Rajat Patidar’s Explosive 93 Powers RCB into IPL 2026 Final
Royal Challengers Bengaluru stormed into their second straight Indian Premier League final after crushing Gujarat Titans by 92 runs in a dominant Qualifier 1 performance at Dharamsala.
Leading from the front, Rajat Patidar produced one of the finest innings of his IPL career, smashing an unbeaten 93 off just 33 deliveries. His fearless knock helped RCB post a massive 254/5 before the bowlers dismantled Gujarat’s batting lineup early in the chase.
Patidar’s Masterclass Changes the Game
RCB came out with aggressive intent immediately after being asked to bat first. Venkatesh Iyer attacked from the opening ball, while Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal kept the scoreboard moving at a rapid pace.
Although Kagiso Rabada troubled Kohli with extra bounce, RCB maintained attacking momentum throughout the Powerplay. The Bengaluru side crossed fifty inside four overs and continued piling pressure on the Titans bowlers.
After the dismissals of Kohli and Padikkal briefly slowed the innings, Patidar took complete control. The RCB captain survived an early dropped catch by Rabada and made Gujarat pay heavily afterward.
The right-hander unleashed a stunning display of clean hitting, smashing nine sixes across the ground. His fearless assault in the final overs completely shifted the momentum toward Bengaluru.
RCB Finish with Record-Breaking Total
The final six overs turned into complete carnage for the Gujarat bowling attack. Patidar targeted both pace and spin with equal confidence, while Krunal Pandya added a valuable 43 runs in support.
RCB hammered 114 runs in the final six overs, registering the highest playoff score in IPL history. Tim David and Jitesh Sharma also added quick boundaries late in the innings as the total crossed the 250-run mark.
The Titans looked rattled and struggled to contain the relentless attacking display from Bengaluru’s middle order.
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RCB Bowlers Destroy Gujarat’s Chase
Any hopes of a successful chase disappeared quickly as RCB’s pace attack dominated the Powerplay.
Sai Sudharsan started positively but suffered an unfortunate dismissal when his bat accidentally hit the stumps after completing a shot. Soon after, Bhuvneshwar Kumar removed Shubman Gill, while Josh Hazlewood dismissed Jos Buttler with a clever slower delivery.
Rasikh Salam Dar and Jacob Duffy continued the damage as Gujarat collapsed to five wickets down inside the Powerplay. Rahul Tewatia was forced to rebuild the innings far earlier than expected.
Rahul Tewatia Fights Alone
Tewatia played a fighting knock of 68 runs and tried to delay the inevitable with several aggressive shots in the second half of the innings.
He found occasional support from Washington Sundar and Kagiso Rabada, but the required run rate kept climbing rapidly. RCB’s bowlers maintained complete control throughout the chase, never allowing Gujarat any realistic path back into the contest.
Patidar capped off his memorable evening with an excellent running catch to dismiss Tewatia and finally end Gujarat’s resistance.
RCB March into Another IPL Final
The emphatic victory sends Royal Challengers Bengaluru directly into the IPL 2026 final, where they will now wait for the winner of Qualifier 2.
Meanwhile, Gujarat Titans still have another opportunity to reach the final when they face the winner of the Eliminator in the next playoff clash.
With both bat and ball firing perfectly, RCB have now emerged as serious title contenders as they chase another IPL crown.
