Royal BengaRoyal Challengeluru (RCB) has a 0% win record when batting second in IPL finals, losing all three of the title clashes where they chased a total. This statistical anomaly went viral just before the IPL 2026 final against the Gujarat Titans after RCB won the toss and elected to field first, opting to chase despite their historical curse.

The statistics going viral on platforms like Cricbuzz ahead of the title clash against Gujarat Titans (GT) show that RCB’s structural blueprint has completely shifted from its historical vulnerabilities. Prior to the 2026 final, RCB's chasing record in IPL grand finales read: 3 matches, 0 wins, 3 agonizing defeats. In their first IPL final in 2009, while playing against the Deccan Chargers, the team had to chase a mere 144 runs, however, RCB’s star studded batting line-up stumbled upon the Chargers for a mere 134 for 9 wickets.

In 2011, playing against CSK who had posted a monumental score of 206, RCB lost Chris Gayle for a duck in the very first over, completely derailing the chase to lose heavily by 58 runs. Chasing Sunrisers Hyderabad's 208 in 2016, Chris Gayle and Virat Kohli added 114 runs in just 10.3 overs. However, once they fell, the middle order suffered a historic collapse, losing the game by 8 runs. The Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad historically favors teams batting first in pressure situations.

According to India Today, the stadium statistics for the season show that the batting average for first innings is 187 runs while for second innings it is 173 runs. Despite these numbers, captain Rajat Patidar won the toss and confidently elected to bowl first. GT captain Shubman Gill admitted at the toss that he wanted to bat first anyway, leaving both teams with exactly what they wanted.

Fans on X divided on Rajat Patidar’s decision to bowl fast

Fans on X (formerly Twitter) are deeply polarized by Rajat Patidar's high-stakes decision to field first, with reactions fiercely split between panic over RCB's historical chasing failures and supreme confidence in the team's 2026 form. The bold move by the skipper has completely set social media ablaze ahead of the clash against Gujarat Titans (GT).

Critics are highlighting that RCB has choked on big final chases in 2009, 2011, and 2016. Opting into that pressure cook-pot willingly feels like "inviting bad luck.” Fans noted that GT skipper Shubman Gill openly stated at the toss that he wanted to bat first anyway, leading many to tweet that Patidar handed their opponents a tactical psychological advantage.

Conversely, modern RCB supporters and data-driven analysts are staunchly defending the captain's conviction. Optimistic fans point to Patidar's unbelievable toss record; he has won the flip 13 times this season, converting 11 of those matches into massive victories. Pro-Patidar accounts are highlighting that this isn't the fragile batting lineup of yesteryears. The 2026 middle-order is robust and has effortlessly gunned down multiple 200+ scores this season. Supporters admire that Patidar didn't let historical ghosts dictate his team's real-time strengths, choosing to back their elite batting depth on a consistent surface.