Gujarat Titans Secure IPL 2026 Final Spot with Victory Over Rajasthan Royals

Gujarat Titans Triumph in Qualifier 2

The Gujarat Titans made a remarkable comeback after their defeat in Qualifier 1, defeating the Rajasthan Royals in Qualifier 2 to secure a place in the IPL 2026 final. The young talent Vaibhav Sooryavanshi played a crucial role, scoring 96 runs, which helped RR set a challenging target of 214 runs for GT. However, it was the impressive 167-run partnership between Sai Sudharsan and captain Shubman Gill that ultimately led GT to victory.

Rabada Praises Young Star Vaibhav Sooryavanshi

In an interview on JioHotstar, Kagiso Rabada from GT expressed admiration for the 'fearless prodigy' Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. He stated, "He continues to astonish everyone watching the game. His quick hands and ability to read the length are remarkable. His youthful energy and lack of fear are evident, allowing him to perform exceptionally well. At this point, age is irrelevant; what he is achieving is truly impressive."

Rabada Discusses Bowling Strategy

The GT bowlers made an impactful start by taking two early wickets, with Mohammed Siraj dismissing Yashasvi Jaiswal in the first over and Rabada removing Dhruv Jurel shortly after. Rabada elaborated on their bowling strategy against the RR openers, saying, "We aimed to leverage our strengths and secure early wickets. Although we achieved that, they managed to recover, and we fell short by bowling too many short balls. We knew we could still take wickets despite the challenges we faced."

He further commented, "We had the match under control until the 19th over. It was challenging for Rashid to bowl as a spinner against powerful hitters on this pitch. Ideally, we aimed to restrict them to around 180-190 runs, aside from the dropped catch."

Rabada Reflects on Partnership with Siraj

Rabada, who leads the season with 28 wickets, praised his opening bowling partner, Mohammed Siraj. He remarked, "Siraj has been my partner this season, and we strive to work together effectively. If he applies pressure from one end, I aim to do the same from the other. He possesses immense skill and heart, making it a pleasure to bowl alongside him. Our partnership enhances our chances of taking wickets, as we both apply significant pressure."

GT Set to Face RCB in the Final

The Gujarat Titans will aim for their second IPL title on Sunday as they prepare to face the defending champions, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), at their home ground in Ahmedabad.