Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru have booked yet another appearance in the IPL final after a commanding 92-run victory over Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 1 at Dharamsala on Tuesday. Under the captaincy of Rajat Patidar, RCB dominated the contest from start to finish, putting themselves one step away from the rare feat of winning the title back-to-back.
Patidar’s playoff masterclass turns Qualifier 1 one-sided
The defining storyline of the night was Patidar’s power-packed innings, which again proved decisive in the biggest moments. He finished unbeaten on 93 off only 33 balls, striking at an extraordinary strike rate of 281.82. His innings included nine sixes as he consistently broke through GT’s plans, dismantling their bowling attack in a high-pressure knockout setting.
RCB surge into the final with a record-style margin
RCB’s win was not just emphatic—it also carried historical weight. The 92-run margin landed among the biggest victories in IPL playoff matches by runs, reinforcing how thoroughly the defending champions controlled the game.
- Patidar’s unbeaten 93 (33 balls) helped RCB secure a 92-run triumph over Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 1 at Dharamsala.
- The result moved RCB into the IPL 2026 final, maintaining their momentum from the previous campaign.
- The 92-run win ranks among the largest margins in IPL knockout/playoff history by runs.
Where the milestone ranks for captains and knockout wins
Patidar also etched his name into IPL captaincy history by delivering consecutive trips to the final. With this performance, he became just the fifth skipper in the tournament’s history to guide his franchise to back-to-back IPL finals.
- MS Dhoni (2010, 2011)
- Rohit Sharma (2019, 2020)
- Hardik Pandya (2022, 2023)
- Shreyas Iyer (2024, 2025)
- Rajat Patidar (2025, 2026)
The franchise achievement also places RCB in an exclusive group of teams that have reached successive finals as defending champions across different IPL eras—alongside Chennai Super Kings, Mumbai Indians, and Gujarat Titans.
Biggest wins in IPL knockouts/playoffs (by runs)
- 105 RR vs DC (Wankhede, 2008)
- 92 RCB vs GT (Dharamsala, 2026)
- 86 CSK vs DC (Chennai, 2012)
- 81 MI vs LSG (Chennai, 2023)
- 71 RCB vs RR (Pune, 2015)
GT still in contention: Qualifier 2 awaits
While GT’s Qualifier 1 campaign ended in defeat, their route to the final is still alive. The Gujarat Titans will return for another chance in Qualifier 2, where they will take on the winner of the Eliminator between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Rajasthan Royals on Friday.
With Qualifier 2 set to decide the second finalist, the IPL’s race for key individual prizes continues alongside the title chase, including the Orange Cap and Purple Cap contests.
