Captain Gill 104 Outguns Sooryavanshi 96 to Send GT to Final

The Result Gujarat Titans beat Rajasthan Royals by 7 wickets

RR: 214/6 in 20 overs. GT: 219/3 in 18.4 overs – chased down 215 with 8 balls to spare. Stakes: GT into the IPL 2026 final vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Ahmedabad on May 31.

The greatest batting season by anyone in a T20 tournament became even greater with 96 against the best bowling attack of the tournament on a not-so-straightforward pitch, but a near-solo effort from Vaibhav Sooryavanshi couldn't drag Rajasthan Royals (RR) into the IPL 2026 final. Gujarat Titans (GT) executed the second-highest successful chase in any knockout or playoff match in all T20 cricket, setting up a repeat of Qualifier 1 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the final. This time, however, GT will be playing at their home ground in Ahmedabad.

Gill’s Masterclass

Shubman Gill 104 off 53 – 15 fours, 3 sixes. Role: Anchored GT’s chase, captain’s knock under pressure. Partnership: 167-run opening stand with Sai Sudharsan off 77 balls. Sudharsan: 58 off 32.

Sooryavanshi’s Near-Century in Vain

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi 96 off 47 – 8 fours, 7 sixes. Context: 15-year-old prodigy, narrowly missed 100, caught at third man off Rabada. Support: Ravindra Jadeja 45_, Donovan Ferreira 38_ off 11 with 4 sixes in last over off Rashid Khan.

Sooryavanshi's IPL 2026 ended on 776 runs at a strike rate of 237.3 with this innings that was just as good as his 97 in the Eliminator albeit slower. He had to overcome an initially two-paced pitch, a weak RR middle order that turned chaotic with an injury to the new No. 4 Ravindra Jadeja, and a bowling attack that could exploit the conditions. From his slowest fifty - still only 31 balls - Sooryavanshi got to 96 off 47 but was caught at deep third with a century in sight for the second time in a row.

RR start: Lost Jaiswal and Jurel early to Siraj and Rabada, Sooryavanshi rebuilt with Jadeja. GT chase: Gill and Sudharsan dismantled RR bowling, Sudharsan hit wicket for 2nd game in a row. Bowling: Jason Holder 2/27 best for GT.

Sudharsan got a head start, enjoyed a life on 14 off 8, but Gill caught up and went past him with some delightful batting outside the powerplay as well. While Sooryavanshi had to clear fielders, it seemed in the second innings that there weren't enough fielders on duty, and gaps everywhere for Gill to find.

This hundred from Gill was the fastest by a GT player, the century stand between Gill and Sudharsan was a world-record 11th, and the chase was GT's highest. The most unimaginable feat of the night, though, belonged to Sudharsan, who lost his bat while hitting a ball to the off-side square boundary for the second time in two nights and was out hit-wicket again.

Bottom line: Gill’s 104 overshadowed Sooryavanshi’s 96 as GT chased 215 with ease, sealing their 3rd IPL final in 5 seasons. They get a rematch vs RCB after being hammered by them in Qualifier 1.