Captain Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan orchestrated a dominant batting display before Washington Sundar's explosive cameo propelled Gujarat Titans to 229/4 against Rajasthan Royals in their IPL 2026 encounter at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium on 9 May. Sent in to bat by stand-in captain Yashasvi Jaiswal, GT seized control on a batting-friendly surface and never relinquished it.

Explosive powerplay sets the tone

The opening over from Jofra Archer set a chaotic tone, leaking 18 runs including nine extras. Sudharsan capitalised immediately, driving and cutting with authority while Gill settled methodically at the other end. Rajasthan's bowlers struggled with their lines throughout the powerplay as GT raced to 82 without loss in six overs — their joint-highest powerplay total in IPL history. Gill accelerated in the fifth over, hammering Archer for a six and two boundaries to tilt momentum decisively.

Record opening partnership dominates

The opening pair brought up 100 in just 8.1 overs and continued to dismantle Rajasthan's attack with intelligent strokeplay and sharp running. Gill and Sudharsan registered their sixth century stand as an opening pair in IPL history, a testament to their growing partnership at the top of Gujarat's order. Sudharsan was particularly fluent, punishing short deliveries and taking on both pace and spin with minimal risk.

Sudharsan's departure, Gill's surge

Yash Raj Punja provided Rajasthan's breakthrough in the 11th over when Sudharsan mistimed a lofted shot to long-on after a superb 55 off 36 balls (six fours, two sixes). The 108-run opening stand had laid the perfect platform. Gill continued to dictate terms with elegant strokeplay, bringing up his fourth fifty of the season. Jos Buttler briefly threatened with a six and boundary before Ravindra Jadeja dismissed him for 13.

Gill's acceleration halted; Sundar takes over

Gill accelerated further in the death overs, striking boundaries and sixes, but fell short of a century when he was dismissed for a sparkling 84 off 44 balls (nine fours, three sixes). His innings had kept GT on course for a 230-plus total. Washington Sundar then seized the moment with a powerful left-handed cameo, striking boundaries cleanly against both pace and spin, including successive fours and sixes off Brijesh Sharma. Sundar finished unbeaten on 37 off 20 balls.

Death-over carnage seals dominant total

Rahul Tewatia delivered the finishing touches with two sixes in the final over as GT smashed 21 runs off the last six deliveries to reach 229/4. For Rajasthan, Jadeja was the most economical with 1/34, while Punja and Sharma took one wicket each. However, RR's bowling unit endured another difficult outing, conceding 200-plus totals for the seventh time this season — a concerning trend in their tournament campaign.