IPL Qualifier 2: Gujarat, Rajasthan eye one final push towards title clash

Qualifier 2 of IPL 2026 pits two sides built on similar foundations against each other.

But the paths taken by Rajasthan Royals and Gujarat Titans could hardly feel more different heading into Friday’s virtual semifinal in New Chandigarh.

Both teams have dominated with explosive top orders and incisive new-ball bowling this season. Rajasthan’s top three have combined aggression with fearless intent, while Gujarat’s batting core has thrived on consistency and control. With the ball, both attacks have repeatedly struck in the powerplay to tilt games early.

Yet momentum now sits firmly with Rajasthan.

The Royals stormed into Qualifier 2 after dismantling Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Eliminator. Teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi lit up the contest with a breathtaking assault at the top, while Jofra Archer ripped through the opposition with the new ball.

Gujarat, meanwhile, arrive after suffering a crushing defeat to Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Qualifier 1. Their famed bowling attack struggled under pressure and the usually dependable top order failed to mount a response in a heavy loss that exposed rare vulnerabilities.

Still, Gujarat remain confident in the system that carried them through the league stage. Coach Ashish Nehra has backed the squad to respond strongly, insisting the side’s identity and methods remain unchanged despite the setback.

At the centre of Rajasthan’s charge is Sooryavanshi, whose fearless batting has transformed the Royals at the top. The 15-year-old’s battle against Gujarat’s pace duo of Mohammed Siraj and Kagiso Rabada could shape the outcome of the match. Siraj dismissed the youngster earlier this season, while Rabada’s hostile short-ball approach promises another stern examination.

Gujarat’s hopes will once again rest heavily on captain Shubman Gill and opener Sai Sudharsan, who have formed one of the tournament’s most reliable batting partnerships. But facing Archer under lights in a knockout game presents a challenge far removed from league-stage comfort.

Spin could also become decisive on a used New Chandigarh surface, bringing Rashid Khan into sharp focus. The leg-spinner has rediscovered rhythm in the second half of the season and already produced a match-winning spell against Rajasthan earlier in the campaign.

Historically, Gujarat have enjoyed the upper hand in this rivalry, but both teams have beaten each other convincingly once this season. With a place in the IPL 2026 final at stake, Friday’s clash offers the perfect decider between two teams separated by little on paper, but by everything in form and momentum.