Finals are often decided by moments of brilliance, and in the IPL 2026 title clash between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Gujarat Titans, Rasikh Salam Dar produced one such spell. While Virat Kohli’s unbeaten 75 grabbed headlines during the chase, it was Rasikh Salam Dar‘s disciplined and destructive bowling that laid the foundation for RCB’s five-wicket victory and their second consecutive IPL title.
The young pacer finished with impressive figures of 3/27 in four overs, the best bowling performance of the match. On a surface where Gujarat’s middle order struggled to accelerate, Rasikh Salam Dar’s ability to strike at crucial moments prevented GT from building any meaningful partnerships. His spell ensured that Gujarat could manage only 155/8 in 20 overs, a total that was well below par in a high-pressure final.
Rasikh Salam Dar breaking GT’s Recovery Through the Middle Overs
After early dismissals of captain Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan, Gujarat needed stability from their middle order. N. Sindhu and Jos Buttler attempted to rebuild, taking the score to 73/3 by the 12th over. At that stage, GT still had a platform to launch a late assault.
However, Rasikh Salam had other ideas. He first removed N. Sindhu for 20 off 18 balls, ending a partnership that was beginning to settle the innings. More importantly, Rasikh consistently bowled hard lengths and forced the batters to hit against the pace of the wicket. His variations denied Gujarat the boundaries they desperately needed during the middle phase.
The pressure created by dot balls soon translated into wickets, and GT’s scoring rate dropped significantly. Instead of targeting 180-plus, they were suddenly fighting to cross 150.
The Crucial Dismissal of Rahul Tewatia
One of the turning points of the innings arrived in the 17th over when Rasikh Salam Dar dismissed Rahul Tewatia for 7 off 5 balls. Tewatia has built a reputation as one of the league’s most dangerous finishers and was expected to provide the late fireworks Gujarat desperately needed.
Instead, Rasikh Sakan Dar forced an error and had him caught by Rajat Patidar at a crucial stage. The wicket came with GT on 115/5, effectively ending hopes of a strong finish.
Removing Tewatia was not just another wicket on the scorecard—it was a psychological blow. Gujarat lost their most reliable finisher at a time when momentum was essential.
Outstanding Control Under Pressure
What made Rasikh Salam Dar’s spell even more impressive was his economy rate. In a final where every run mattered, he conceded just 27 runs from his four overs, maintaining an economy of 6.75 runs per over.
Among RCB’s bowlers, only Krunal Pandya had a slightly better economy rate, but Rasikh combined control with wicket-taking ability. While Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood chipped in with two wickets each, Rasikh’s breakthroughs came exactly when Gujarat looked ready to accelerate.
His spell included key wickets at different stages of the innings, ensuring that GT never gained sustained momentum. Every time a partnership threatened to develop, Rasikh found a way to break it.
A Spell Worthy of a Champion Team
Washington Sundar’s unbeaten 50 and a few late boundaries helped Gujarat reach 155/8, but the total always felt below what they had hoped for after winning the toss. Much of that was due to Rasikh Salam’s relentless accuracy and ability to execute plans under pressure.
In a final featuring established stars such as Virat Kohli, Jos Buttler, Rashid Khan, Kagiso Rabada and Shubman Gill, it was Rasikh who produced one of the most influential performances of the night. Rasikh Salam Dar figures of 3/27 may not look extraordinary on paper, but the timing of those wickets completely altered the direction of the contest.
RCB’s successful chase eventually sealed a historic back-to-back IPL triumph, but the platform was created long before Kohli finished the game. Rasikh Salam’s spell strangled Gujarat’s batting lineup, shifted momentum decisively in Bengaluru’s favour, and proved why championship-winning teams always need bowlers who can deliver in the biggest moments. His performance will be remembered as one of the defining spells of the IPL 2026 final.
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