Patidar’s Blitz Powers RCB to Back-to-Back IPL Finals

RCB outclass GT in Qualifier 1( PC- IPL official instagram handle)

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) registered a resounding victory over Gujarat Titans (GT) in Qualifier 1 of IPL 2026, held at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala. Batting first, RCB posted a massive 254 on the board, with GT’s bowlers finding it difficult to adapt to the surface while poor fielding further compounded their problems. RCB eventually sealed a commanding 92-run win to book their place in the IPL final for the second successive year.

Here are some of the highlights from the game:

RCB batters unleash carnage in the powerplay

RCB rained boundaries in the powerplay with smart shot selection, precise timing and excellent placement to keep the scoreboard moving. They took on the likes of Kagiso Rabada and Mohammed Siraj with confidence and ease. Venkatesh Iyer looked promising with a range of 360-degree strokes but fell to Rabada after mistiming a shot that resulted in a top edge, brilliantly caught by Shubman Gill on the run. Soon after, Virat Kohli shifted gears after a cautious start, scoring a brisk 43 at a strike rate of 172, while Devdutt Padikkal added a fluent 30 off 19 balls. Their efforts powered RCB to 76/1 in the first six overs, the fourth-highest powerplay total in IPL knockout history.

Captain Patidar leads from the front

Rajat Patidar led from the front with an innings of complete authority, stepping up exactly when it mattered. With GT pulling things back in the middle and Jason Holder striking twice in a crucial over to dismiss both Kohli and Padikkal, Patidar ensured control never slipped away. Balancing aggression with responsibility, he countered every move and dismantled the bowlers’ plans. Changes in line and length, along with the introduction of Rashid Khan, did little to trouble him. Remaining unbeaten on a blistering 93 off just 33 balls at a strike rate of 281, he anchored a vital 95-run partnership with Krunal Pandya, who chipped in with a solid 43, sealing another dominant phase for RCB. The batters adopted an ultra-aggressive approach right from the outset, leaving no breathing space for the GT bowlers.

RCB bowlers stamp their authority early

RCB’s pace spearheads delivered a dominant display to rattle GT’s formidable top order. Sai Sudharsan looked in fine touch with a few crisp boundaries but suffered an unfortunate dismissal after his bat slipped and dislodged the stumps. Soon after, Bhuvneshwar Kumar produced a peach of a delivery to clean up Shubman Gill. Jos Buttler showed intent with a flurry of boundaries before Josh Hazlewood outclassed him with a slower leg-cutter that crashed into the stumps. Rasikh Salam Dar provided excellent support by claiming two crucial wickets, leaving GT reeling at 51/5 at the end of the powerplay.

GT batters crumble under pressure

After the top order collapsed, none of GT’s middle or lower-order batters were able to bat deep and guide the side towards the target. Chasing a mammoth 255, they were always up against it, and the RCB bowlers gave them no opportunity to launch a sustained counterattack. Rahul Tewatia showed some resistance towards the end, taking on Romario Shepherd and Hazlewood aggressively and bringing up his half-century, but by then the match had already slipped far beyond GT’s reach.

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