Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) punched their ticket to the IPL 2026 final with a big 92-run win over Gujarat Titans (GT) in the first qualifier in Dharamsala on Tuesday (May 25). Courtesy of Rajat Patidar's unbeaten 93 off just 33 balls, RCB put on a huge total of 254/5 on the board. The RCB's bowlers dominated the proceedings right from the powerplay and the IPL 2022 Champions were never in contention to chase down the target. They were bowled out for 162 in 19.3 overs.
GT lost the early wicket of Sai Sudharsan, who was hit wicket for 14 off 9 balls. GT captain Shubman Gill failed to play a captain's knock and departed for 2. Jos Buttler showed signs of doing the job for GT but he was dismissed for 29.
It was all over for GT once Buttler was dismissed. Jacob Duffy scalped the most wickets for RCB and dismissed 3 batters. Rasikh Dar, Krunal Pandya and Bhuvneshwar Kumar scalped 2 wickets each.
Krunal Pandya played a crucial knock for RCB. Photo: BCCI
Asked to bat first, RCB put on a huge total of 254 on the board. Venkatesh Iyer's cameo of 19 off 7 balls gave a quick start to RCB. Virat Kohli took the lead role following Iyer's dismissal and added 72 runs for the second wicket with Devdutt Padikkal. Kohli smashed 41 off just 20 balls in the partnership. He was dismissed for 43. The former RCB captain created history during his knock and became the first-ever batter to score 600 runs or more in four back-to-back seasons.
Rajatgot off to a cautious start and he was batting on 14 off 10 balls at one stage. He and Krunal Pandya targeted Kulwant Khejroliya in his second over and smashed him for 28 runs. Rajat was unstoppable following this over and he went for big shots irrespective of the bowlers.
Batting with a strike rate of 281.82, Rajat hit an unbeaten 93 off just 33 balls. He hit 9 sixes and 5 fours in his knock. Rajat missed out on a well-deserved century by just seven runs.
Pandya scored a vital 42 off 28 balls while Jitesh Sharma scored a quick 15 off just 5 balls. Barring Jason Holder and Rashid Khan, every other GT bowler went for more than 10 runs per over. It's still not over for GT as they will get one more opportunity to qualify for the final.
RCB will face the winning team of the second qualifier in the final on May 31st. The fixture will be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad from 7:30 PM IST.
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