Shubman Gill and Jos Buttler both fell cheaply, while Sai Sudharsan also endured a harsh stroke of misfortune as Gujarat Titans’ chase against Royal Challengers Bengaluru unravelled. RCB, the defending champions, then capped their dominance by reaching a second straight IPL final after a 92-run thrashing of GT in Qualifier 1 on Tuesday, with skipper Rajat Patidar setting the tone.
Key takeaways
- Royal Challengers Bengaluru beat Gujarat Titans by 92 runs in Qualifier 1 to book a place in the final.
- Rajat Patidar powered the innings with an unbeaten 93 off 33 balls.
- RCB’s bowling attack dismantled GT’s top order during the powerplay phase.
- Gujarat’s chase of 255 ended short, and Shubman Gill cited fielding lapses as a key factor.
- Patidar was dropped twice in the 14th over—first by Prasidh Krishna’s misfield, then by Kagiso Rabada.
RCB’s charge in Qualifier 1
Royal Challengers Bengaluru marched into a second successive IPL final after overpowering Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 1 on Tuesday. The match swung decisively in RCB’s favour as Patidar delivered a rapid, match-changing innings, striking at a pace that left GT chasing shadows.
Patidar finished unbeaten on 93 from just 33 deliveries, and the way he attacked from the start gave RCB a platform to build from. Alongside his batting, RCB’s pace-led bowling proved ruthless, cutting through Gujarat’s top order and forcing early setbacks inside the powerplay.
Gill’s reaction: fielding and pressure moments
After the defeat, with Gujarat failing to chase down a 255-run target, Shubman Gill pointed directly to the standard of their fielding. He felt the team’s catching and ground efforts were not up to the level required, particularly in key phases of the game.
Gill also highlighted a specific sequence involving Patidar’s dropped chances. In the 14th over, Patidar was let off twice—first when Kulwant Khejroliya failed to hold the catch on 14, and then again when Kagiso Rabada put down the batter at 20.
“We were going pretty well up until the 12th and 13th over, but I don’t think our fielding was at par,” Gill said. “Dropping a couple of catches, and then our ground fielding wasn’t up to the mark. There are plenty of learnings from this game as well.”
He added that the side regularly reviews such errors in both team meetings and practice sessions. However, Gill stressed that the intensity was there, but the pressure moments didn’t go Gujarat’s way. “It’s something we address in the team meetings and also in the practice sessions. But like I said, I don’t think it was our day. The intensity was right there, but under pressure situations, we were not up to the mark,” he said.
Could GT have chased 255?
Gill was also asked whether he believed a chase of such a large total was realistically on the cards. His response underlined the importance of getting momentum early, especially on grounds where the ball stays lively and the outfield moves quickly.
“It’s all about getting a good start,” Gill said. “If you get a good powerplay, and on a ground like this we know the ball travels and the outfield is also very quick. So if you had gotten off to a good start in the powerplay, any target could have been chaseable—given the way the wicket was playing and the kind of ground we were playing at.”
What’s next for Gujarat Titans
With their Qualifier 1 exit confirmed, Gujarat Titans will now turn attention to the next stage of the playoffs. They will face the winner of the Eliminator contest between Rajasthan Royals and Sunrisers Hyderabad.
