Rajasthan Royals and Gujarat Titans locked horns in Qualifier 2 of IPL 2026 at the New International Cricket Stadium, New Chandigarh.
Opting to bat first after winning the toss, Rajasthan aimed to capitalise on the venue’s batting-friendly conditions, where average first-innings scores have soared past 220 this season.
The Royals entered with explosive momentum, led by Yashasvi Jaiswal’s aggressive stroke play and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s consistency in the Powerplay. Their top order has thrived at over 11 runs per over, making them one of the most dangerous sides in the early overs. Gujarat, however, carried the weight of history, having won seven of the ten previous encounters between the two teams, including both playoff meetings.
The venue promised a run-fest, with Powerplays averaging 74/1, the highest among all grounds hosting five or more matches. Rajasthan’s proven chasing ability, highlighted by their successful pursuit of 223 against Punjab Kings, added another layer of intrigue.
Key battles defined the contest: Jos Buttler’s struggle against Ravindra Jadeja’s spin, averaging just 14, and Donovan Ferreira’s vulnerability against Rashid Khan, who has consistently outfoxed him with variations. Gujarat’s composure in high-pressure games and Rajasthan’s explosive batting made this clash a perfect blend of history and momentum.
As the match unfolded, fans witnessed a contest where early momentum and top-order dominance were set to decide who would march into the IPL 2026 final.
Playing XIs
Rajasthan Royals XIs: V. Sooryavanshi, Y. Jaiswal, D. Jurel (wk), R. Parag (c), D. Ferreira, D. Shanaka, R. Jadeja, J. Archer, N. Burger, B. Sharma, Y. Punja
Gujarat Titans XIs: S. Gill (c), S. Sudharsan, J. Buttler (wk), W. Sundar, N. Sindhu, J. Holder, R. Khan, S. Kishore, K. Rabada, P. Krishna, M. Siraj
