Shubman Gill's unbeaten brilliance powers Gujarat Titans past Rajasthan Royals, while Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's valiant 96 goes in vain as GT set up an IPL 2026 final clash against RCB.

Gill Delivers Under Pressure

Gujarat Titans booked their place in the IPL 2026 final with a commanding seven-wicket victory over Rajasthan Royals in Qualifier 2 at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh PCA Stadium in Mullanpur on Friday night.

Chasing a challenging target of 215, GT produced one of the most dominant batting displays of the season, led by captain Shubman Gill's sparkling 104. The win sends the 2022 champions into their third IPL final, where they will face defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru on May 31.

While Rajasthan Royals posted a formidable 214/6 after being put under pressure early, Gujarat chased down the total with eight balls to spare, recording the highest successful chase in IPL playoff history.

Sooryavanshi Anchors Recovery

Rajasthan's innings revolved around teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who once again showcased remarkable maturity and strokeplay on the big stage.

The Royals suffered a disastrous start after losing Yashasvi Jaiswal for 1 and Dhruv Jurel for 7 inside the opening two overs. At 13/2, the pressure was firmly on the batting side.

Sooryavanshi responded with a composed yet aggressive knock, building crucial partnerships and keeping the scoreboard moving. Ravindra Jadeja provided support before briefly leaving the field after suffering an elbow injury.

Despite wickets falling regularly at the other end, the 15-year-old continued to counterattack and looked set for a century. However, he fell heartbreakingly short on 96, caught at third man off Kagiso Rabada in the 19th over.

His innings ensured Rajasthan remained competitive, but the late acceleration came from Donovan Ferreira, who hammered 38 off just 11 deliveries. Ferreira's assault included four sixes off Rashid Khan in the final over, lifting RR beyond the 200-run mark.

GT Bowlers Contain Damage

Although Rajasthan crossed 214, Gujarat's bowlers did enough to prevent an even bigger total.

Jason Holder and Kagiso Rabada claimed two wickets each, while Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna chipped in with one wicket apiece. Rashid Khan endured a rare off day, conceding 45 runs in just two overs as Ferreira targeted him late in the innings.

Still, GT appeared confident at the innings break on a batting-friendly surface that had produced high scores throughout the playoffs.

Opening Pair Takes Control

Any hopes Rajasthan had of defending the total quickly faded as Gill and Sai Sudharsan launched a clinical chase.

The pair raced to 69 without loss in the powerplay and never allowed the required rate to become a concern. Their understanding at the crease was evident as they rotated strike efficiently while punishing loose deliveries.

A massive 167-run opening partnership effectively sealed the contest. Sudharsan contributed a fluent half-century before suffering an unusual hit-wicket dismissal for the second successive match.

By then, however, the result was largely beyond doubt.

Century Lights Up Mullanpur

Gill continued to dominate after Sudharsan's departure, reaching his century in just 47 balls. The GT skipper mixed elegant strokeplay with calculated aggression and rarely looked troubled by the Rajasthan attack.

His innings came at an ideal time after Gujarat's heavy defeat against RCB in Qualifier 1 and reinforced his status as one of the tournament's standout performers.

Gill was eventually trapped lbw by Jofra Archer after reaching three figures, but the job had already been done. Washington Sundar and the middle order completed the chase comfortably in 18.4 overs.

Royals Exit with Positives

For Rajasthan Royals, the defeat brought an end to a campaign that exceeded expectations in several respects.

Captain Riyan Parag acknowledged that his side had relied heavily on young players throughout the season and highlighted Sooryavanshi's remarkable rise as one of the biggest positives.

The teenager finished the tournament as one of IPL 2026's leading run-scorers and further strengthened his reputation as one of Indian cricket's brightest prospects.

Final Set for Blockbuster Clash

The result sets up a highly anticipated IPL 2026 final between Gujarat Titans and Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

With Virat Kohli's RCB aiming to defend their title and Gill leading a resurgent Gujarat side, the summit clash promises one of the most compelling contests of the season. After Friday's emphatic performance, GT will enter the final carrying considerable momentum and belief.