IPL 2026 qualifier 1 Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Gujarat Titans

Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru rode on a brutal assault from skipper Rajat Patidar to publish a frightening 254 for 5 in opposition to Gujarat Titans in IPL Qualifier 1 in Dharamshala on Tuesday (Could 26, 2026).

Patidar turned the sport on its head with a sensational 33-ball 93, smashing 9 sixes and 5 fours after surviving two dropped probabilities, as RCB plundered 86 runs within the final 5 overs to grab full management of the competition. Actually, they acquired 114 runs off final six overs.

The innings started at a livid tempo with Venkatesh Iyer (19) taking up Mohammed Siraj with audacious strokeplay, together with three early boundaries, earlier than Kagiso Rabada dismissed him for 19 quickly after being hit for a six.

Throughout his full of life spell, Rabada additionally examined Virat Kohli with sharp bounce and tempo in a fascinating duel, however the RCB talisman weathered the problem to attain a brisk 43. Alongside Devdutt Padikkal (30), Kohli ensured RCB maintained momentum, serving to the facet to a commanding 76 for one within the powerplay.

GT clawed their manner again by disciplined middle-overs bowling.

Rashid Khan delivered tight overs whereas Jason Holder struck twice in three deliveries to take away Kohli and Padikkal, slowing RCB’s cost considerably. Kulwant Khejroliya too saved issues tidy initially because the Titans appeared to have regained management.

Nevertheless, the sport swung dramatically within the 14th over when Patidar, then on 18 and 20, was dropped twice off Prasidh Krishna. GT’s fielding unravelled quickly after as Khejroliya leaked 28 runs in an error-prone over that includes misfields, two no-balls and a large.

Patidar capitalised mercilessly, tearing into each Khejroliya and Rashid Khan, whereas Krunal Pandya supplied strong assist in a fast 95-run partnership. Krunal made 43 earlier than Rabada broke the stand, however by then Patidar had fully shifted the momentum in RCB’s favour.

The RCB captain introduced up his fifty with a six off Rabada and continued the carnage until the tip, making certain the title holders completed with one of many highest totals in IPL playoff historical past.

Scoreboard

Royal Challengers Bengaluru innings: Venkatesh Iyer c Gill b Rabada 19 Virat Kohli b Holder 43 Devdutt Padikkal c Buttler b Holder 30 Rajat Patidar not out 93 Krunal Pandya c Sudharsan b Rabada 43 Tim David b Prasidh 4 Jitesh Sharma not out 15 Extras: 7 (b-1, lb-1, nb-2, w-3)

Complete: 254/5 in 20 overs

Fall of wickets: 1-21, 2-93, 3-94, 4-189, 5-214

Gujarat Titans bowling: Mohammed Siraj 3-0-46-0, Kagiso Rabada 4-0-54-2, Jason Holder 4-0-39-2, Rashid Khan 3-0-29-0, Prasidh Krishna 4-0-53-1, Kulwant Khejroliya 2-0-31-0.

Groups:

Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Venkatesh Iyer, Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar (c), Jitesh Sharma (wk), Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jacob Duffy, Josh Hazlewood, Rasikh Salam Dar.

Gujarat Titans: Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (c), Jos Buttler (wk), Washington Sundar, Nishant Sindhu, Jason Holder, Rashid Khan, Kulwant Khejroliya, Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna.