Royal Challengers Bengaluru Crush Gujarat Titans by 92 Runs to Reach IPL 2026 Final

Royal Challengers Bengaluru truly lived up to their “Play Bold” slogan in Qualifier 1 as they crushed Gujarat Titans by 92 runs to reach the IPL 2026 final. Their attacking intent was clear from the very beginning when Venkatesh Iyer smashed the first two balls of the match for boundaries.

Virat Kohli, who unleashed some delightfully sizzling strokes on his way to a 25-ball-43, and Devdutt Padikkal, who scored an enthralling 19-ball-30, exhibited the same intensity too. However, post a good start, both were knocked over by Jason Holder within the same over, putting the defending champions on the backfoot. 

Then, walked in the show-stopper, captain Rajat Patidar. The opposition was buzzing and they even tested him and Krunal Pandya with some probing deliveries up front. However, RCB chose to play bold. Soon the counter-attack began, with the captain leading the charge. Krunal chipped in with a 28-ball-43 and the duo went on to build a 47-ball-95 run stand to put the defending champions in the driver's seat.

RCB Crush GT by 92 Runs to Storm Into IPL 2026 Final

For GT and their fans, this game felt like a nightmare post that. RCB were 140/3 in 14 overs, not ideal from the opposition's perspective, but on a ground where the average 1st innings score this season had been 211 before tonight, it was not daunting either. Then the next over, bowled by Kulwant Khejroliya, went for 28 runs. It was followed by a 21-run over from Rashid Khan. And RCB went on to have a big finish. 114/2 in the last 6 overs, their captain finished with 93* (33) to his name.

The chase of 255 was always going to be a stiff one. But Sai Sudharsan seemed up for it. He hit a couple of delightful boundaries before dropping his bat behind him and getting himself out hit-wicket. That was followed by Bhuvneshwar Kumar getting Shubman Gill out bowled. Jos Buttler's 11-ball-29 had the life of a firecracker, it was entertaining but short-lived.

Then, Rasikh Salam bowled a double wicket maiden where he sent Jason Holder and Nishant Sindhu packing. GT were left reeling at 51/5 at the end of the powerplay, which would become 88/8 in the 12th over. Post it, Rahul Tewatia did play an handy knock of 68 (43) to bring himself back into form, but he was always fighting a lost cause. Jacob Duffy finished with 3/39 off his 4 overs, while each of Bhuvneshwar, Rasikh and Krunal got two wickets each.