Royal Challengers Bengaluru crushed Gujarat Titans under clear skies at HPCA Stadium during IPL 2026’s Qualifier 1. Choosing to bat, they got moving early when Venkatsesh Iyer stepped in with intent – yet his rhythm faded before impact grew. Once he exited on 19, Kohli shifted forward while Padikkal matched stride, their alliance building 72 through sharp timing and quiet control. Though Iyer lit the spark, it was the calm between those two that held the innings together.
Back in the hut shortly after the powerplay, thanks to Jason Holder’s one-two punch. That moment briefly lit a spark for Gujarat, yet Rajat Patidar along with Krunal Pandya took full control during the middle phase, nudging Gill’s team toward the edges of relevance.
Out came Pandya after scoring 43 from 28 deliveries, soon overtaken by a surge from Patidar. In the center of the field, destruction unfolded as the RCB leader hammered through, finishing on 93 not out from just 33 balls – a knock hard to ignore for national selection talks. His form this entire campaign stands strong; in Qualifier 1, he stamped his presence loud and clear. Few have matched his impact when it mattered most.
Bengaluru reached 254 in their first turn, thanks to a fiery knock that burned through the bowling – this total stands as the playoff record in IPL history. Their batters found the fence 38 times, another high mark when lights shine brightest.
RCB bowlers overpower GT batters
From the first over, Bengaluru’s bowlers held control. Wickets tumbled steadily for Gujarat Titans under Shubman Gill’s leadership. Their chase never found rhythm. This loss stands among the heaviest in playoff records. Pressure weighed heavily on key figures – Gill, his opener Sai Sudharsans, and Jos Buttler behind the stumps. None managed to build momentum. Runs dried up when they mattered most.
Out went Sudharsan early, struck down in the third over. Following behind, Gill didn’t last long either – just two runs before walking off. Then came Buttler, who managed a bit more but still fell after scoring twenty-nine. Next up, Sindhu couldn’t settle, gone without making it count. Holder followed close behind, breaking the rhythm further. Five batsmen down by the time the powerplay ended, only fifty-one on the board.
Out came more wickets steadily, long past the powerplay, until the 2022 titleholders folded completely at 162. A heavy loss by 92 runs left them stunned. Next up for them is a clash against whoever wins between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Rajasthan Royals, set for Qualifier 2. Meanwhile, RCB find themselves back in the final – again.
Rahul Tewatia struck 68 runs from 43 deliveries, earning quiet praise when it mattered most. Still, even his effort fell short of pulling Gujarat back from a heavy loss
