Our Bureau
Chandigarh
Gujarat Titans booked their place in the IPL 2026 final after defeating Rajasthan Royals by seven wickets in a commanding Qualifier 2 performance at the PCA Stadium in Mullanpur. Captained by Shubman Gill, who smashed a brilliant 104 runs off just 53 balls with 15 fours and 3 sixes, GT chased down Rajasthan’s 214/6 with 1.2 overs to spare, finishing at 219/3 in 18.4 overs.
Rajasthan Royals posted a formidable 214/6 in their 20 overs, fueled by a sensational 96-run knock from teenager opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi off 47 balls, containing eight fours and seven sixes. Sooryavanshi became the fastest Indian to reach 1,000 IPL runs, achieving the milestone in just 23 matches. He was dismissed agonizingly short of a century, caught off Kagiso Rabada’s bowling when he tried an upper cut and ballooned to Prasidh Krishna at third man. Ravindra Jadeja contributed a quick 45 off 35 balls, while Donovan Ferreira erupted for 27 runs in the final over alone, hitting four sixes off Rashid Khan.
GT’s chase got off to a blistering start with 69 runs in the powerplay as Gill and opener Sai Sudharsan dominated Rajasthan’s bowlers. Sudharsan fell heal-toe dismissed for 58, hitting a second consecutive hit-wicket in back-to-back matches. Gill took full control, owning the stage with pathological aggression, including two sixes and a boundary off Ravindra Jadeja. He reached his hundred, leading GT to their third IPL final.
The victory sets up a blockbuster final against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Gujarat Titans will now aim for their second IPL title, while Rajasthan Royals’ dream season ends in heartbreaking fashion after Vaibhav’s record-breaking campaign.
