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The target of 156, on paper, is not massive. With the amount of talent Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) contains in their batting line-up, they are expected to hunt it down with ease.
In the first over of the second innings, when Virat Kohli and Venkatesh Iyer were on the crease, on behalf of the Gujarat Titans (GT), Mohammed Siraj made it clear that they are not here to give away even an inch of the grass easily to RCB at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
A heated moment in the GT vs RCB IPL 2026 final as Mohammed Siraj goes behind Venkatesh Iyer
Siraj opened the innings for GT with sheer pace and well-directed line and length against the RCB openers. Venkatesh Iyer faced most of the balls in the over. One of the deliveries of the pacer went very close to exposing Iyer’s defense. Iyer escaped.
The fast bowler took a few steps ahead to play a psychological game with the opposing batter. Siraj told Iyer, “If you can, try hitting the next ball since you’re so eager to attack.’ The batter replied softly. The RCB opener and the impact batter suggested the opposing threat to hit the very next delivery.
Venkatesh Iyer ✅
Devdutt Padikkal ✅@gujarat_titans inducing spice in the #Final 🔥Updates ▶️ https://t.co/Yz6K3q6w0X#TATAIPL | #Final | #TheFinalLeap | #RCBvGT pic.twitter.com/YLhDf4iuZN
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 31, 2026
“Just go back to your run-up and bowl. I’ll show you how to hit it,” Iyer told Siraj. For the next ball, Mohammed Siraj came with more aggression and struck Venkatesh Iyer on the body. Physio rushed onto the ground to check the batter, as the ball had good pace.
Mohammed Siraj provided GT with an excellent start with the ball.
The first over of the second innings was brilliant for the Gujarat Titans as Siraj allowed only 5 runs for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru. In those 6 deliveries of the over, Venkatesh Iyer played five and Virat Kohli faced one. Mohammed Siraj is among the bowlers in the IPL 2026 season who have made a great bounce-back after a few patchy starts in the early stages of the season.
With a much improved pace and better control over line and length, the star Indian seamer plucked 18 wickets in 17 matches, ahead of the final against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru. To defend the below-par total of 155, GT needs the best from their premier bowler.
Siraj took Iyer’s wicket
Siraj had the last laugh when he helped his team get rid of Venkatesh Iyer. On the fifth over of the innings, when the RCB batter was looking in great touch, the GT quick caught him off guard. Iyer had to depart for 32 runs from 16 deliveries.
With a strike rate of 200.00, the swashbuckling knock was decorated with four 4s and a couple of 6s. Mohammed Siraj took the wicket, but still, RCB is looking strong to overcome the target. Bengaluru lost the wicket of Venkatesh Iyer on 4.3 overs with 62 runs on the board. GT will have to do some wonders to push RCB behind in the contest.
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