Royal Challengers Bengaluru were handed a four-wicket defeat by Gujarat Titans in their IPL 2026 match at Ahmedabad on Thursday. Batting first, RCB were energized by Virat Kohli’s sharp early hitting, but the innings unraveled quickly after Jacob Bethell’s dismissal, and wicket after wicket fell at regular intervals. The champions were eventually restricted to 155 all out. In reply, Shubman Gill struck a rapid 43 off 18 balls and, with support from Jos Buttler and Rahul Tewatia, Gujarat Titans chased down the target with 25 balls remaining.
Key takeaways
- RCB lost by four wickets after being dismissed for 155 in 19.2 overs.
- Arshad Khan led the GT bowling with figures of 3/22.
- Shubman Gill’s 43 off 18 balls played a decisive role in the chase.
- Gujarat Titans reached 158/6 in 15.5 overs to win with 25 balls to spare.
- The points table impact left RCB second and GT fifth in IPL 2026.
RCB’s collapse after a bright start
RCB won the toss and were invited to bat first at the venue where they had lifted the title last season. Virat Kohli set the tone early, and the innings began with momentum at a run rate above 10. Kohli’s opening surge included smashing Kagiso Rabada for 21 runs in his first over, highlighted by five consecutive fours.
Yet once Jacob Bethell was dismissed, the flow for RCB changed. Shortly after, Kohli also departed when Rabada struck again, removing him for 28 off just 13 balls. From there, RCB lost wickets in a tight cluster during the middle phase, and the chase never truly came back into reach for the Bengaluru batting unit.
Arshad Khan then took charge with the ball, sealing the tail and finishing with 3/22. RCB’s scoring momentum drained quickly as they slipped from 71/2 after seven overs to 96/6 within 10.3 overs. During that stretch, Rajat Patidar (19), Jitesh Sharma (1), Tim David (9) and Krunal Pandya (4) were among the batters to fall before the final overs.
Despite the slide, RCB stuck to an aggressive approach, looking to squeeze extra runs even as wickets fell. In the end, that intent did not deliver enough, and they were bowled out for 155 in 19.2 overs.
Gill and Buttler set up the chase for GT
Gujarat Titans began their response after an early setback for Sai Sudharsan. The victory charge, however, was pushed forward by Shubman Gill, whose innings was notably bold for the situation—he struck 43 off 18 balls, effectively shifting the pressure away from the Titans and onto RCB’s bowlers.
Facing the new-ball attack, Gill made an immediate impact. He dispatched Bhuvneshwar Kumar for a four and a six, then kept accelerating by taking Josh Hazlewood apart with three fours and two sixes in a 24-run over. That surge helped GT race to 36 without loss in just two overs.
Jos Buttler added further momentum after a crucial moment in the early phase. He was dropped on 1 by wicketkeeper Jitesh Sharma off Hazlewood, and Buttler made RCB pay straight away by sweeping the next delivery for a six over fine leg, thereafter continuing his attack with confidence.
Jason Holder played a major all-round role in the match as well—he picked up two wickets and took three catches. His efforts, including a spell returning 2/29, helped keep RCB’s defending chances alive, even though GT ultimately moved past the target comfortably. Buttler contributed with 39 off 19, and later Rahul Tewatia finished the job with an unbeaten 27 off 17 balls.
With Gill’s early blitz doing the heavy lifting and the finish handled by Buttler and Tewatia, Gujarat Titans closed their chase at 158/6 in 15.5 overs, securing the win with 25 balls remaining.
The result ensured the IPL 2026 points table stayed the same—RCB remained second while Gujarat Titans sat fifth.
