After amassing 254, the RCB quicks ran riot, taking out half of GT's side in the powerplay and eventually bowling them out for 162
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Scorer: Thilak Ram | Commentator: George Binoy
So, RCB are through to the IPL 2026 final in Ahmedabad on May 31. They will have a four day break to prepare to defend their title, while the other three contenders - RR, SRH and GT - battle it out to get there. GT have another chance at making it, they will play Qualifier 2 on May 29 in New Chandigarh against the winner of tomorrow's Eliminator between RR and SRH.
Shubman Gill: We were going pretty well until the 12th, 13th over ... fielding was not up to the mark, catching and ground fielding. One of those games we want to forget, and start over ... we do address fielding in team meetings and practice sessions, under pressure situations we were not up to the mark. It's all about getting a good start in the chase, in the powerplay, on a ground like this the ball travels, the outfield is quick, it could have been chase-able had we got a good start.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar with his Purple Cap: A lot of credit to the planning behind the scenes ... if we plan well we can execute well. It's everyone, our experience, the support staff the small things they bring ... it works for us. We are data informed, if there is something new players are doing we look into that ... not 100% data but it helps. We made effort not to give any room, and look for lbw and bowled, it's part of our planning for sure.
I'll have the presentation for you shortly. This game has meandered for so long that Patidar's carnage feels like ages ago!
Ishwar: "The win probability chart tells a story. At no point in the game did GT have any chance of winning. A comprehensive win by RCB to book a date with destiny on the 31st."
Rajat Patidar, winning captain and player of the match: Super game for us, the way the batters dominated, striking with intent, was good for us. It wasn't a clear plan, but we were ready for it, have to show some body language that we are ready for you, every batter showed it, attacking mindset. I take a few balls 8-10 balls to see how the wicket is doing and then I have a clear mind to go about it, I'm not worried about my wicket. I try and put the bowler under pressure. The wicket was not that easy to get under the ball and hit, there was variable bounce. The way GT play till now, we were clear we had to get their three main batters out in the powerplay, and it worked.
So nearly two months after playing the first match of IPL 2026 on March 28, the defending champions RCB have booked their place in the final. GT have a second chance to get there, they will play Qualifier 2 against the winner of tomorrow's Eliminator between RR and SRH. Do join us for that game, promises to be a cracker. Cheers.
Mohammed Siraj c David b Pandya 5 (40m 13b 1x4 0x6) SR: 38.46
Harsha: "Is Kohli bowling the last over today?" It's K.....runal.
This wasn't a match RCB could play conventionally; they realised that and changed their strategy, selection and tempo to drag GT out of their comfort zone
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Virat Kohli scored a 25-ball 43 in RCB's 92-run win over GT in IPL 2026 Qualifier 1 to move up to fourth place on the Orange Cap table
"Everybody who had a chance to impact the game and put pressure on the opposition was able to do that," RCB director of cricket Mo Bobat says after crushing GT in Qualifier 1
In IPL 2026, Rajat Patidar's middle-overs runs have come at a strike rate of 206.66, more than a-run-an-over quicker than the next-best non-opener in that period
