| Match | Venue | Date | Result |
| IPL 2026 Qualifier 1 | Dharamsala | May 26, 2026 | RCB won by 92 runs |
On Tuesday night in Qualifier 1, Royal Challengers Bengaluru created an IPL playoff history by pounding Gujarat Titans for 92 runs and securing a direct spot in the IPL final in Dharamsala. In pursuit of the top score in a knockout IPL match, Gujarat Titans succumbed inside 20 overs and had to settle for 162 off 19.3 overs. The defending champions RCB will take on the Qualifier 2 winner at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on May 31.
MATCH SITUATION & TOSS
The Gujarat Titans skipper Shubman Gill won the toss and came out first at Dharamsala and it seemed a sensible strategy on paper given the ground’s reputation for favouring bowlers early. But, RCB had nothing else planned. With Phil Salt injured, the team adjusted the order of their batting by bringing on Virat Kohli at the top of the order followed by Venkatesh Iyer while Rajat Patidar came on at number four. The gesture turned out to be a stroke of genius as RCB unleashed some out-of-the-box fireballs from the off.
RCB INNINGS: 254/5 in 20 Overs — A Historic Blitz
Virat Kohli and Venkatesh Iyer provided RCB with a brisk beginning, but the former was in charge of setting the tone early on. The former Indian skipper hit drives, pulled and flicked with ease and precision, scoring 50 runs for the first wicket before succumbing to Iyer. Devdutt Padikkal came in and played at the same tough pace to keep the momentum going, alongside Kohli in a productive second wicket stand. Kohli was 76/1 on the scoreboard at the end of the power play with Padikkal on 23. The RCB fans were understandably happy as the base for a huge number was being created, one ball at a time.
Kohli went on to depart for 43, but in the process set a personal record that every IPL player is proud of — being the first to score 600+ runs in four successive seasons in the IPL. His half-century wasn’t quite as marked as a half-century, but his innings prepared the path for the big event of the evening.
Krunal Pandya came in at No.3 after Padikkal fell and stitched a strong bridge partnership with 43 runs to sustain the momentum in the middle. RCB were 168/3 by the 15th over with Patidar 36 and Krunal 35. The partnership of these two behind the fourth wicket had amassed 50 runs in 35 balls and a historic total had been achieved.
Next came Rajat Patidar. The remainder of the five overs was a stunning display of brilliance. The RCB skipper had one of the best comebacks in IPL history, hitting 93 not out from merely 33 balls in a furious attack that broke all the records in the playoff book.
Patidar refused to be troubled by any bowler, with his side around the boundary to great ease. They ran 15 not out from 5 balls and wicketkeeper-batter Jitesh Sharma scored 15 not out from the next 5 balls with the impact on scoring the 40-run partnership. RCB scored 254/5 in 20 overs to create the highest score of any IPL playoff team. Gujarat Titans’ previous highest ballout was 233 in a single match, quite a distance away from this.
RCB 1st Innings (Batting Scorecard)
| Batter | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR | Dismissal |
| Virat Kohli | 43 | – | – | – | – | Dismissed |
| Venkatesh Iyer | – | – | – | – | – | Dismissed |
| Devdutt Padikkal | – | – | – | – | – | Dismissed |
| Krunal Pandya | 43 | – | – | – | – | Dismissed |
| Rajat Patidar (c) | 93* | 33 | – | – | – | Not Out |
| Jitesh Sharma†(IP) | 15* | 5 | – | – | – | Not Out |
| Total | 254/5 | 20 ov | RR: 12.70 |
GT 1st Innings (Bowling)
| Bowler | O | R | W | Notes |
| Jacob Duffy | 4 | 39 | 3 | Best figures for GT |
| Jason Holder | 4 | 39 | 2 | |
| Mohammed Siraj | 4 | – | 0 | Expensive |
| Kagiso Rabada | 4 | – | 0 | |
| Prasidh Krishna | 4 | – | 0 |
GT INNINGS: 162 All Out in 19.3 Overs — Collapse from Ball One
Against a mammoth 255, Gujarat Titans were forced to chase a target which no IPL team has managed to reach. RCB’s pace attack came on the scene early and often and the game was effectively down before it had even started. Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar played with red-hot intensity and made use of the conditions in Dharamsala to perfection. Gujarat Titans were already 5 wickets down by the end of the powerplay and it was a foregone conclusion.
