GT beat RR in Qualifier 2, reach IPL 2026 final
What's the story
In a high-stakes clash at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh, Rajasthan Royals (RR) were beaten by Gujarat Titans (GT). RR posted an impressive total of 214/6 in 20 overs. The innings was built on the back of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's brilliant knock of 96 runs off just 47 balls. He was well-supported by Ravindra Jadeja and Donovan Ferreira. However, a massive opening stand of 167 between Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan helped Gujarat win (219/3).
Performance
Sooryavanshi leads the charge for RR
RR were reduced to 9/2 before Sooryavanshi made his presence felt alongside Jadeja. He steadied the ship and formed a superb partnership before Jadeja retired hurt. RR lost wickets at the other end before Jadeja came back and the two ended up stitching a total of 127 runs. Sooryavanshi missed out on a deserving hundred. He fell for 96 and was dismissed by pacer Kagiso Rabada. RR were 172/6 with his dismissal.
Late surge
Jadeja, Ferreira provide late surge for RR
Jadeja, who was promoted up the order, played a quick knock of 45 runs off 35 balls before retiring hurt with an elbow injury. However, he returned to the crease later and added crucial runs to the total. Ferreira then took center stage in the final over against Rashid Khan, scoring an explosive 38 off just 11 balls with four sixes. This late surge helped RR cross the 210-run mark comfortably.
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How did the Gujarat bowlers fare?
Mohammed Siraj managed 1/42 from 4 overs. Rabada was vital and clocked 2/35 from his 4 overs. Prasidh Krishna managed 1/42 from 4 overs. Washington Sundar bowled 2 overs and clocked 0/23. Jason Holder did well and clocked 2/27. Rashid was expensive. He was smashed for 45 runs off 2 overs.
Sooryavanshi
Sooryavanshi becomes fastest Indian to 1,000 IPL runs
Sooryavanshi became the fastest Indian to complete 1,000 IPL runs in terms of innings taken. Playing his 23rd IPL game, Sooryavanshi surpassed 1,000 runs. He owns 1,028 runs at 46.72. He clocked his 6th fifty in the tournament (100s: 2). He took 23 innings to reach the milestone, bettering the record held by Sudharsan (25 innings) among Indian players. Fastest to 1,000 IPL runs (by innings) 21 - Shaun Marsh 23 - Lendl Simmons 23 - Vaibhav Sooryavanshi 24 - Devon Conway 25 - Matthew Hayden 25 - Sai Sudharsan
PP overs
Sooryavanshi also gets past 500 runs in powerplay (season)
Sooryavanshi also became the first batter in T20 history to score over 500 runs in the powerplay of a single tournament. Sooryavanshi surpassed David Warner's previous record of 467 runs scored during SRH's title-winning IPL 2016 campaign. Most runs in overs 1-6 in an IPL edition 521 - Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in 2026 (SR: 233.63) 467 - David Warner in 2016 (SR: 150.16) 402 - Travis Head in 2024 (SR: 208.29)
IPL 2026
Currently, the 5th-most runs in an IPL edition
Sooryavanshi slammed 8 fours and 7 sixes in his knock of 96. He has amassed 776 runs from 16 matches at 48.50 (50s: 5, 100s: 1). Most runs in an IPL edition 973 - Virat Kohli in 2016 (SR: 152.03) 890 - Shubman Gill in 2023 (SR: 157.8) 863 - Jos Buttler in 2022 (SR: 149.05) 848 - David Warner in 2016 (SR: 151.42) 776 - Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in 2026 (SR: 237) 759 - Sai Sudharsan in 2025 (SR: 156.17)
Balls
Fastest to 1,000 IPL runs (by balls)
Sooryavanshi also became the fastest to 1,000 IPL runs (by balls). As per Cricbuzz, he took 440 deliveries to reach the landmark, bettering Andre Russell's record (545 balls). Fewest balls taken to 1,000 IPL runs 440 - Vaibhav Sooryavanshi 545 - Andre Russell 560 - Tim David 575 - Travis Head 575 - Phil Salt 594 - Heinrich Klaasen 604 - Virender Sehwag
Records
3rd instance of Sooryavanshi getting dismissed in the 90s
For the 3rd time Sooryavanshi was dismissed in the 90s (IPL). Notably, all three of his scores in the 90s came this season. As per Cricbuzz, he equaled Glenn Maxwell for the most 90s in an edition (3 in 2014). Meanwhile, Mitchell Marsh recorded two dismissals in the 90s this season. Sooryavanshi also equaled Warner, KL Rahul, Maxwell and Ruturaj Gaikwad as batters with most dismissals in the 90s (3 each).
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Rabada gets to 28 wickets in IPL 2026
Rabada, who claimed 2 scalps versus RR, now owns 28 wickets in the IPL 2026 season from 16 games at 20.78. Notably, he played his 100th IPL game. He owns 147 scalps at 22.54.
Chase
How did the chase pan out?
