Gujarat Titans booked their place in the IPL 2026 final with a remarkable chase against Rajasthan Royals, overcoming another stunning display from teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. The victory sends GT into a title showdown against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Ahmedabad, where they will enjoy home advantage.
Sooryavanshi once again produced an innings that captivated cricket fans around the world. The 15 year old finished with 96 from 47 deliveries, narrowly missing a second consecutive century. His effort brought his tournament tally to an incredible 776 runs at a strike rate of 237.3, making this one of the most dominant batting campaigns ever witnessed in T20 cricket.
The young opener faced a challenging surface early on and also received limited support from the middle order. Rajasthan’s plans were disrupted further when Ravindra Jadeja, promoted up the order, was forced to retire hurt due to discomfort from a recurring elbow issue. Despite the setbacks, Sooryavanshi continued to find boundaries with remarkable ease and kept the Royals competitive throughout the innings.
Gujarat’s bowlers recovered strongly after a disappointing outing in Qualifier 1. Mohammed Siraj struck early by removing Yashasvi Jaiswal, while Kagiso Rabada dismissed Dhruv Jurel with a sharp delivery that moved off the surface. Jason Holder then played a crucial role through the middle phase, removing key batters and slowing Rajasthan’s momentum.
After Sooryavanshi departed just four runs short of a hundred, Donovan Ferreira provided a late boost by attacking Rashid Khan, helping Rajasthan post a competitive total.
However, Gujarat’s response was outstanding from the very beginning. Shubman Gill and B Sai Sudharsan made the chase appear far easier than expected. With the pitch improving under lights, both batters played with composure and precision, consistently finding gaps and rotating the strike while punishing loose deliveries.
Sudharsan continued his excellent season, but it was Gill who stole the spotlight. The GT captain produced a magnificent 104, registering the fastest century ever scored by a Gujarat Titans batter. Alongside Sudharsan, he also helped create a world record by putting together their 11th century partnership.
Their commanding stand laid the foundation for the second highest successful chase in a playoff or knockout match in T20 history. While Sooryavanshi once again showcased his extraordinary talent, Gujarat’s balanced batting effort proved decisive, securing their place in the IPL 2026 final.
