Deep Dasgupta believes the Powerplay contest between Gujarat Titans’ top order and RCB’s pace attack could decide both Qualifier 1 and the IPL 2026 title race.
As the IPL 2026 playoffs get underway, former India wicketkeeper-batter Deep Dasgupta has identified the crucial factor that could shape the Qualifier 1 clash between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Gujarat Titans.
The highly anticipated knockout encounter at Dharamsala will see two of the strongest teams of the season battling for a direct place in the IPL 2026 final. While both franchises finished with nine wins each in the league stage, Dasgupta feels the opening six overs with bat and ball may ultimately decide the fate of the contest.
Powerplay Battle Could Shape The Match
Dasgupta pointed towards the contest involving Gujarat Titans’ top-order batters and RCB’s experienced new-ball pair of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood as the biggest tactical matchup of the game.
During previous meetings between the two sides, Shubman Gill managed to counter Hazlewood effectively, while Bhuvneshwar consistently created early pressure with crucial wickets.
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“The biggest battle in Qualifier 1 will be the Powerplay contest between Gujarat Titans’ top-order batters and the new-ball pairing of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood. In the previous game, Shubman Gill was outstanding against Hazlewood, while Bhuvneshwar picked up crucial wickets and created pressure early on,” Dasgupta said on JioHotstar.
He further explained that both sides depend heavily on strong starts, making the first six overs potentially decisive.
“Those first six overs could well decide the direction of the match because both teams rely heavily on strong starts. My gut feeling is that whichever team wins this game could go on to win the tournament,” he added.
RCB And GT Enter Knockout Clash With Different Momentum
Defending champions RCB finished at the top of the IPL 2026 points table after winning nine of their 14 league matches. Their superior net run rate allowed them to edge past Gujarat Titans and secure first position.
However, the two teams arrive at the playoffs carrying contrasting momentum. Gujarat Titans head into Qualifier 1 after a dominant 89-run victory over Chennai Super Kings, a performance that significantly boosted their confidence ahead of the knockout stage.
RCB, meanwhile, suffered a disappointing 55-run defeat against Sunrisers Hyderabad in their final league match, exposing concerns around their bowling execution and middle-order stability.
Gill And Sai Continue To Drive GT’s Success
Much of Gujarat Titans’ success this season has revolved around the outstanding opening combination of Gill and Sai Sudharsan. The pair has consistently delivered strong starts, putting opposition bowling attacks under immediate pressure.
RCB will once again rely heavily on Hazlewood’s discipline and Bhuvneshwar’s swing with the new ball to neutralise Gujarat’s aggressive opening partnership early.
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With a direct place in the final at stake, the Qualifier 1 clash promises to revolve around execution in the Powerplay, exactly as Dasgupta predicted.
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