What cost GT against RCB in Qualifier 1 of IPL 2026?

RCB defeated GT by 92 runs in Qualifier 1 of IPL 2026.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) made it into their second successive final of the Indian Premier League (IPL). The Rajat Patidar-led side thrashed the Gujarat Titans by 92 runs in Qualifier 1 of IPL 2026 at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala on Tuesday.

RCB had a poor start to their innings as Venkatesh Iyer lost his wicket for just 19 runs. However, Virat Kohli (43) and Devdutt Padikkal (30) made up for the early loss and played brilliantly, adding 72 runs for the second wicket.

Star Caribbean all-rounder Jason Holder brought his team back in the game with wickets of both set batters, Kohli and Padikkal, in the same over.

Just when it seemed RCB were under pressure, captain Rajat Patidar (93*) came up with a blinder. He started a bit slow and had great support from Krunal Pandya (43), with whom he added 95 runs for the fourth wicket.

But once Patidar found his mojo back, he seemed to be batting on another planet. The RCB captain had a strike rate of over 281 as he helped his team post a total of 254 for five, the highest ever in IPL playoffs history.

It was a forgettable outing for the Gujarat Titans with the bat, and luck wasn’t on their side as well. Sai Sudharsan got hit-wicket while Shubman Gill struggled to get going. Jos Buttler (29) tried to counter-attack but failed to carry on the start that he had.

RCB pacers were all over the Gujarat as they left them tottering at 51 for five inside the powerplay. Rahul Tewatia (68) was the lone warrior for his team as he hit a fighting half-century. However, the target was too far in the end as RCB ended GT’s innings on 162 to win the clash by 92 runs.

Reasons behind GT’s defeat against RCB

3. GT’s Poor Fielding

GT’s poor fielding was one of the crucial reasons behind their defeat. They dropped a few catches. Rajat Patidar’s catch was dropped twice, and he changed the course of the match with his unbeaten half-century.

He scored an unbeaten 93 runs off 33 deliveries and took the RCB’s total to a mammoth 254/5. GT fielders also made a few goof-ups, offering boundaries to the opposition on a few occasions.

2. GT’s key bowlers’ poor performance

Another major reason behind GT’s poor loss against RCB was their bowling. Till the Qualifier 1, the Shubman Gill-led side had the most feared bowling lineup. They even entered the clash as favourites due to their bowling. However, what unfolded in the game was not what many expected.

The likes of Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna, who took wickets in clusters in the league stage, had no answers to the carnage by RCB batters.

Moreover, the inclusion of Kulwant Khejroliya in the team did not work as GT conceded 250 runs, which almost killed the game at the end of the first innings itself.

1. RCB’s dominance with both bat & ball

RCB overpowered GT in both batting and bowling. GT bowlers remained helpless against RCB batters, failing to get wickets at crucial moments.

In the second innings, RCB bowlers dismissed key GT batters cheaply, giving a big blow at the start. They restricted them to 51/5 in powerplay, winning the battle at the start of the second innings itself.

For more updates, follow Khel Now Cricket on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram.