Royal Challengers Bengaluru the defending champions stormed into their second straight IPL final with a commanding 92-run victory over Gujarat Titans in the first qualifier at Dharamshala on Tuesday, after piling up a playoff-record 254 runs before bowling Gujarat out for 162.
Powered by explosive knocks from Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal at the top, a breathtaking 93 not out from captain Rajat Patidar and a late cameo from Krunal Pandya, RCB registered the highest total ever in an IPL playoff match.
The win sent Kohli’s side into their fifth IPL final overall, having previously reached the title clash in 2009, 2011, 2016 and 2025. Despite the defeat, Gujarat still remain alive in the tournament and will get another chance to qualify for the final. Shubman Gill’s men will face the winner of the Eliminator between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Rajasthan Royals in the second qualifier. The winner of that match will meet RCB in the final in Ahmedabad on May 31.
Chasing a daunting target, Gujarat suffered an early collapse as they lost openers Sai Sudharsan and Shubman Gill inside the first 27 runs. Jos Buttler threatened a counterattack with a rapid 29 off 11 balls before falling to Josh Hazlewood.
Following Buttler’s dismissal, Gujarat’s innings completely derailed as they lost two more wickets without adding a run. Rasikh Salam struck twice in a double-wicket maiden, removing Nishant Sindhu and Jason Holder.
Impact substitute Jacob Duffy then dismissed both Washington Sundar and Rashid Khan to tighten RCB’s grip on the match.
Only Rahul Tewatia offered resistance for Gujarat. The left-hander smashed 68 off 43 balls with eight fours and four sixes before being dismissed by Bhuvneshwar Kumar.
Earlier, after being asked to bat first, RCB lost Venkatesh Iyer for a quickfire 19 off seven balls. Kohli and Padikkal then launched a fierce counterattack, adding 72 runs off just 38 deliveries for the second wicket.
Kohli struck five fours and a six in his 43 off 25 balls before being bowled by Jason Holder. Holder struck again off the very next delivery to remove Padikkal as well.
However, Patidar took complete control after that and carried his bat through the innings. The RCB captain hammered an unbeaten 93 off just 33 balls, smashing nine sixes and five boundaries. Krunal also played a crucial hand with 43 off 28 balls as the pair stitched together a blistering 95-run partnership from only 45 deliveries.
