Shubman Gill’s 104 Powers Gujarat to IPL 2026 Final, Ends Sooryavanshi’s Run; Set for Clash vs RCB

Gujarat Titans (219/3 in 18.4 overs) defeated Rajasthan Royals (214/7) by 7 wickets in Qualifier 2 to book their place in the IPL 2026 final. A sensational 104 from Shubman Gill anchored the chase.

And just like that, Rajasthan Royals’ campaign came to an end — and with it, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s remarkable breakout season. The 15-year-old produced a fighting 96, crafted under pressure and shaped more by resilience than flair, but it wasn’t enough as Gujarat Titans sealed the contest in Mullanpur on Friday.

Gill, however, delivered the defining knock at the perfect moment. It was his first IPL century in two years, and it came when Gujarat needed it most. Chasing a daunting 215 — their first successful 200-plus chase of the season — the Titans made it look straightforward, reaching the target with 8 balls to spare. Gill and Sai Sudharsan set the tone with a commanding 167-run opening stand that effectively took the game away early.

Both captains had preferred to bat first, expecting the surface to slow down, but the conditions — and Gujarat’s execution — told a different story. The chase never drifted once it began, with the Titans maintaining control from the powerplay onward.

Rajasthan’s innings had earlier been powered by Sooryavanshi’s composed 96 off 47 balls, an innings that mixed maturity with controlled aggression against a disciplined Gujarat attack. Despite his effort, early wickets left Rajasthan under pressure, with Yashasvi Jaiswal dismissed for 1 and Dhruv Jurel soon after.

Sooryavanshi adapted impressively to Gujarat’s plans, rotating strike smartly and finding gaps even against set fields. He absorbed short-ball pressure from Mohammed Siraj and countered Kagiso Rabada’s pace with calculated aggression, including a well-timed six over long-off.

A brief injury scare after a heavy blow from Rabada momentarily halted momentum, but he returned to continue the fight, eventually falling just short of a century when caught at deep third.

Rajasthan were lifted late by Shimron Hetmyer-style finishing from Donovan Ferreira, whose explosive 38 off 11 balls pushed them to 214/7 — a total that looked competitive but ultimately proved insufficient.

In response, Gujarat’s top order dismantled the target with clinical efficiency. Once Gill and Sudharsan settled, the chase never looked in doubt. Gujarat reached the final with confidence, setting up a high-profile clash against Royal Challengers Bengaluru — a rematch of Qualifier 1 and a chance to settle old scores at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

For now, though, the night belonged to Gill and Gujarat — and a chase that ended Rajasthan’s season in emphatic fashion.