Gill and Sudharsan shone for Gujarat in a chase of 215. Both players made their presence felt and showed experience in this high-profile contest. Sudharsan was dismissed in the 13th over before Gill got to his hundred. Earlier, he completed a 30-ball fifty for Gujarat. Gill was finally dismissed by Jofra Archer in the 15th over. Gujarat won the contest thereafter.
Sudharsan
Sai Sudharsan slams his 9th 50-plus score of IPL 2026
Sudharsan scored a quickfire 58 off just 32 balls. This was his ninth 50-plus score of the season, tying him for the second-highest number of such scores in a single season's history. Sudharsan equaled David Warner's tally of nine 50-plus scores in an IPL season. The only player ahead of him is Virat Kohli, who had 11 such scores during his legendary 2016 campaign.
700
Third player to achieve smash 700-plus runs in successive seasons
Sudharsan's knock had 8 fours and a six. He has amassed 710 runs from 16 IPL games this season at an average of 47.33. In addition to a century, he has hit 8 fifties. Sudharsan crossed the 700-run mark in consecutive IPL season, becoming only the third batter ever to do so after Kohli and Chris Gayle. The GT opener had enjoyed a breakthrough season in 2025, scoring 759 runs and winning the prestigious Orange Cap.
Runs
Sudharsan surpasses 2,500 IPL runs
Sudharsan raced past the 2,500-run mark in IPL. In 56 matches, he owns 2,503 runs at 49.07. He slammed his 20th IPL fifty (100s: 3). As per ESPNcricinfo, Sudharsan has now amassed 362 runs from 7 games versus RR. He averages 51.71, slamming his 4th fifty against them. Overall in the 20-over format, Sudharsan has smashed 3,173 runs from 82 games at 44.06. He struck his 20th fifty (100s: 4).
Gill
Gill surpasses 4,500 IPL runs; slams his 5th hundred
With his 16th run of the contest, Gill completed 4,500 IPL runs (now 4,588). He took 130 innings of 133 games to reach the landmark. He averages 40.60 (SR: 142.13). Gill now owns five tons and 32 fifties in the competition. Gill smashed 15 fours and 3 sixes in his knock of 104 versus RR. For Gujarat, Gill is their highest scorer with 3,171 runs at 46.63. He owns 22 fifties and 5 hundreds for Gujarat.
Information
Maiden hundred versus RR
As per ESPNcricinfo, playing his 19th IPL game against RR (17 innings), Gill has amassed 718 runs at 47.86. He hit his maiden hundred (50s: 4). He is one of the three batters with 700-plus runs versus RR.
Do you know?
7th hundred in the 20-over format for Gill
Playing his 190th match in the 20-over format, Gill raced to 6,134 runs at an average of 37-plus. He smashed his 7th hundred in the format (50s: 38). Gill surpassed 600 fours (610) and owns 204 sixes.
Records
Multiple hundreds as skipper; fastest ton for Gujarat
Gill became the 3rd player to smash multiple IPL hundreds as captain. As per Cricbuzz, he joined Virat Kohli and KL Rahul. Multiple 100s as IPL captain 5 - Virat Kohli 3 - KL Rahul 2 - Shubman Gill Gill owns the fastest hundred by a GT batter; surpassing his own 49-ball effort vs MI in the 2023 Qualifier 2 in Ahmedabad.
Do you know?
Gill equals Samson in terms of 5 IPL tons
Gill equaled Sanju Samson in terms of 5 IPL hundreds. He is only behind Kohli (9), Jos Buttler (7), Chris Gayle (6) and KL Rahul (6).
Duo
Here are the partnership records between Gill and Sudharsan
Gill and Sudharsan's 167-run stand is the highest in IPL playoffs, surpassing 159 runs Michael Hussey & Murali Vijay (CSK) vs RCB, Chennai, 2011 Final. Gill and Sudharsan added their 11th century-plus stand in the IPL for Gujarat. Meanwhile, Gill has now been part of 16 century-plus stands overall for the franchise. Versus RR, this is now Gujarat's third century-plus stand (any wicket) and the 2nd between Gill and Sudharsan.
Numbers
Jadeja surpasses 3,500 IPL runs
Jadeja scored an unbeaten 45 off 35 balls for RR. He now owns 4,251 runs in the 20-over format from 360 matches (263 innings) at 27.42. Meanwhile, Jadeja went on to surpass 3,500 runs in the IPL. From 268 games (209 innings), he owns 3,526 runs at 29.14. For the Royals, he owns 696 runs from 41 games (33 innings) at 31.63.
Records
Here are the notable records from the contest
Sudharsan and Gill surpassed 900 runs as a pair in IPL 2026, becoming the 3rd different pair to do so in a single IPL season. As per Cricbuzz, Gill became the first captain to hit a hundred in IPL playoffs. Gujarat recorded their highest ever chase in the IPL and their third 200-plus target overall. Gujarat have recorded the highest successful chase in IPL playoffs history.
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Gujarat to face RCB in IPL 2026 final
Gujarat will face RCB in IPL 2026 final. Gujarat had earlier lost to RCB in Qualifier 1. Both sides are aiming to win their 2nd IPL crown. For Gujarat, it's their 3rd IPL final.