Former Pakistan player Basit Ali feels RCB can overpower GT in IPL 2026

Basit Ali feels Royal Challengers Bengaluru can overpower the Gujarat Titans and move towards clinching this year’s IPL title as well.

The buzz around the playoffs in IPL 2026 is hard to ignore, and one team that has managed to stand above the rest is Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). After finishing at the top of the points table with 18 points from 14 matches, RCB now head into Qualifier 1 carrying not just momentum but genuine belief that this could be their year yet again after winning the IPL title last year. Former Pakistani player Basit Ali, too, feels RCB can overpower GT and clinch the title this year as well.

Basit Ali predicts ‘Straightforward Domination.’

Former Pakistan batter Basit Ali believes RCB could dominate the playoffs in commanding fashion. Speaking on a YouTube cricket discussion show, Basitcompared Bengaluru’s current run to a dominant campaign by Peshawar Zalmi in the PSL. According to him, very few teams look capable of stopping RCB at this stage. He suggested that only Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) might pose a serious challenge, while claiming the rest of the teams appear a step behind in terms of momentum and overall squad strength. Despite the growing confidence around RCB, their Qualifier 1 opponents, the Gujarat Titans, are far from underdogs. Former Pakistan wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal believes the conditions in Dharamsala could turn the playoff clash into a batting spectacle. With both teams possessing explosive batting depth, Akmal predicted a total crossing 220 would not be surprising. He also highlighted how both sides have enough power to completely change the game within a few overs, making Qualifier 1 one of the most anticipated matches of the season.

RCB continuously wins under pressure.

Throughout the league stage, RCB consistently found ways to win under pressure. At the centre of it all has been ViratKohli, whose presence continues to shape the team’s batting identity. But unlike past years, RCB are no longer dependent on one or two players. Their middle order has delivered repeatedly, and the bowling attack has shown the ability to adapt to different conditions. That balance is what has convinced many former cricketers that RCB may finally have what it takes to lift the trophy.

Akmal referenced the much-discussed post-match handshake moment involving Kohli and Travis Head after RCB’s game against Hyderabad, suggesting there seemed to be tension during the interaction. Meanwhile, Basit Ali criticised the Mumbai Indians for their late-season defeat, claiming it altered the playoff race and impacted the qualification hopes of several teams.