Gujarat Titans delivered a stunning performance to clinch their place in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 final, defeating Rajasthan Royals by seven wickets at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur, New Chandigarh. The match, played on May 29, marked a significant milestone for the team as they advanced to the title showdown.
RR opted to bat first after winning the toss and set a formidable target of 214/6 in their 20 overs. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was the standout performer, delivering an explosive innings that included eight fours and seven sixes. His 96 off 47 balls came at a strike rate of 204.26, making it one of the most impressive performances of the tournament. Ravindra Jadeja and Donovan Ferreira also contributed crucial runs towards the end of the innings.
For Gujarat Titans, Kagiso Rabada took two wickets for 35 runs, while Jason Holder ended with figures of 2 for 27. Despite the strong batting display from RR, GT’s bowlers managed to restrict the opposition to a challenging total.
In response, Gujarat Titans showcased their batting prowess, chasing down the target in just 18.4 overs. Openers Sai Sudharsan and Shubman Gill laid the foundation for a thrilling partnership. Sudharsan scored a stylish 58 off 32 balls, featuring eight fours and a six, with a strike rate of 181.25. His performance set the tone for the rest of the innings.
Captain Shubman Gill was in sensational form, leading the charge with a brilliant 104 off 53 balls. His innings included 15 fours and three sixes, achieving a strike rate of 196.23. This match-winning century ensured that GT comfortably completed the chase and moved on to the final.
With this victory, Gujarat Titans are now set to face Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL 2026 final on May 31 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
Key Records and Milestones
Shubman Gill achieved several milestones during the match:
- He registered his second IPL century as captain, which is the third-most by any skipper in tournament history.
- Gill became the first batter to score multiple centuries in IPL playoffs history.
- He recorded the fastest century by a Gujarat Titans batter in the IPL.
- Gill now has five IPL hundreds, joint fourth-most in tournament history.
Sai Sudharsan also made a significant impact:
- He registered his third hit-wicket dismissal in Men’s T20s, all coming in the IPL, the joint-highest by any batter.
- His 167-run stand with Shubman Gill against RR in Mullanpur is now the highest partnership for any wicket in IPL playoffs history.
- Sudharsan has nine 50-plus scores in IPL 2026, joint second-most in a single IPL edition.
- He became one of the few batters to score 700-plus runs in two different IPL seasons (2025 and 2026).
Gill and Sudharsan have also made a mark in T20 cricket:
- They have 11 century partnerships in Men’s T20 cricket, the highest by any pair.
- Their eight century opening stands in Men’s T20s equal the record for most century opening stands.
Other notable achievements include:
- Gujarat Titans scored 19 runs in the first over of the innings against Jofra Archer, the third-most runs scored in the opening over of an IPL playoff match.
- Vaibhav Sooryavanshi smashed 19 sixes in IPL playoffs 2026, the most by any batter in a single playoff edition.
