Gujarat Titans Reach IPL 2026 Final with Dominant Win
Gujarat Titans (GT) have made a strong statement in the Indian Premier League 2026, securing their spot in the final with a commanding seven-wicket victory over Rajasthan Royals (RR) in Qualifier 2. The match took place on Friday, May 29 at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur, New Chandigarh.
After choosing to bat first, Rajasthan Royals posted a formidable total of 214/6 in their 20 overs. The standout performer for RR was the young batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who delivered an extraordinary innings of 96 runs off just 47 balls. His performance was nothing short of spectacular, showcasing his ability to dominate the opposition with precision and power.
In addition to Sooryavanshi, Ravindra Jadeja contributed a solid 45 not out off 35 balls, while Donovan Ferreira added 38 not out off 11 deliveries. Their efforts helped RR set a challenging target for GT.
On the other hand, Gujarat Titans’ bowling attack proved to be effective. Jason Holder and Kagiso Rabada were the key wicket-takers, each taking two wickets for 35 runs. Their disciplined performances kept RR’s scoring in check and laid the foundation for GT’s successful chase.
A Stellar Chase by Gujarat Titans
In response, Gujarat Titans chased down the target of 215 runs in just 18.4 overs, with captain Shubman Gill leading the charge. Gill played a breathtaking innings of 104 runs off 53 balls, which included 15 boundaries and 3 sixes. His strike rate of 196.23 was a testament to his aggressive yet calculated approach.
Sai Sudharsan also played a crucial role, scoring a brilliant 58 off 32 balls. Together, they ensured that GT achieved their highest successful run chase in IPL history. This victory marks GT’s third appearance in the IPL final, where they will face Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in Ahmedabad.
Key Performers of the Match
Top Run-scorer of the Match
| Player | Team | Runs | Balls | Fours | Sixes | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shubman Gill | Gujarat Titans | 104 | 53 | 15 | 3 | 196.23 |
Top Wicket-taker of the Match
| Player | Team | Overs | Maiden | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jason Holder | Gujarat Titans | 4 | 0 | 27 | 2 | 6.80 |
Captains’ Reactions
Shubman Gill, the winning captain of Gujarat Titans, did not make any public comments following the match. However, Riyan Parag, the losing captain of Rajasthan Royals, shared his thoughts on the game.
Parag said, “It was a par score; it was defendable. I felt after the heavy roller, it got better in the second innings. In the first innings, the bowlers got some grip, and the slower ones did well. I thought 230 would have been a par score. A score around 240 would have been challenging, but we needed the openers early. It didn’t happen, which became tough for us.”
On the season, Parag reflected, “To sum it up in one sentence, there were many positives. We weren’t supposed to qualify, given that many players were young and inexperienced, but many youngsters performed well and can only improve from here.”
He also praised Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, saying, “I can’t put it into words, there’s one way where you slog and score many runs. But he doesn’t slog, you could see his innings today – he calculates and plays his shots. I can’t say how, but hopefully he will go on to do well in his career, do well for the Rajasthan Royals and win us a second title.”
