IPL 2026: RCB vs GT, Qualifier 1 highlights | CricTracker

The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) reached the Indian Premier League (IPL) final for the second season in a row. They defeated the Gujarat Titans (GT) at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala on Tuesday, May 26, by 92 runs.

Shubman Gill won the toss and opted to field first, opining that dew could play a role in the second innings. Venkatesh Iyer started the innings with some breathtaking strokes before being dismissed for a seven-ball 19. Virat Kohli cut loose after losing his opening partner and made 43 off 25 balls. Devdutt Padikkal also got off to a fantastic start, but both of them were dismissed in the ninth over by Jason Holder.

Rajat Patidar and Krunal Pandya joined forces and took the GT bowlers to the cleaners with some phenomenal ball striking. After the latter was dismissed for 43 (28) and Tim David departed for four, Patidar took the onus upon himself to take his team to a huge first-innings total. The RCB skipper finished unbeaten on 93 off 33 balls. Jitesh Sharma also showed glimpses of his former self after enduring a tough campaign so far, as he scored 15* of five balls. The defending champions finished on 254/5.

Sai Sudharsan and Shubman Gill added 17 runs inside three overs before the former was dismissed for 14 by Jacob Duffy, getting out hit wicket. Shubman and Jos Buttler departed in the next two overs as GT were staring down the barrel with all of their famed top three back in the hut.

Everyone else who batted, couldn’t get to double figures barring Rahul Tewatia. His 68 off 43 balls helped Gujarat get to a respectable total of 162. However, the margin of defeat was still a humongous 92 runs.

Here are the top highlights from Qualifier 1:

Rajat Patidar puts the GT bowlers to the sword

Rajat Patidar has been in stellar form for RCB, and it is quite clear that he enjoys the added responsibility that comes with captaincy. RCB did lose two quick wickets when he came out to bat but he didn’t allow the GT bowlers to put his side under pressure. He lived a charmed life as GT failed to hang on to their catches. In the end, he finished with 93 not out off 33 balls, belting five fours and nine sixes.

Jason Holder’s double strike and Rahul Tewatia’s brave knock go in vain

Jason Holder and Rahul Tewatia’s performances were the rare silver linings for GT on Tuesday. While Holder took the wickets of set batters Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal in the same over, Tewatia made a gutsy 68 off 43 balls, while his fellow batters were being dismissed one after the other.

RCB put on a team effort with the ball

The decision to bring Jacob Duffy back in the side proved to be a masterstroke. The Kiwi pacer finished with figures of 3/39 in four overs. Bhuvneshwar, Rasikh Salam Dar, and Krunal Pandya also contributed with two wickets apiece, while Josh Hazlewood chipped in with the solitary wicket of Jos Buttler, who made 29 off 11 balls.

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