Royal Challengers Bengaluru produced a ruthless all-round display to demolish Gujarat Titans by 92 runs in Qualifier 1 at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala and seal their place in the IPL 2026 Final.
After being asked to bat first, RCB piled up a massive 254/5 in 20 overs, riding on a breathtaking unbeaten knock from skipper Rajat Patidar. The right-hander smashed 93 runs off just 33 balls at a staggering strike rate of 281.81, hammering five fours and nine sixes to completely dismantle the GT bowling attack.
RCB started aggressively through Venkatesh Iyer, who blasted 19 off seven balls before Kagiso Rabada removed him. Virat Kohli then kept the momentum flowing with a fluent 43 off 25 deliveries, while Devdutt Padikkal added 30 from 19 balls.
The match changed completely after Kohli and Padikkal departed in quick succession at 93 and 94 respectively. Patidar took charge immediately and launched a brutal assault during the middle and death overs. He reached his fifty in only 21 balls and stitched a 95-run partnership with Krunal Pandya.
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Krunal played a crucial supporting role with 43 off 28 balls, including five boundaries and two sixes. Jitesh Sharma then provided the finishing touch with an unbeaten 15 off just five deliveries as RCB crossed the 250-run mark.
For GT, Rabada and Jason Holder picked up two wickets each, but the rest of the bowling attack endured a torrid outing. Mohammed Siraj leaked 46 runs in three overs, while Prasidh Krishna conceded 53 in four overs.
GT Suffer Early
Chasing 255, Gujarat Titans suffered an early collapse and never recovered. The turning point came in the third over when Sai Sudharsan endured a bizarre hit-wicket dismissal against Jacob Duffy after his bat slipped onto the stumps while attempting a cut shot.
RCB’s pace attack kept striking regularly as Bhuvneshwar Kumar removed Shubman Gill for two before Josh Hazlewood dismissed Jos Buttler for a rapid 29 off 11 balls. Rasikh Salam further dented GT with two wickets, reducing them to 51/5 inside six overs.
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Rahul Tewatia fought a lone battle with 68 off 43 balls, but lacked support from the other end. Duffy starred with three wickets, while Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Rasikh Salam and Krunal Pandya claimed two wickets each.
GT were eventually bundled out for 162 in 19.3 overs as RCB completed a commanding victory to march into the IPL 2026 Final and GT moves to Qualifier 2.
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