Dharamshala: Royal Challengers Bengaluru stormed into the IPL final for the second consecutive season after thrashing Gujarat Titans by 92 runs in Dharamshala on Tuesday. Defending champions Bengaluru posted 254/5 in 20 overs before bowling Gujarat out for 162 in 19.3 overs. The side is now just one step away from defending its title successfully.
Bengaluru’s 254/5 is now the highest total ever recorded in an IPL knockout/playoff match, surpassing Gujarat’s previous playoff record of 233/3 against Mumbai.
Interestingly, the same two teams could meet again in Sunday’s final in Ahmedabad. Gujarat will now face the winner of Wednesday’s Eliminator between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Rajasthan Royals in Qualifier 2 on Friday. If Gujarat win that clash, they will get another shot at Bengaluru in the title clash.
Gujarat batting collapses under massive target
Gujarat’s heavily celebrated batting line-up failed badly while chasing the mammoth 255-run target. Rahul Tewatia was the lone fighter with 68 runs off 43 balls, including four sixes and eight boundaries.
At one stage, Gujarat looked in danger of breaking their own unwanted record of 89 all out. In comparison, Bengaluru lost their fifth wicket at 214, while Gujarat’s fifth wicket fell at just 51 runs.
Fast bowler Rasikh Salam changed the game with two wickets in one over, dismissing Nishant Sindhu and Jason Holder. Bengaluru bowlers were clinical throughout, with Jacob Duffy taking three wickets, Rasikh Salam claiming two, while Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Krunal Pandya picked up two each. Josh Hazlewood chipped in with one wicket.
Sudharsan hit-wicket, Gill cleaned up early
Tournament’s leading run-scorer Sai Sudharsan suffered an unusual hit-wicket dismissal. After attempting a shot off Duffy, his bat slipped from his hands and hit the stumps behind him. Sudharsan departed for 14.
Gujarat captain Shubman Gill, who had scored 618 runs this season, was clean bowled by the very bowler he would have feared the most — Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Gill managed only two runs.
Jos Buttler was also bowled by Hazlewood for 29, leaving Gujarat in deep trouble. These three top-order batters had carried Gujarat into the playoffs, but all failed badly in the crucial clash.
Patidar’s six-hitting carnage powers Bengaluru
Earlier, Bengaluru piled up 254/5 thanks to a sensational captain’s knock from Rajat Patidar, who smashed an unbeaten 93 off just 33 balls with nine sixes and five fours.
Patidar stitched together a 95-run stand in 47 balls with Krunal Pandya, added 25 runs in 11 balls alongside Tim David, and then finished strongly with wicketkeeper Jitesh Sharma in an unbeaten 40-run partnership off only 12 deliveries.
After Tim David’s dismissal in the 18th over, Bengaluru exploded in the death overs, with four sixes and two fours coming in the final scoring shots.
The innings also featured valuable contributions from Virat Kohli, who scored 43 off 25 balls, Devdutt Padikkal’s 30 off 19 balls, and opener Venkatesh Iyer’s rapid 19 off just seven deliveries.
Hyderabad vs Rajasthan in Eliminator today
New Chandigarh hosts Wednesday’s Eliminator between third-placed Hyderabad and fourth-placed Rajasthan from 7:30 PM IST. Both teams possess explosive top orders capable of turning the game quickly.
Hyderabad have already beaten Rajasthan twice this season and have won each of their last six matches against them overall. However, Rajasthan remain unbeaten in New Chandigarh this season.
The losing team will be knocked out of the tournament, while the winner will face Gujarat in Qualifier 2 on Friday.
Also Read: IPL to Be Shifted to September-October From 2028? Tournament May Be Split Into Two Phases
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