Gujarat Titans will lock horns with Rajasthan Royals in Qualifier 2 of the IPL 2026 on Friday at Mullanpur, with a place in the summit clash on the line. The stakes are clear: the team that comes out on top will take on Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the final, while the side that loses will see its campaign end there. Rajasthan are arriving with strong momentum, having strung together four straight wins, including their victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Eliminator.
Attention during the match is likely to centre on Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, a 15-year-old prodigy whose aggressive batting has drawn widespread praise. His fearless approach has helped him set multiple records, and he currently sits atop the Orange Cap standings with 680 runs from 15 matches in the season. If his form continues, RR’s batting rhythm could be a decisive factor against a GT side looking to respond quickly under pressure.
For Gujarat Titans, the focus will be on bouncing back after a tough outing in Qualifier 1 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. In that match, RCB set a commanding target, posting 254 for 5 batting first, and the chase never quite got going as GT were eventually dismissed for 162. Gujarat lost by 92 runs, a result that underlines the challenge they face in finding consistency both with the bat and in their bowling plans.
With the match scheduled in Mullanpur, weather is also part of the conversation. A Google weather forecast suggests there is a nine per cent chance of precipitation on matchday, which would keep the contest on track for most scenarios. In contrast, an AccuWeather outlook points to no meaningful impact from rain during the game, offering reassurance that play is unlikely to be disrupted.
If Qualifier 2 ends up being washed out due to rain, the final berth will be decided by points-table performance rather than a result on the field. In that situation, Shubman Gill and his Gujarat group would advance to the final based on having a stronger finish across the league phase.
The table position heading into the playoffs supports that possibility. Gujarat Titans ended the league stage in second place with 18 points, while Rajasthan Royals qualified in fourth, finishing with 16 points. Both franchises have tasted IPL glory before: Rajasthan Royals won the inaugural title back in 2008, and Gujarat Titans lifted the trophy in 2022, marking their first season in the competition as champions.
