Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru stormed into the IPL 2026 final with a crushing 92-run victory over Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 1 at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala on Tuesday.
Led by a sensational unbeaten 93 off just 33 balls from captain Rajat Patidar, RCB piled up a mammoth 254/5 before bowling Gujarat Titans out for 162 in 19.3 overs to seal one of the most dominant playoff wins in IPL history.
RCB’s emphatic 92-run triumph is now the second-biggest victory by runs in IPL playoff history, surpassing Chennai Super Kings’ 86-run win over Delhi Capitals in 2012.
Biggest Wins In IPL Playoffs (By Runs)
| Team | Margin | Opponent | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mumbai Indians | 146 runs | Rajasthan Royals | 2025 |
| Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 92 runs | Gujarat Titans | 2026 |
| Chennai Super Kings | 86 runs | Delhi Capitals | 2012 |
Batting first after being put in, RCB produced a batting masterclass. Virat Kohli (43) and Devdutt Padikkal (30) laid a solid foundation before Patidar unleashed absolute carnage in the death overs.
The RCB skipper survived two dropped chances early in his innings and made GT pay heavily, smashing nine sixes and five boundaries in a breathtaking knock. Alongside Krunal Pandya (43), Patidar powered Bengaluru to a staggering finish as RCB hammered 114 runs in the final six overs, including 86 in the last five alone.
Gujarat Titans never recovered from a disastrous start in the chase. Sai Sudharsan suffered a bizarre dismissal after his bat slipped from his hands and disturbed the stumps, while skipper Shubman Gill also departed cheaply.
GT collapsed to 51/5 inside the powerplay, effectively ending the contest early. Rahul Tewatia fought back bravely with a counterattacking 68, but the required rate continued to soar as Bengaluru’s bowlers kept striking at regular intervals.
The defending champions eventually wrapped up the innings for 162, sealing a massive win and booking a direct ticket to the IPL 2026 final.
