Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) stormed into their second consecutive IPL final with a crushing 92-run victory over the Gujarat Titans (GT) in Qualifier 1 on Tuesday night. Powered by a record-breaking batting masterclass from skipper Rajat Patidar, RCB posted the highest team total in IPL playoff history, leaving the Titans completely buried under the mountain of runs.
Faced with a colossal target of 255 at the picturesque Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, Gujarat’s chase derailed almost instantly under a clinical powerplay onslaught from the RCB pace battery, folding for 162 in 19.3 overs.
The Patidar Onslaught Creates History
After being put in to bat first by GT skipper Shubman Gill, RCB started with aggressive intent. Venkatesh Iyer provided early fireworks with a rapid 19 off just 7 balls. Following his departure, Virat Kohli (43 off 25) and Devdutt Padikkal (30 off 19) punished the GT bowlers, propelling the defending champions to a commanding 76 for 1 within the powerplay restrictions.
While GT managed to stall the momentum briefly in the middle overs—courtesy of Jason Holder, who dismissed both Kohli and Padikkal in the same over—the game completely flipped on its head in the 14th over.
RCB captain Rajat Patidar, who survived two dropped catches earlier in his innings off Prasidh Krishna, made Gujarat pay heavily for their fielding lapses. Striking the ball with pure authority and flawless timing, Patidar went absolutely berserk. Alongside Krunal Pandya (43 off 28), Patidar forged a destructive 95-run partnership for the fourth wicket.
The skipper brought up a fiery half-century in just 21 balls and continued his relentless assault into the death overs, hammering Kulwant Khejroliya and Rashid Khan out of the park. Patidar blasted an incredible 9 sixes and 5 boundaries, finishing unbeaten on 93 off merely 33 deliveries at a monstrous strike rate of 281.82. A late 5-ball cameo of 15* from Jitesh Sharma helped RCB pile up a monumental 254 for 5.
Gujarat’s Chase Crumbles Amid Freak Dismissals
Needing a heroic start to scale the 255-run mountain, Gujarat Titans instead endured a nightmare start. Their in-form opener Sai Sudharsan (14) fell victim to a bizarre, freak dismissal when the bat slipped from his hands while playing a clean square drive off Jacob Duffy, crashing straight into his own stumps to be ruled hit-wicket.
The emotional setback was quickly followed by a tactical collapse. Veteran swing specialist Bhuvneshwar Kumar cleaned up GT captain Shubman Gill for just 2, before Josh Hazlewood breached the defense of a dangerous-looking Jos Buttler (29 off 11). Rasikh Salam then dealt a double-blow by removing Nishant Sindhu and Jason Holder in the very same over, leaving Gujarat reeling at a catastrophic 51 for 5 within the powerplay.
Rahul Tewatia waged a brilliant, solitary warfare amidst the ruins, hitting a fighting 68 off 43 balls (8 fours, 4 sixes).However, with the required run-rate soaring out of reach and wickets tumbling continuously at the other end, the pressure proved too overwhelming. Jacob Duffy wrapped up the tail to finish with figures of 3 for 39, while Bhuvneshwar Kumar (2/28), Rasikh Salam (2/24), and Krunal Pandya (2/16) completed the rout to bowl GT out for 162.
Match Summary
Royal Challengers Bengaluru: 254/5 in 20 overs (Rajat Patidar 93*, Virat Kohli 43, Krunal Pandya 43; Jason Holder 2/39, Kagiso Rabada 2/54)
Gujarat Titans: 162/10 in 19.3 overs (Rahul Tewatia 68, Jos Buttler 29; Jacob Duffy 3/39, Rasikh Salam 2/24, Bhuvneshwar Kumar 2/28)
Result: Royal Challengers Bengaluru won by 92 runs and advanced to the Final.
With this emphatic win, RCB has secured its ticket directly to the grand finale as they look to defend their crown. Meanwhile, the Gujarat Titans will get one more shot at redemption when they head to Qualifier 2 to play the winner of the Eliminator clash between Rajasthan Royals and Sunrisers Hyderabad.