karnataka extends beyond mere sports; it has become a deep-seated belief. In Hubli, the Karnataka Drivers Union organized a special prayer, earnestly seeking RCB’s victory. Union president Shekharayya Mathapati expressed confidence in the team’s abilities, stating that the driver community stands firmly with Bengaluru as the team vies for its second historic IPL title.
This wave of spiritual support was also evident in Vijayanagar, where passionate RCB supporters performed prayers and traditional rituals at temples, seeking divine blessings for the team’s success. RCB fans chanted, “Ee sala mattamme namde,” meaning “This time, the cup will be ours again.”
However, the celebrations in Vijayanagar carry an emotional aspect. Alongside their prayers for victory, the Vijayanagar Cricket Association paid tribute to the 11 cricket fans who tragically lost their lives during a stampede near M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru during the IPL 2025 celebrations.
Association members urged all RCB fans to celebrate responsibly, emphasizing that while their passion for the game is unmatched, the safety of fellow fans must come first.
One fan remarked, “We always perform rituals, whether for the Royal Challengers Bangalore or for India’s victories. This time too, we are praying for the cup to be ours. A grand yajna has been organized to make RCB champions. I also want to mention that we lost 11 friends who were huge RCB fans last time. Their loss weighs heavily on us. If they were here today, our joy would be immense. I pray that God gives strength to all those families to bear this sorrow.”
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