RCB vs GT Qualifier 1 Highlights: Rajat Patidar, Krunal Pandya shine as Bengaluru crush Gujarat to reach IPL 2026 final

Rajat Patidar wins the Player of the Match award for his 93 off 33 balls.

"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."

Both Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Kagiso Rabada picked up two wickets each today to keep the battle on for the IPL 2026 Purple Cap.

Most wickets in IPL 2026:

1. Bhuvneshwar Kumar - 26 wickets in 15 innings
2. Kagiso Rabada - 26 wickets in 15 innings
3. Jofra Archer - 21 wickets in 14 innings
4. Anshul Kamboj - 21 wickets in 14 innings

"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."

RCB become the first team to secure the IPL 2026 final spot today. GT will get another chance in Qualifier 2 on May 29 in New Chandigarh, where they will face the winner of tomorrow's Eliminator clash between SRH and RR.

That's how you 𝗣𝗟𝗔𝗬 𝗕𝗢𝗟𝗗! ❤️

Defending champions @RCBTweets are on their way to a second consecutive #TATAIPL final 👏😌

Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/9rs6u5obOw#Qualifier1 | #TheFinalLeap | #RCBvGT pic.twitter.com/1bhTGqwTok

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 26, 2026

Krunal Pandya removes Mohammed Siraj in the last over to bowl out GT on 162. With a big statement win, RCB enter the IPL 2026 finals.

RCB - 254/5 in 20 overs

GT - 162/10 in 19.3 overs

Royal Challengers Bengaluru win by 92 runs

Bhuvneshwar Kumar brings an end to Rahul Tewatia's incredible knock in the 19th over. Rajat Patidar takes a stunning catch at mid-off to put RCB on a track for a big win.

Tewatia scored 68 off 43 balls. Prasidh Krishna comes in at No. 11.

GT - 156/9 in 18.1 overs

Gujarat Titans need 99 runs in 11 balls to win the game

Rahul Tewatia brings up his first fifty of the season with two fours off Josh Hazlewood in the 17th over. A sensational 33-ball fifty for Tewatia.

Rahul Tewatia - 57 off 36 balls

Mohammed Siraj - 5 off 12 balls

GT - 143/8 in 17 overs (CRR 8.41, RRR 37.33)

Gujarat Titans need 112 runs in 18 balls to win the game

Trademark Tewatia x 2⃣ 💥

🎥 A couple of delightful shots from the #GT batter 👌

Updates ▶️ https://t.co/9rs6u5obOw#TATAIPL | #Qualifier1 | #TheFinalLeap | #RCBvGT | @gujarat_titans pic.twitter.com/ZfUuxPd8E2

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 26, 2026

Rahul Tewatia has been superb in the last few overs and is taking on every bowler to close the gap. RCB's win is inevitable, but Tewatia is delaying it with an incredible batting performance today.

Rahul Tewatia - 48 off 31 balls

Mohammed Siraj - 5 off 10 balls

GT - 134/8 in 16 overs (CRR 8.37, RRR 30.25)

Gujarat Titans need 121 runs in 24 balls to win the game

Rahul Tewatia welcomes Romario Shepherd with 4, 4, 0, 6 in the 13th over to deny RCB a joy of the biggest win in IPL history.

Rahul Tewatia -22 off 19 balls

Rashid Khan - 4 off 5 balls

GT - 107/8 in 13 overs (CRR 8.23, RRR 21.14)

Gujarat Titans need 148 runs in 42 balls to win the game

Krunal Pandya gets Kagiso Rabada, who goes for a big shot over the deep mid wicket and finds Virat Kohli. RCB are now 2 wickets away from a mega win in Dharamsala.

Rabada scored 9 off 5 balls. Mohammed Siraj comes in at No. 10.

GT - 92/8 in 12 overs (CRR 7.66, RRR 20.37)

Gujarat Titans need 163 runs in 48 balls to win the game

An edge and caught behind. Jacob Duffy strikes again as he removes Rashid Khan after getting smashed for a six in the 11th over. Duffy finishes his quota with 3 wickets for 39 today, claiming his place in RCB's XI final for the potential IPL 2026 final.

Rashid scored 8 off 9 balls. Kagiso Rabada comes in at No. 9.

Rahul Tewatia - 6 off 13 balls

Rashid Khan - 2 off 7 balls

GT - 83/7 in 11 overs (CRR 7.54, RRR 19.11)

Gujarat Titans need 172 runs in 54 balls to win the game

Krunal Pandya concedes just 4 runs off his first over as Rahul Tewatia and Radhid Khan look to avoid throwing wickets.

Rahul Tewatia - 6 off 13 balls

Rashid Khan - 2 off 7 balls

GT - 70/6 in 10 overs (CRR 7.00, RRR 18.71)

Gujarat Titans need 185 runs in 60 balls to win the game

Jacob Duffy returns for his second spell and removes Washington Sundar, who goes for a big shot, but finds Josh Hazlewood at deep third. RCB are on the course of the biggest victory in IPL history.

Sundar scored 8 off 8 balls. Rashid Khan comes in at No. 8.

GT - 65/6 in 8.2 overs (CRR 7.80 RRR 16.28)

Gujarat Titans need 190 runs in 70 balls to win the game

Striking the best, in exactly the best way possible! 🎯

Bhuvneshwar Kumar 🤝 Josh Hazlewood ❤️

Updates ▶️ https://t.co/9rs6u5obOw#TATAIPL | #Qualifier1 | #TheFinalLeap | #RCBvGT | @RCBTweets pic.twitter.com/tcPZkJCYoc

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 26, 2026