Dharamshala: Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) stormed into their second consecutive IPL final with a ruthless and record-breaking performance, crushing Gujarat Titans (GT) by 92 runs. RCB posted the highest team total in IPL playoffs history, smashing 254/5, powered by an unbeaten and explosive 93 from skipper Rajat Patidar. GT’s top order was completely dismantled by the fiery RCB pace attack as they were bowled out for just 162 in the Qualifier 1 clash of the Indian Premier League 2026 on Tuesday, 26 May, in Dharamshala.
The match began with GT winning the toss and electing to bowl first. Batting first, RCB’s Venkatesh Iyer provided a rapid start, smashing three boundaries in the very first over and scoring 19 off just 7 deliveries before being dismissed by Kagiso Rabada in the second over. With that wicket, Rabada reached a major milestone, becoming the bowler with the most wickets in the Powerplay in a single IPL season. The South African speedster moved past Mohammed Shami, who had taken 17 wickets in the Powerplay during the 2023 IPL season. Following the early setback, Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal launched a brilliant counterattack, helping RCB post a strong 76/1 in the Powerplay. However, the momentum briefly shifted towards GT when Jason Holder came into the attack during the middle overs and dismissed both batters. Kohli scored 43 off 25 balls and, with that innings, achieved another historic milestone. Kohli came into the match with 557 runs this season and needed 43 more to become the first player in IPL history to score 600 or more runs in four consecutive seasons. In 15 innings this season, Virat has scored 600 runs at an average of 50.00. In the same over, Holder also dismissed Padikkal after his quickfire 30 off 19 balls.
With GT tightening the bowling and RCB at 104/3, captain Rajat Patidar and Krunal Pandya took charge of the innings. The duo stitched together a massive and destructive 95-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Krunal played a brilliant supporting role, scoring 43 off 28 balls with 5 fours and 2 sixes, but Patidar looked in incredible form throughout the innings. The RCB skipper produced an absolute display of fearless hitting with flawless timing, bringing up his half-century in just 21 balls. Dismantling the GT bowlers in the death overs, Patidar scored an electrifying unbeaten 93 off just 33 balls, smashing 5 fours and 9 sixes at a stunning strike rate of 281.82. He was dropped twice by the GT fielders, costly mistakes that handed him crucial lifelines and eventually proved highly expensive for Gujarat Titans. A late cameo from Jitesh Sharma after the dismissal of Krunal Pandya added a quickfire 15 off just 5 balls.
With that, Royal Challengers Bengaluru posted a mammoth 254/5 in 20 overs. RCB hammered an astonishing 114 runs in the final six overs, completely dominating the GT bowlers. GT’s sloppy fielding and expensive bowling, especially from Kulwant Khejroliya, proved costly, as he leaked 28 runs in a single over, including two no-balls, and struggled badly to restrict the massive score.
Chasing a gigantic target of 255, GT needed an explosive start, but quick wickets kept derailing their innings. RCB’s pace attack, led by Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jacob Duffy, completely dismantled the top order. Sai Sudharsan was dismissed in an unlucky manner when his bat slipped from his hand while facing Duffy and crashed into the stumps after scoring 14 off 9 balls. Shubman Gill fell soon after, bowled by Bhuvneshwar Kumar for just 2 runs. Jos Buttler tried to revive the innings after the early setbacks with a quick 29 off 11 balls, but he was dismissed by Josh Hazlewood. Rasikh Salam then removed Nitish Kumar and Jason Holder in the same over as GT suffered a terrible collapse, losing 5 wickets inside the Powerplay and struggling at 65/6. Rahul Tewatia fought alone with a brilliant knock of 68 off 43 balls. However, the required run rate kept climbing and became an impossible task. Krunal Pandya, with figures of 2/16, removed the lower order, and GT were eventually bowled out for 162 in 19.3 overs.
With his magnificent innings, Rajat Patidar was named the deserved Player of the Match. The 92-run victory also stood out historically, ranking among the biggest wins in IPL playoff history in terms of margin of runs. With this victory, RCB entered their fifth IPL final after 2009, 2011, 2016, and 2025, while GT will now have another opportunity in Qualifier 2.
