Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) booked their place in a second consecutive IPL final on 27 May 2026, dismantling Gujarat Titans by 92 runs in Qualifier 1 at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, Dharamshala. Director of cricket Mo Bobat attributed the emphatic win to a collective team effort, saying the franchise's ability to draw contributions from across the squad has been its defining trait this season.

A Complete Batting Performance

RCB posted a record 254/5, with captain Rajat Patidar anchoring the innings with an unbeaten 93. Venkatesh Iyer provided the early momentum, Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal kept the scoreboard ticking in the middle phase, and Krunal Pandya forged a crucial partnership with Patidar during the middle overs. The innings was a textbook display of shared batting responsibility rather than reliance on a single match-winner.

Bowlers Seal the Deal

Gujarat Titans were bowled out for 162, never threatening the target. Jacob Duffy led the bowling attack with 3 wickets, while Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Rasikh Salam Dar, and Krunal Pandya claimed 2 wickets each to dismantle the Gujarat lineup. The workload was shared evenly across the attack, mirroring the batting approach.

What Bobat Said

Speaking at the post-match press conference, Bobat was candid about what separates this RCB side. 'I'm especially pleased that we've got a number of people contributing to wins. When people say things like ‘complete team’, that's probably what I'd reference. We are not too dependent on one or two players with the bat or the ball. We've had a number of guys stand up, and you need that to go far in competitions,' he said.

Bobat also highlighted the character of key players. 'Virat Kohli brings intensity, hunger, and fight. Krunal Pandya also has that aggression and always wants to be involved in difficult moments. Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood are calmer characters, but they also want to stand up under pressure. If you can build a team where players walk towards pressure situations rather than away from them, that counts for a lot,' he added.

Context and What's Next

This is RCB's second successive IPL final appearance, continuing the momentum built during their title-winning run last season. Notably, this is the same HPCA ground where RCB have produced some commanding performances in IPL 2026. The defending champions now head into the final on Sunday carrying significant form and confidence. Their opponents will be decided from the Eliminator and Qualifier 2 rounds still to be played.