Another key battle that could define the outcome of Qualifier 1 is the showdown between Josh Hazlewood and Shubman Gill. As the leader of the RCB’s pace attack, Hazlewood is often known for his pinpoint accuracy with fetching the ball at right line and length and ability to swing in both ways, which consistently tests the technique of top-order batters.
Gill, on the other hand, who has been in a sublime form in the ongoing IPL season, thrives on his exquisite timing and ability to punish anything slightly off-line. Shubman Gill and Josh Hazlewood faced off five times, including twice this season, with the GT skipper scoring 47 runs while being dismissed once by the Australian pacer.
In the second face-off between RCB and GT in IPL 2026, Shubman Gill smashed 24 runs in a single over off Josh Hazlewood, a masterclass in calculated aggression that turned the tide of the match. In the upcoming Qualifier 1 match, Gill and Hazlewood’s battle is expected to be crucial, with Gill’s elegant strokeplay facing a stern test against Hazlewood’s disciplined pace and accuracy in the Powerplay overs.