Shubman Gill's Century Leads Gujarat Titans to IPL Final Against RCB

In a thrilling Qualifier two match, Shubman Gill's century propelled Gujarat Titans to a victory over Rajasthan Royals, securing their place in the IPL final against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Gill's strategic batting and strong partnership with Sai Sudharsan were key to their success. The match featured impressive performances, including a near-century from 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. As the Titans prepare for the final, Gill emphasizes the importance of focusing on their game rather than the occasion. This match also set a new record for the highest target chased in IPL playoffs. Read on for more details about this exciting clash.

By Narendra Chaudhary May 30, 2026, 02:08 IST

Gujarat Titans Secure Spot in IPL Final

Mullanpur (Punjab) [India] - After a remarkable victory over Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the Qualifier two, Gujarat Titans (GT) captain Shubman Gill expressed his satisfaction with his match-winning century. He noted that he was in a rhythm where his focus was on finding gaps rather than hitting the ball too hard.

Gill's impressive century overshadowed a stellar performance from 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who is now a contender for the Orange Cap. However, the final matchup is set between the defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Gujarat Titans (GT), as early wickets hampered the Royals' momentum, leaving them with a modest target of 215 runs against GT's formidable opening duo of Gill and Sai Sudharsan.

During the post-match interview, Gill shared, “I was in a zone where I focused on the gaps and the bowlers, aiming to hit the ball where I wanted. It was about seeing the ball and adjusting my shots. When you're batting well, you just see the gaps and connect well. I feel fortunate that we set a target of 220. At one point, it seemed we could restrict them to around 180-190, but we ended up with a solid total. I was eager to finish the game, so it was disappointing to get out.”

Discussing his partnership with Sai, Gill emphasized their strong understanding of each other's gameplay. “Our communication is excellent when we bat together. We know one of us needs to take on a bowler, and we are good at deciding who that will be,” he remarked.

On the unusual hit-wicket dismissal of Sudharsan, which occurred for the second consecutive match, Gill stated, “I’ve never seen anything like that happen twice in a row.”

He also praised the team's depth in bowling, noting that they have six to seven reliable options, which allowed Sai Kishore to remain unused in the bowling attack. He mentioned that the focus now shifts to performing well in the final.

Regarding the upcoming home final, Gill expressed optimism, saying, “It feels great to play at home. With a quick turnaround, we need to recover and assess the pitch before the match. We aim to play another solid game.”

He added that not letting the occasion overwhelm them will help bring out their best performance. “We discussed taking the pressure off and just playing good cricket. Even if we don’t win, that’s acceptable as long as we play well,” he concluded.

With this victory, the Gujarat Titans have advanced to the title match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in Ahmedabad on Sunday. After RR batted first, a strong innings from Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (96 off 47 balls, including eight fours and seven sixes) and a quick 38* from Donovan Ferreira (in 11 balls) helped RR reach 214/6 in their 20 overs. In response, Shubman Gill's 104 off 53 balls, along with a 167-run partnership with Sai Sudharsan (58 off 32 balls), paved the way for a three-wicket victory.

This chase marks the highest target successfully pursued in IPL playoff history, surpassing the previous record of 204 set by Punjab Kings (PBKS) against Mumbai Indians (MI) in last year's Qualifier two. Additionally, this is GT's highest run chase in IPL history, exceeding their 204-run chase against Delhi Capitals (DC) in 2025.