Royal Challengers Bengaluru are back in the IPL final. Again. And this time, they did not sneak in through the back door — they knocked it down entirely.
On May 26, 2026, RCB beat Gujarat Titans by 92 runs in Qualifier 1 at the scenic HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala. They booked their spot in the IPL 2026 final at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, on May 31. It is their second consecutive final appearance — something RCB fans have never seen before in the franchise’s history.
Let’s break down everything that happened, from the first ball to the last wicket.
The Toss and What It Cost GT
Shubman Gill won the toss and asked RCB to bat first. His logic? Dew in the second innings would help his side chase. Fair enough — it’s a common strategy in Dharamsala night games.
It didn’t work out quite as planned. Visit : Khelobet24
RCB’s batting lineup hit the ground running, and by the time GT realised the pitch wasn’t playing tricks, the total on the board was already out of reach.
RCB’s Innings: A Masterclass in Controlled Aggression
RCB were without Phil Salt, who was injured heading into the playoffs. That would have worried most teams. For RCB, it barely registered.
Venkatesh Iyer came out swinging — 19 off just 7 balls before Kagiso Rabada removed him early. In the process, Rabada set a record, surpassing Mohammed Shami to become the highest wicket-taker in the powerplay overs of a single IPL edition.
Then Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal stitched together a quick 72-run partnership. Kohli made 43 off 25 before falling, and Padikkal added 30 off 19. Useful starts — but not match-winners.
That job was left to two men.
Turning Point 1: The Patidar-Krunal Partnership
When Kohli and Padikkal fell in quick succession in the ninth over — both dismissed by Jason Holder — GT briefly smelled blood. At that point, RCB needed someone to take responsibility.
Krunal Pandya and Rajat Patidar answered the call.
The two put on 95 runs off just 45 balls. Krunal smashed 43 off 28 before departing, but Patidar was only warming up. He did not slow down when Krunal left. If anything, he got worse — for the GT bowlers.
Turning Point 2: Rajat Patidar’s Historic Blitz
This is where the match stopped being a contest.
Rajat Patidar scored an unbeaten 93 off just 33 balls, hitting nine sixes along the way. His strike rate of 281.81 is the highest for any innings of 90 or more in IPL history, going past Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s 103 off 37 balls.
Let that sink in. The fastest 90+ in the history of the Indian Premier League. In a Qualifier 1. Against the tournament’s best bowling attack.
As the match report from ESPNCricinfo put it, while Patidar scored 93 off 33 balls at one end, the rest of the batting — including extras — contributed 68 off 37 deliveries at the other end. He was essentially playing a different game.
RCB finished at 254 for 5 — the highest total ever in an IPL playoff match.
GT’s Chase: Over Before It Began
RCB’s bowlers made sure the game did not drag into a false contest.
Rasikh Salam Dar bowled a double-wicket maiden inside the powerplay to remove Nishant Sindhu and Jason Holder. GT were five wickets down before the powerplay ended. Even the most optimistic GT fan in the stadium must have checked the ticket for the exit gate around that point.
Shubman Gill himself acknowledged post-match that “fielding was not up to the mark” and that they wanted to “get a good start in the powerplay” — which simply did not happen.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar also played his part, reclaiming the Purple Cap with another economical bowling effort. His consistency through the 2026 season has been one of RCB’s biggest weapons.
Rahul Tewatia offered some late resistance with 68 off 43 balls, but it was damage control at best. GT were all out for 162, losing by 92 runs.
The match ended with Tim David taking a diving catch at long-off to dismiss Mohammed Siraj, sealing RCB’s place in the final under the Dharamsala sky — and the fireworks lit up the mountains above.
Turning Point 3: The Jason Holder Over That Wasn’t
Here is the one moment where GT fans could have dared to hope.
In a 22-ball period around the 8th-9th over of RCB’s innings, GT picked up two wickets of set batters — Kohli and Padikkal — and conceded just 18 runs. It was a controlled, disciplined passage of play. The kind that can flip a match.
But Patidar was already in. And Patidar does not do “flipped matches” — he just flips the scoreboard.
RCB’s Road to the Final: A Quick Look Back
This run to the final did not happen in one night. RCB finished the league stage at the top of the points table with 18 points. They were consistent across the season, with multiple match-winners stepping up at different stages.
Some highlights from the league phase:
- Virat Kohli smashed an unbeaten 105 off 60 balls (strike rate: 175) against KKR on May 13, his ninth IPL century, to anchor a crucial win
- Bhuvneshwar Kumar picked up four wickets against Mumbai Indians, including Rohit Sharma, Ryan Rickelton, and Suryakumar Yadav
- Krunal Pandya scored 73 off 46 balls against MI battling cramps and fatigue, in a match RCB won on the last ball
What the Final Means for RCB
The IPL 2026 final on May 31 at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, is not just another game for RCB. It is the chance to defend their title — something no RCB team has ever done. The defending champions enter the final as strong favourites, with form, depth, and momentum all pointing their way.
Rajat Patidar, the captain and the tournament’s most explosive batter, put it well after the Qualifier 1 win:
“Super game for us. The way the batters dominated, striking with intent — every batter showed it. Attacking mindset.”
That attacking mindset, applied all season, is why RCB are here again.
Final Verdict
The RCB vs GT Qualifier 1 was not a thriller. It was a statement. RCB showed that when Patidar is in that mood, and the bowlers hold their nerve, there is no team in this IPL that can live with them.
For GT, the season continues — they face the winner of the SRH vs RR Eliminator in Qualifier 2 on May 29 in New Chandigarh for a second shot at the final.
For RCB? The goal is simple: win on May 31 and make history.
