Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) delivered a ruthless, record-breaking performance to crush the Gujarat Titans (GT) by 92 runs in Qualifier 1 of the TATA IPL 2026. On a spectacular night in Dharamshala, RCB posted the highest team total in IPL playoff history (254 for 5), driven by an explosive, unbeaten 93 from captain Rajat Patidar. In response, a catastrophic top-order collapse saw the Titans bundled out for 162. The colossal victory rockets RCB directly into their second consecutive IPL final, keeping their title defence firmly on track.

Gujarat Titans captain Shubman Gill won the toss and elected to bowl first, hoping to exploit any early moisture on the Dharamshala surface. However, RCB’s aggressive intent was immediately apparent. Venkatesh Iyer provided a rapid start, smashing 19 off just 7 deliveries before Kagiso Rabada (2 for 54) removed him in the second over.

SIX, annnd OUT! ☝️

🎥 Kagiso Rabada cranks up the pace to dismiss Venkatesh Iyer 🔥👏

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Following the early breakthrough, Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal launched a brilliant counter-attack. The duo maintained a blistering tempo, steering RCB to a commanding 76 for 1 by the end of the Powerplay.

The momentum briefly shifted in the middle overs when Jason Holder (2 for 39) delivered a double-strike, dismissing both Kohli (43 off 25 balls, 5 fours, 1 six) and Padikkal (30 off 19 balls) in quick succession to bring the Titans back into the contest.

With the score at 104 for 3, captain Rajat Patidar and Krunal Pandya completely seized control, forging a destructive 95-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Krunal played a brilliant supporting hand, scoring 43 off 28 deliveries (5 fours, 2 sixes). However, it was Patidar who stole the show. The RCB skipper went absolutely berserk, displaying sheer power and flawless timing to race to his half-century in just 21 balls.

Breathtaking Batting 🤯

🎥 Rajat Patidar leaving the best in the business awestruck 😳❤️

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Patidar battered the Gujarat pace attack into submission, launching an incredible 9 sixes and 5 boundaries to finish unbeaten on 93 off merely 33 deliveries at a monstrous strike rate of 281.82. A late cameo from Jitesh Sharma (15* off 5) propelled the Royal Challengers to a gargantuan 254 for 5 in their 20 overs.

Faced with a mountainous target of 255, the Gujarat Titans’ chase derailed almost instantly. The RCB pace battery, led by Jacob Duffy and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, ripped through the GT top order.

The nightmare began when the in-form Sai Sudharsan (14 off 9) was unluckily dismissed hit-wicket against Duffy. Shubman Gill’s crucial wicket followed soon after, cleaned up by veteran Bhuvneshwar Kumar for just 2. While Jos Buttler attempted to inject some life into the chase with a fiery 29 off 11 balls (4 fours, 2 sixes), his dismissal by Josh Hazlewood triggered a catastrophic collapse.

HOW UNFORTUNATE! 🤯

Probably the only way to end Sai Sudharsan's streak of five 50-plus scores 🫣

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The Titans lost five wickets in a disastrous Powerplay and eventually slumped to 65 for 6, as Washington Sundar (8), Nishant Sindhu (5), and Jason Holder (0) all fell cheaply. Rasikh Salam (2 for 24) and Duffy (3 for 39) bowled with lethal precision, giving the opposition no room to breathe.

Striking the best, in exactly the best way possible! 🎯

Bhuvneshwar Kumar 🤝 Josh Hazlewood ❤️

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Rahul Tewatia was the lone warrior for Gujarat, waging a solitary battle amidst the ruins. He showcased his fighting spirit with a brilliant 68 off 43 deliveries (8 fours, 4 sixes). However, with the required run rate climbing to impossible heights, the pressure proved too much. Krunal Pandya (2 for 16) cleaned up the lower order, and GT was eventually bundled out for 162 in 19.3 overs.