Gujarat Titans Storm Into IPL 2026 Final With Seven-Wicket Rout of RR

Gujarat Titans are into the IPL 2026 final. On a charged Thursday evening at the PCA Stadium in New Chandigarh, Shubman Gill produced one of the tournament's defining knocks — a 47-ball century — to guide his side to a seven-wicket win over the Rajasthan Royals in Qualifier 2. The target of 215 was chased down with something to spare. Gujarat will now face defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the summit clash.

A Chase for the History Books

It wasn't just the win — it was the manner of it. Gujarat's chase of 215 is now the biggest successful run chase in IPL playoff history, surpassing the 204 that Gujarat themselves had chased against Mumbai Indians in last year's Qualifier 2. Gill and Sai Sudharsan put on 167 runs together, their 11th century partnership in IPL cricket — a world record for any wicket in men's T20 cricket. They overtook the iconic Chris Gayle–Virat Kohli combination, which had managed 10 such stands.

Both batters also crossed 700 runs for the season during the chase, becoming only the third and fourth players ever to achieve that milestone in two separate IPL seasons. Gayle and Kohli hold the distinction before them.

Gill's Night, Gill's Stage

Gill was unstoppable. He reached his hundred in 47 deliveries and marked the moment with his signature bow celebration. Up in the stands, his father Lakhwinder Singh could barely contain himself — cameras caught him celebrating excitedly as his son reached three figures. It was Gill's second IPL century as captain, placing him third on the list of most tons scored by a captain in the competition's history, behind Virat Kohli's five.

The only blemish on GT's chase was a bizarre dismissal — Sai Sudharsan was out hit-wicket for the second match running. In the 13th over, a cut shot off Brijesh Sharma sent the bat flying onto the stumps. Gill watched on in visible disbelief. Sudharsan has now been dismissed hit-wicket three times in IPL cricket, equalling Andre Russell and Pakistan's Shoaib Malik for the most such dismissals in men's T20s.

Sooryavanshi's Bittersweet Evening

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was, in many ways, the story of the Rajasthan innings — and then of the aftermath. The 15-year-old had been in stunning touch, reaching 96 runs before holing out to third man off a delivery from Kagiso Rabada, missing what would have been a remarkable hundred. Earlier in the over, he had deposited a 153 km/h Rabada delivery clean over the bowler's head for six.

After the match, Sooryavanshi was seen in the dugout, visibly distraught — cap pulled over his face, trying to shield himself from the cameras as he wept. It was a raw, human moment that cut through the evening's cricketing spectacle.

Before that, he had also been at the centre of a charged exchange in the dugout. Captain Riyan Parag was seen in what appeared to be an animated discussion with the teenager after his dismissal, finger pointed, clearly expressing frustration. Sooryavanshi's expression said enough.

Toss Confusion and Rashid's Rough Night

The match had its share of oddities. The toss had to be held twice after the match referee failed to hear Parag's call clearly. The redo went Rajasthan's way, and they chose to bat. Gill, who had apparently won the first flip, was visibly irritated.

Rashid Khan had a night to forget. Donovan Ferreira punished him for four sixes in the final over as Rajasthan reached 214/6 — a total that, ultimately, Gujarat still managed to overhaul.

A Record That Belongs to a 15-Year-Old

For all the heartbreak, Sooryavanshi's IPL 2026 season ends on a statistical high that will likely be referenced for years. He became the fastest player to 1,000 IPL runs in terms of balls faced, reaching the milestone in just 440 deliveries — comfortably breaking Andre Russell's previous record of 545 balls.

Gujarat now head into the final against RCB, a rematch of sorts in terms of prestige. The date and venue are yet to be officially confirmed, but for Shubman Gill and his side, Thursday night belonged entirely to them.

'We'll Play at Chinnaswamy on May 31 and Lift the Cup': Shashank Singh Backs Punjab Kings for IPL 2026 Title

Punjab Kings finisher Shashank Singh has expressed unwavering confidence ahead of IPL 2026, declaring his side will go one step further after last season's heartbreak and claim their maiden IPL trophy.

Shashank Sets the Stage

Punjab Kings middle-order batter Shashank Singh has come out swinging ahead of the IPL 2026 season, making a bold prediction that his side will win the tournament and lift the coveted trophy at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on May 31.

Speaking at the JioStar Press Room ahead of the season opener, the 34-year-old finisher left little room for doubt. "I know that on May 31st, we will be playing at the Chinnaswamy and lifting the cup. It's not just a feeling, I know this. This will happen," he said.

Heartbreak Fuels Hunger

Punjab Kings had ended a decade-long wait to reach the final last year, only to lose by six runs to Royal Challengers Bengaluru in a closely fought title clash. That narrow defeat, rather than deflating the squad, appears to have sharpened their resolve heading into the new campaign.

The Shreyas Iyer-led side had a stellar IPL 2025 campaign, topping the league stage with nine wins from 14 matches before progressing through the playoffs to book a place in the final. The franchise now returns with its core largely intact and a point to prove.

Team Belief, Not Just Talk

Shashank was emphatic that the confidence is not one-sided — it runs through the entire dressing room. "It's the self-belief and team belief. Everyone is on the same page. There is confidence in everyone," he said.

Under the leadership of Shreyas Iyer and head coach Ricky Ponting, the franchise has retained 21 players from the previous season, bringing stability and a strong understanding among the players. That continuity, Shashank believes, gives PBKS an edge over rivals this time around.

Match-by-Match Approach

Despite his bold title prediction, Shashank was careful to stress that complacency will have no place in their campaign. "We will take it match by match because the ultimate aim is to get a trophy. If we keep thinking we reached the final last year, there will be a lot of pressure on us. So our immediate aim is to prepare for our first game against GT, then against CSK and KKR," he added.

The approach reflects a maturity that PBKS fans will hope translates into results on the field.

Finisher's Role Crystal Clear

On a personal level, Shashank enters IPL 2026 having recovered from a difficult year off the field. A spate of injuries, including a shoulder issue and finger fracture, kept him away from competitive cricket for a large part of the domestic season.

He has, however, made peace with his identity in the side. "It's important to love the role. Earlier, I also used to think I was a top-order batter and I had been thrown down the order. But then I fell in love with the role. The most important thing to prosper in this role is to get the backing of the team management and dressing room because you need freedom to play high-risk cricket," he said.

Team Over Personal Glory

Shashank was candid about where his priorities lie this season. "My biggest goal is to make an impact for the team. Individual goals will be secondary because I want the team to win and I want a photo with the cup," he said.

For Shashank, IPL 2026 is also about reclaiming lost ground after injuries disrupted his preparations, with the mental aspect of the game taking precedence over technical drills ahead of the season.

Young Guns and the Road Ahead

Shashank also addressed the burden of expectation that falls on PBKS youngsters Priyansh Arya and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who shone brightly in 2025. "It won't be difficult but teams will be better prepared and there will be pressure of performance this year. We all know what IPL is. There will be expectation from them," he said.

He drew on his own experience of backing up a breakthrough season. "Like last year for me, I didn't want to be a one-year wonder. Those who do well in one season, their second season becomes really important because every team is planning for us," he noted.

Punjab Kings open their IPL 2026 campaign against Gujarat Titans on March 31 in New Chandigarh, with the final scheduled for May 31 — the very date Shashank Singh has circled as his moment of destiny.