Fans erupt as captain Shubman Gill dazzles with a century as GT seal IPL 2026 Final berth in emphatic Qualifier 2 triumph over RR

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The Narendra Modi Stadium caravan may have shifted, but the Gujarat Titans (GT) still know exactly how to conquer the grandest stages. On a high-octane evening at New Chandigarh on Friday, Gujarat Titans sealed their berth in the IPL 2026 Final with an emphatic seven-wicket victory over the Rajasthan Royals (RR) in Qualifier 2.

Chasing a mammoth target of 215, GT showcased their championship pedigree, hunting down the total with 8 balls to spare. While the match saw incredible momentum swings, it was ultimately defined by a masterclass in modern T20 chasing that left the packed Chandigarh crowd completely spellbound.

Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s valiant knock takes RR to a competitive score

Sent in to bat first in this high-stakes knockout, the Rajasthan Royals endured a nightmare start. Speedster Mohammed Siraj struck in the very first over, removing the dangerous Yashasvi Jaiswal for just 1. Things worsened when Kagiso Rabada dismissed Dhruv Jurel for 7, leaving RR reeling at 9 for 2 within the first two overs.

However, what followed was a dazzling exhibition of fearless youth. Teen prodigy Vaibhav Suryavanshi counter-attacked with breathtaking maturity. Suryavanshi smashed a brilliant 96 off just 47 balls, an innings studded with 10 pristine boundaries and 4 towering sixes. Alongside Ravindra Jadeja, who anchored the middle overs with a crucial, unbeaten 45 off 35 balls despite briefly retiring hurt, Suryavanshi completely shifted the pressure back onto GT’s bowling attack.

When Suryavanshi finally fell to Rabada in the 18th over, missing out on a well-deserved century, the platform was perfectly set. Late-fireworks from Donovan Ferreira, who blazed a rapid 38 off just 11 balls at a jaw-dropping strike rate of 345.45, propelled the Royals to a formidable 214 for 6 in their 20 overs. Rabada was the pick of the GT bowlers, snaring 2 wickets for 35 runs, while Jason Holder choked the run flow beautifully in the death overs with figures of 2 for 27.

Shubman Gill leads from the front with a stunning century as GT outclass opponents in Qualifier 2

A target of 215 in an IPL Qualifier can unnerve the best of teams, but Gujarat’s opening duo treated it like just another day at the office. Skipper Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan systematically dismantled the RR bowling attack right from the Powerplay. The duo stitched together a phenomenal 167-run opening stand in just 12.5 overs.

Sudharsan played a gorgeous hand, anchoring his way to 58 off 32 balls before falling in a bizarre hit-wicket dismissal off Brijesh Sharma. But the night belonged entirely to the captain. Gill played a truly mesmerizing knock, bringing up a spectacular century off just 47 deliveries. Gill eventually departed for a masterly 104 off 53 balls, leaving a trail of 15 boundaries and 3 sixes that left Jofra Archer (1 for 45) and Nandre Burger (1 for 35) searching for answers.

Following Gill’s dismissal with the score at 182, experienced finisher Jos Buttler locked it down with a calm 9* off 9 balls. Alongside a characteristically aggressive cameo from Rahul Tewatia (17* off 9 balls), GT cruised across the finish line at 219 for 3 in 18.4 overs. With this clinical 7-wicket triumph, the Titans march proudly into the IPL 2026 Final, firmly reminding the cricketing world why they remain the ultimate powerhouse of the tournament.

Also READ: Fans hail Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s heroic innings after near-century against GT in IPL 2026 Qualifier 2

Here’s how fans reacted:

Also WATCH: Vaibhav Suryavanshi plays a vintage Kohli-esque shot off Kagiso Rabada for six during GT vs RR Qualifier 2

Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: crickettimes.com

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