NEW DELHI: Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) stormed into their second straight IPL final with a crushing 92-run win over Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 1 at Dharamsala on Tuesday.RCB captain Rajat Patidar led the charge with an unbeaten 93 off just 33 balls as Bengaluru posted a huge 254 for five after being asked to bat first. Patidar smashed nine sixes and five fours and completely changed the game in the final overs after surviving two dropped catches earlier in his innings.RCB scored 114 runs in the last six overs, including 86 in the final five, leaving Gujarat Titans under massive pressure in the chase.The innings started aggressively with Venkatesh Iyer attacking Mohammed Siraj in the first over with three boundaries. He made 19 before being dismissed by Kagiso Rabada.Virat Kohli then built a partnership with Devdutt Padikkal to keep the scoring rate high. Kohli scored 43 while Padikkal added 30 as RCB reached 76 for one in the powerplay.GT managed to slow things down briefly in the middle overs. Jason Holder removed Kohli and Padikkal in an over, while Rashid Khan bowled tightly.But the match changed completely in the 14th over. Patidar, who was dropped twice by GT fielders off Prasidh Krishna, made full use of the lifelines. Left-arm pacer Kulwant Khejroliya gave away 28 runs in the over that included misfields, two no-balls and a wide.Patidar attacked both Khejroliya and Rashid Khan in the death overs, while Krunal Pandya provided support with 43 runs during a 95-run partnership. Patidar brought up his fifty with a six off Rabada and continued hitting till the final over.Chasing 255, Gujarat Titans needed a strong start but lost wickets early. Sai Sudharsan was dismissed in unusual fashion when his bat slipped from his hands while facing Jacob Duffy and crashed into the stumps. Sudharsan made 14.GT captain Shubman Gill fell soon after for just two, bowled by Bhuvneshwar Kumar. The experienced pacer finished with two wickets and also moved to the top of the Purple Cap standings with 26 wickets.Josh Hazlewood then dismissed Jos Buttler for 29, while Rasikh Salam removed Nishant Sandhu and Holder in the same over as GT slipped to 51 for five inside the powerplay.Rahul Tewatia fought back with 68 runs but the target was too big. Gujarat Titans were eventually bowled out for 162.The win sent RCB into their fifth IPL final after 2009, 2011, 2016 and 2025. Gujarat Titans will now play Qualifier 2 against the winner of the Eliminator between Rajasthan Royals and Sunrisers Hyderabad for the remaining place in the final.
