The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have successfully punched their ticket to the IPL 2026 grand finale! In the historic Qualifier 1 clash at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala, the defending champions proved exactly why they finished at the top of the league table.
By completely dismantling a formidable Gujarat Titans (GT) side in a wildly one-sided affair, winning by a massive margin of 92 runs, Bengaluru has bypassed Qualifier 2 and secured a direct spot in the championship match, continuing their phenomenal run in the tournament.
The highly anticipated Qualifier 1 was an absolute batting masterclass from the Royal Challengers Bengaluru. After losing the toss and being sent in to bat, RCB came out with fierce explosive intent. Taking full advantage of the high-altitude conditions, Virat Kohli (43 off 25 balls) and Venkatesh Iyer (19 off 7 balls) dominated the new ball, laying the foundation with a staggering 76/1 to record their highest-ever powerplay score in an IPL playoff match.
Following this rapid start, captain Rajat Patidar played one of the greatest playoff innings in tournament history. Smashing an unbelievable 93 not out off just 33 balls, including 9 massive sixes and 5 fours, alongside Krunal Pandya (43 off 28 balls) and a late cameo from Jitesh Sharma (15* off 5), propelled RCB to a mammoth total of 254/5 in their 20 overs.
In response, the Gujarat Titans completely capitulated under the immense scoreboard pressure of the 255-run target. Their chase was dealt multiple massive blows early on, exacerbated by the bizarre hit-wicket dismissal of their in-form opener Sai Sudharsan (14 off 9). Despite a heroic, lone-warrior effort from Rahul Tewatia, who smashed 68 off 43 balls (including 4 sixes and 8 fours), the rest of the GT batting lineup crumbled.
RCB’s disciplined bowling attack executed their plans perfectly. Jacob Duffy led the charge with a jolting spell of 3/39, while Bhuvneshwar Kumar (2/28), Rasikh Salam (2/24), and Krunal Pandya (2/16) ripped through the Gujarat order. The Titans were eventually bowled out for just 162 in 19.3 overs when Krunal Pandya claimed the final wicket of Mohammed Siraj, mathematically sealing a dominant 92-run victory for Bengaluru.
RCB’s History in IPL Finals
Prior to securing their spot in the upcoming 2026 championship match, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) had qualified for the IPL finals four times in their history. Including today’s monumental victory in Qualifier 1, which marks their fifth overall final appearance, here is the breakdown of their championship matches:
2009: Reached the final but lost to the Deccan Chargers in a hard-fought contest in South Africa.
2011: Reached the final but lost to the Chennai Super Kings, falling short against MS Dhoni’s side.
2016: Reached the final but suffered a heartbreak at home, losing to the Sunrisers Hyderabad in a high-scoring thriller.
2025: Reached the final and defeated the Punjab Kings to officially break their long title drought and claim their maiden IPL title.
2026: Reached the final after a dominant 92-run Qualifier 1 victory against the Gujarat Titans, setting up a chance for back-to-back trophies.
Having finally tasted championship glory in 2025, the Bengaluru franchise has thoroughly shed its “chokers” tag. As they gear up for the IPL 2026 final, fans are eagerly waiting to see if Rajat Patidar and his men can successfully defend their crown and secure consecutive IPL titles.