Young and reliable captain Shubman Gill was eliminated cheaply, with RCB bowlers getting the ball moving off the track. Sai Sudharsan, a consistent run-getter in the past, failed to do the same in IPL 2026.The consistent run-getter of the past, Sai Sudharsan, couldn’t handle the downturn either and left before he got settled. Josh Buttler, who has proven himself in England, was at the heart of the chase but eventually came up short, after playing 11 balls to make a brisk 29. GT were bowled back to 65/6 at the eighth over and the run chase was a case of damage limitation.
The only saving grace in an otherwise demoralising GT innings was Rahul Tewatia’s enterprising and spirited effort when he came in as the impact player replacement. The left-hander bravely counter-attacked and pounded eight fours and four sixes in a 68-ball knock of 43. He took GT past 100 in the 12th over and momentarily offered hope of a respectable total, if not a victory. But Bhuvneshwar Kumar steadfastly remained composed in the 49th over and seized the opportunity to take Tewatia at the post in the last over for 68. It was the wicket that gave RCB the upper hand and the purple cap to Bhuvneshwar.
The last rites were hastened. However, Tim David made a fine catch to finish the GT innings, coming in from long-out to catch Mohammed Siraj who had skied a shot from Krunal Pandya’s bowling to leave the GT side bowled out for 162 in 19.3 overs. RCB had registered the second highest margin of their IPL playoff history with a win of 92 runs, after Rajasthan Royals’ 105-run win over Delhi Daredevils in 2008.
GT 2nd Innings (Batting Scorecard)
| Batter | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR | Dismissal |
| Shubman Gill (c) | – | – | – | – | – | Dismissed early |
| B Sai Sudharsan | – | – | – | – | – | Dismissed |
| Josh Buttler†| 29 | 11 | – | – | – | Dismissed |
| Rahul Tewatia (IP) | 68 | 43 | 8 | 4 | 158.13 | c Patidar b Kumar |
| Mohammed Siraj | 5 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 38.46 | c David b Pandya |
| Total | 162 all out | 19.3 ov | RR: 8.31 |
RCB 2nd Innings (Bowling Stats)
| Bowler | O | R | W | Notes |
| Bhuvneshwar Kumar | 4 | – | 1 | Tewatia’s wicket; Purple Cap |
| Josh Hazlewood | 4 | – | 2+ | Early powerplay damage |
| Rasikh Salam | 4 | – | 2+ | Powerplay wickets |
| Krunal Pandya | 2/16 | 2 | 16 | Last over; Siraj catch |
| Romario Shepherd (IP) | – | – | – | Impact sub |
KEY MOMENTS & MILESTONES
The match was typified by what was an outstanding one and a courageous one.It was a match of two outstanding and a courageous moments; first Rajat Patidar’s 93 off 33 balls, which broke all the playoff batting records and Rahul Tewatia’s fighting 68, which offered resistance in GT’s chasing charge. The match really showed the difference between a team on fire and one in the crossfire between the two. Moreover, Virat Kohli’s impactful cameo helped him get into the record books for being the first to score more than 600 runs over four consecutive IPL seasons. Meanwhile, Bhuvneshwar Kumar picked up the purple cap (leading wicket takers) with Tewatia’s wicket. One of the most one-sided Qualifier 1 meetings in recent IPL history saw the end of a home run by Tim David with a diving catch to dismiss Siraj.
ROAD TO THE FINAL
This impressive win puts Royal Challengers Bengaluru in a strong position to secure the final spot in the IPL 2026 main event at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium on May 31, where they will defend their title. Gujarat Titans are not out – they will come face to face with the Eliminator winner in Qualifier 2 between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Rajasthan Royals on Friday and have one more chance of winning the big prize. RCB, who have rested for more than a week and have built momentum after a great batting performance, will be big favourites for the final.
FAQ’S Related to Royal Challengers Bengaluru beat Gujarat Titans
1. Who won RCB vs GT Qualifier 1 IPL 2026 match?
On 26th May 2026, the clash between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Gujarat Titans was won by the former with a 92-run advantage, finishing at 254/5 in 20 overs at Dharamsala while the latter were bowled out for 162 in 19.3 overs.
Shubhman Gill holds the top score in the 2026 IPL Playoffs, smashing 104 runs off 53 balls for the Gujarat Titans against the Rajasthan Royals in Qualifier 2
RCB will defend their title at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad for the final match of the IPL 2026 which will be played on May 31, 2026.
Only Rahul Tewatia, the impact player replacement, was able to hold his own for GT, hitting eight fours and four sixes off 43 balls before getting bowled out by Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the 19th over.
5. In what stadium will the final of IPL 2026 be held?
RCB will defend their title at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad for the final match of the IPL 2026 which will be played on May 31, 2026.
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