Shubman Gill believes the “occasion” shouldn’t be something Gujarat Titans play into, and that mindset delivered when it mattered most. On Friday, GT booked their place in the IPL 2026 final with a convincing seven-wicket win over Rajasthan Royals in Mullanpur, turning the Qualifier 2 into a statement performance. Gill smashed a brilliant 104 off 53 balls, striking 15 fours and clearing the ropes three times, as Gujarat overhauled the Royals’ total with ease. His century also came with a direct response to Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s standout 96, which had anchored Rajasthan’s first-innings effort—yet still wasn’t enough to stop the Titans.
After the match, Gill said the best version of his team shows up when they refuse to get carried away by the magnitude of the game. “The feeling is really good. But it’s a quick turnaround, so tomorrow we’ll rest and recover and then go there and assess conditions,” he said. He added that removing the pressure of the occasion helps the side express itself. “If you don’t play the occasion, it brings the best out of us. Let’s take the occasion out and play some good cricket. Whether we win or lose, we should play good cricket.”
Gill also pointed to GT’s approach through the tournament, highlighting that the team’s identity is built around consistent execution rather than occasion-driven cricket. The Titans’ final appearance sets up an IPL final that mirrors the earlier Qualifier 1, when defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru had beaten Gujarat Titans by 92 runs.
Against Rajasthan, Gujarat’s chase was powered by a strong start, beginning with a 167-run opening partnership between Gill and Sai Sudharsan. Sudharsan contributed 58 before being dismissed hit-wicket for the second match in a row, but the platform had already been laid for the Titans to build momentum. Gill and Sudharsan’s collaboration during the innings stood out, with Gill emphasising how well they communicate at the crease and how they decide which bowler to attack next.
“We complement each other and each other’s game very well. When we are batting out there our communication is very good,” Gill said. He explained that their batting plans revolve around taking responsibility for specific matchups. “One of us has to take down one of the bowlers and we are very good in deciding which bowler to take on.”
Gill also addressed Sudharsan’s repeat hit-wicket dismissal, joking that it was something he hadn’t seen happen twice like that. “I don’t think anyone has seen that (hit-wicket) happen in two games. I saw some video on social media about taping his hands, and I think I’ll have to do that,” he said.
On his own innings, Gill said he was focused on reading the gaps and backing his timing rather than swinging aimlessly. “I was in the kind of zone where I was just looking at the gaps and the bowler and see my zone and try to hit it there,” he explained. “That’s what happens when you’re batting well—you see the gaps and middle it.”
Gill acknowledged that the chase shifted slightly after Rajasthan ended up beyond the range the Titans had hoped for. “At one point we thought we could restrict them to 180-190 but they made 210 (214/6), so we just wanted to get a good start. I wanted to finish it off but got out,” he said.
Rajasthan captain Riyan Parag assessed the game from the Royals’ perspective, suggesting that a target around 240 would have been more difficult to defend against in the conditions. “It was a par score; it was defendable,” Parag said. He added that the pitch behaved differently as the innings progressed, improving after the heavy roller. “I felt after the heavy roller, it got better in the second innings. In the first innings, the bowlers got some grip, and the slower ones did well. I thought 230 would have been a par score (and) a score around 240 would have been challenging.”
Parag also praised Sooryavanshi’s 96, describing it as a measured innings rather than a pure slog. “I can’t put it into words, there’s one way where you slog and score many runs. But he doesn’t slog, you could see his innings today—he calculates and plays his shots,” Parag said. He expressed hope that the young batter’s run of form continues, adding, “I can’t say how, but hopefully he will go on to do well in his career, do well for the Rajasthan Royals and win us a second title.”
Despite missing out on a spot in the final, Parag highlighted the positives from the season, noting how the Royals reached the playoffs even with limited experience in their ranks. “To sum it up in one sentence, there were many positives. We weren’t supposed to qualify, given that many players were young and inexperienced, but many youngsters performed well and can only improve from here,” he said.
