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In a high-stakes Qualifier 2 match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, Gujarat Titans (GT) defeated Rajasthan Royals (RR) by seven wickets at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur, New Chandigarh.
After a confusing toss where GT were put into field first, their bowling unit had a great start in the powerplay, taking wickets of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Dhruv Jurel in the first two overs itself. However, the Mullanpur cyclone continued, the relentless cyclone known as Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. Despite the high scoring, Kagiso Rabada and Jason Holder showed great tenacity, taking two wickets each to spark infrequent breakthroughs and keep RR under 230. Mohammed Siraj was put under pressure early on, but he stayed true to his duty, ensuring that, despite a costly final over from the unit, the target remained within reach of their fire-bating lineup.
Chasing 215 in a knockout match requires ice-cold accuracy, and GT’s top order delivered precisely that. Captain Shubman Gill (104) led the way with a match-winning century off just 53 balls. His knock included 15 fours and three sixes. Alongside him, Sai Sudharsan (58) was the ideal foil, anchoring and attacking with equal zeal to score a magnificent fifty off 32 balls. They pieced together a remarkable 167-run opening combination that fundamentally shattered the chase, allowing Washington Sundar and Rahul Tewatia to easily smash the final few boundaries and seal the game.
Sooryavanshi (96) highlighted the RR’s batting performance with a brave innings. Today, the teenage wonderboy showed a different side as he played a mature innings and was unlucky not to score more. He tore through GT’s highly regarded bowling lineup, becoming the IPL’s fastest player to reach 1,000 runs (by balls faced) and the first to reach 500 runs in the powerplay in a single season. He was strongly backed by Ravindra Jadeja (45*), who returned after being retired hurt and finished undefeated. While the top and middle orders, notably Jaiswal and Riyan Parag, struggled to create individual scores around him, Donovan Ferreira supplied a critical late flourish, plundering a quick 38* off 11 balls (including 27 runs off the final over) to propel RR to an impressive 214/6.
RR relied on their spearheads to replicate their Eliminator heroics while defending 214, but they were completely deflated in the powerplay. Jofra Archer, their customary main weapon with the new ball, leaked 19 runs in the first over. Nandre Burger and Tushar Deshpande were both equally expensive.
Chasing a big goal of 215, GT secured their spot in the IPL 2026 final against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), transforming what appeared to be a daunting score into a clinical masterpiece.
Scorecard:
Rajasthan Royals: 214/6, Overs 20, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi 96, Jason Holder 2/27
Gujarat Titans: 219/3, Overs 18.4, Shubman Gill 104, Nandre Burger 1/35
The post IPL 2026 Qualifier 2 GT vs RR: Gill’s century blows Royals away as Titans march into grand final appeared first on SportsMint Media.