Shubman Gill's breathtaking 104 off 53 balls — his fifth IPL century — and a record 167-run opening stand with B. Sai Sudharsan propelled Gujarat Titans (GT) to their highest-ever successful IPL chase on 29 May, as they overhauled Rajasthan Royals' (RR) total of 214 in Qualifier 2 at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, New Chandigarh. GT sealed the win by seven wickets with 8 balls to spare, booking a place in the IPL 2026 final against defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in Ahmedabad.

Gill's Masterclass at the Top

Gill was at his imperious best from the first ball, driving and pulling with authority against an attack that included Jofra Archer and Nandre Burger. He reached his fifty in just 30 balls before accelerating to bring up his century with a lofted extra-cover drive off Ravindra Jadeja, celebrating with his trademark bow. His innings was laced with 15 fours and 3 sixes at a strike rate of 196.23 — a knock that barely contained a mistimed shot.

Sudharsan was equally destructive at the other end, smashing 58 off 32 balls — including a lofted six off Yash Raj Punja to bring up his fifty in 26 deliveries — before his innings ended in bizarre fashion, hit-wicket off Brijesh Sharma for the second consecutive match. The 167-run partnership the pair constructed is a record opening stand for GT in IPL knockout cricket.

How the Chase Unfolded

GT's pursuit of 215 began at a furious pace, with 19 runs coming off Archer's first over alone. By the end of the Power-play, GT were 69 for no loss, and the asking rate was firmly under control. After Sudharsan's departure and Gill's subsequent dismissal — trapped lbw by Archer — Jos Buttler and Washington Sundar kept the momentum going. Sundar fell to Burger for 16 after hitting him for a six and four, before Rahul Tewatia applied the finishing touch with successive boundaries off Brijesh and a straight six to seal the win in 18.4 overs.

Royals' Innings: Sooryavanshi Falls Short of a Ton

Rajasthan Royals had posted a competitive 214/6 in 20 overs, built largely on Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's aggressive 96 and a late flourish from Ravindra Jadeja's unbeaten 45. GT's pace attack, led by Jason Holder (2/27) and Kagiso Rabada (2/45), kept taking wickets but could not prevent RR from posting a challenging total. Ultimately, it proved insufficient against Gill's onslaught.

GT's Road to the Final

This will be Gujarat Titans' third IPL final appearance — a remarkable record for a franchise that only entered the league in 2022. Notably, the final is a rematch of Qualifier 1, with the league's top two sides — GT and RCB — set to contest the title in Ahmedabad. The Gill-Sudharsan combination, which has been GT's primary batting engine throughout the tournament, will once again be the axis around which their final campaign revolves. All eyes now turn to whether RCB, seeking to defend their title, can find an answer to this formidable opening pair.

Brief Scores: Rajasthan Royals 214/6 in 20 overs (Vaibhav Sooryavanshi 96, Ravindra Jadeja 45*; Jason Holder 2/27, Kagiso Rabada 2/45) lost to Gujarat Titans 219/3 in 18.4 overs (Shubman Gill 104, B. Sai Sudharsan 58; Nandre Burger 1/35, Brijesh Sharma 1/44) by seven wickets.