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Dharamsala
Royal Challengers Bengaluru marched into their consecutive IPL final with a crushing 92-run victory over Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 1 at the HPCA Stadium on Tuesday, May 26, 2026.
Captain Rajat Patidar led the charge with an unbeaten 93 off just 33 balls, the quickest innings of 90 or more in IPL history, studded with five fours and nine sixes. His explosive knock, the joint-highest by any captain in IPL playoffs, propelled RCB to 254/5 in 20 overs, the highest total ever recorded in IPL playoff history.
Virat Kohli set the tone early with a sharp 43 off 25 balls (five fours, one six) before being dismissed by Jason Holder, while Patidar and Jitesh Sharma combined for 40 runs in the final 12 balls alone.
Gujarat Titans collapsed dramatically in reply, bowled out for 162 in 19.3 overs. The batting collapse handed RCB a statement victory in front of a packed crowd at Dharamsala.
Patidar’s sensational innings earned him the Player of the Match award. His strike rate of 281.82 during the knock stands as the highest for a captain compiling a fifty-plus score in the IPL.
The win books RCB a direct spot in the IPL 2026 final, marking their second consecutive final appearance.
RCB’s dominant performance establishes them as strong favorites heading into the championship match, having demonstrated lethal batting firepower and effective bowling in equal measure.
