IPL 2026: RCB beat Gujarat Titans to reach 2026 final

Captain Rajat Patidar hit an unbeaten 93 off just 33 balls as defending champions Royal Challengers Bangalore beat Gujarat Titans by 92 runs to reach the 2026 Indian Premier League final.

RCB were 94-3 in the ninth over, veteran Virat Kohli dismissed for 43, but Patidar hit five fours as well as nine sixes to take his side to 254-5.

126 runs in the last seven overs was the highest total in the IPL playoffs.

Gujarat, who were only topped in the league stage by RCB on net run-rate, lost key opener Sai Sudharsan and India’s Test captain Shubman Gill in the third and fourth overs respectively.

Sudharsan, the tournament’s leading run-scorer, was dismissed for the hit wicket after his bat slipped from his hand while playing a cut shot and bounced on the stumps.

Next, England wicketkeeper Jos Buttler hit four fours and two sixes but was bowled by Australia’s Josh Hazlewood for 29, continuing a sorry slide.

From 88-8, Gujarat stumbled to 162 before being bowled out in the last over. Rahul Tewatia scored 68 runs but the match was decided long ago.

Gujarat still have a second chance to reach Sunday’s final.

They will play the winner of Wednesday’s eliminator between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Rajasthan Royals.