From the very first ball of the chase, GT signalled their intent. Sai Sudharsan took on Jofra Archer, who had been RR’s new‑ball enforcer all season, carting him for four boundaries in the opening over to collect 19 runs. It was the first time in IPL 2026 that Archer had conceded 15 or more runs in the opening over — a psychological blow that RR never recovered from.

What followed was a partnership of breathtaking precision and power. Gill and Sudharsan added 167 runs for the first wicket in just 77 balls, completely dismantling RR’s bowling attack. Gill brought up his half‑century in 31 balls — his seventh of the season — before accelerating towards a spectacular century.

The 167-run stand was the highest opening partnership in IPL playoff history, surpassing the previous record held by Shane Watson and Faf du Plessis for CSK in 2018. By the time the partnership was broken — in the most bizarre fashion — GT had already knocked the stuffing out of the chase, needing just 48 runs from 43 balls with 9 wickets in hand.

Just when the GT chase seemed to be marching towards a routine victory, cricket delivered one of its strangest moments. Sai Sudharsan, attempting to slice a low full toss from Brijesh Sharma, accidentally dropped his bat onto the stumps. The bails were dislodged — and the umpire had no choice but to rule him out hit‑wicket.

Incredibly, it was the second consecutive playoff match in which Sudharsan had been dismissed hit‑wicket. In Qualifier 1 against RCB, he had suffered the same fate, becoming only the second player in IPL history to be dismissed in this manner in a knockout game. With this repeat dismissal, Sudharsan now holds the unwanted record for the most playoff hit‑wickets in IPL history.

When RR lost Yashasvi Jaiswal (1) and Dhruv Jurel (7) within the first two overs to Rabada and Siraj, the Royals were reeling at 9/2. But Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, the 15‑year‑old sensation, once again rose to the occasion. He unleashed a breathtaking counter‑attack, punishing Siraj for three boundaries in the third over and then taking on Holder and Sundar in the middle overs.

Sooryavanshi’s 96 off 47 balls — laced with 8 fours and 7 sixes — was an innings of remarkable maturity. He reached his sixth fifty of the season in 31 balls, anchoring the innings as wickets fell around him. He added 70 runs for the third wicket with Ravindra Jadeja (45* off 35) and then launched a late assault alongside Donovan Ferreira (38* off 11, with 4 sixes), who provided the finishing kick.

But just as he looked set for a well‑deserved century, Rabada returned to dismiss him in the 18th over. For the second knockout match in a row, Sooryavanshi fell agonisingly short of three figures — 97 against SRH in the Eliminator, and now 96 in Qualifier 2.

With this emphatic seven‑wicket victory, Gujarat Titans have booked their place in the IPL 2026 final. They will face defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Sunday, May 31, at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. It will be a clash of two giants — GT’s disciplined unit against RCB’s explosive batting lineup led by Rajat Patidar and Virat Kohli.

For Rajasthan Royals, the campaign ends in heartbreak. Despite a remarkable season that saw them defy expectations, Riyan Parag and his young squad fell just one game short of the final. But with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s emergence as a global superstar, RR’s future looks incredibly bright. As Parag himself summed up: “We weren’t supposed to qualify, given that many players were young and inexperienced, but many youngsters performed well and can only improve from here.”