RCB reaches IPL final

Published May 27, 2026 by The Daily Scout

- Royal Challengers Bengaluru beat Gujarat Titans by 92 runs in IPL 2026 Qualifier 1 on May 26 to secure a direct place in Sunday’s final. - Rajat Patidar made 93 not out from 33 balls as RCB posted 254 for 5, the highest team total in IPL playoff history. - The final is scheduled for May 31 in Ahmedabad, after Wednesday’s Eliminator and Friday’s Qualifier 2 decide RCB’s opponent.

Why it matters

Royal Challengers Bengaluru are through to the IPL 2026 final after beating Gujarat Titans by 92 runs in Qualifier 1 in Dharamshala on May 26. The result sent RCB straight to the title match on May 31 in Ahmedabad and left Gujarat with a second route through Qualifier 2. Rajat Patidar, RCB’s captain, made an unbeaten 93 from 33 balls as his side piled up 254 for 5, which the IPL said was the highest team total in playoff history. Gujarat were then bowled out for 162. ### How emphatic was the win? RCB’s 254 for 5 was described by the IPL as a record playoff total, and the margin of victory was 92 runs. Patidar’s innings included nine sixes and five boundaries, while Virat Kohli made 43 from 25 balls and Krunal Pandya added 43 from 28 in a 95-run stand with Patidar for the fourth wicket. (iplt20.com) Gujarat’s chase unraveled after what the IPL match report called a top-order collapse. The official report said Jacob Duffy and Bhuvneshwar Kumar led the early damage as Titans, chasing 255, never recovered and were dismissed for 162. ### Why did this match matter more than a normal knockout? Qualifier 1 carries a double advantage in the IPL playoff format. (iplt20.com) NDTV Profit’s playoff schedule said the winner of RCB-Gujarat would go directly to the final, while the loser would get another chance in Qualifier 2 against the winner of the Eliminator. That meant Tuesday’s game turned two possible fixtures into one guaranteed final assignment for Bengaluru. Instead of preparing for a second knockout, RCB now move directly to Ahmedabad, while Gujarat wait for the result of Sunrisers Hyderabad against Rajasthan Royals in Wednesday’s Eliminator. (ndtvprofit.com) ### Why is Patidar’s 93 the number everyone will remember? Patidar’s 93 not out came from 33 deliveries at a strike rate of 281.82, according to the IPL’s official match report. The innings began after RCB slipped to 104 for 3, and it transformed the match from a strong platform into a total beyond Gujarat’s reach. (ndtvprofit.com) The IPL report said Patidar reached his half-century in 21 balls and “drove” RCB’s record total. That made his innings the central performance in the playoff, not only because of the runs but because it came after Gujarat had briefly pulled the game back with two wickets from Jason Holder. ### What happens to Gujarat Titans now? (iplt20.com) Gujarat are not out of the tournament. NDTV Profit’s playoff explainer said Qualifier 2 in New Chandigarh on Friday will be played between the loser of Qualifier 1 and the winner of the Eliminator. (iplt20.com) Sunrisers Hyderabad and Rajasthan Royals meet in the Eliminator on Wednesday in New Chandigarh, with the winner advancing to face Gujarat. NDTV Profit said all playoff matches start at 7:30 p.m. IST. ### What does reaching the final change this week? (ndtvprofit.com) The IPL schedule now fixes RCB’s next appearance at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on May 31. That gives the team a defined gap between Qualifier 1 and the final, while the other finalist must come through an extra knockout on Friday. (ndtvprofit.com) Google also rolled out a cricket-themed doodle for the playoff phase on May 26, underlining the wider attention around the final four matches. NDTV Profit said the doodle was launched ahead of the playoffs and featured cricket imagery against a stadium backdrop. (ndtvprofit.com) May 31 is the next confirmed date in the bracket. RCB will play the winner of Gujarat Titans versus the winner of Sunrisers Hyderabad-Rajasthan Royals, with the final set for Ahmedabad at 7:30 p.m. IST. (ndtvprofit.com 1) (ndtvprofit.com 2)

Key numbers

Royal Challengers Bengaluru beat Gujarat Titans by 92 runs in IPL 2026 Qualifier 1 on May 26 to secure a direct place in Sunday’s final.
Rajat Patidar made 93 not out from 33 balls as RCB posted 254 for 5, the highest team total in IPL playoff history.
The final is scheduled for May 31 in Ahmedabad, after Wednesday’s Eliminator and Friday’s Qualifier 2 decide RCB’s opponent.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru are through to the IPL 2026 final after beating Gujarat Titans by 92 runs in Qualifier 1 in Dharamshala on May 26.

What happens next

Royal Challengers Bengaluru are through to the IPL 2026 final after beating Gujarat Titans by 92 runs in Qualifier 1 in Dharamshala on May 26.
The result sent RCB straight to the title match on May 31 in Ahmedabad and left Gujarat with a second route through Qualifier 2.
(ndtvprofit.com) Why is Patidar’s 93 the number everyone will remember?

Sources

Quick answers

What happened in RCB reaches IPL final?

Royal Challengers Bengaluru beat Gujarat Titans by 92 runs in IPL 2026 Qualifier 1 on May 26 to secure a direct place in Sunday’s final. Rajat Patidar made 93 not out from 33 balls as RCB posted 254 for 5, the highest team total in IPL playoff history. The final is scheduled for May 31 in Ahmedabad, after Wednesday’s Eliminator and Friday’s Qualifier 2 decide RCB’s opponent.

Why does RCB reaches IPL final matter?

Royal Challengers Bengaluru are through to the IPL 2026 final after beating Gujarat Titans by 92 runs in Qualifier 1 in Dharamshala on May 26. The result sent RCB straight to the title match on May 31 in Ahmedabad and left Gujarat with a second route through Qualifier 2. Rajat Patidar, RCB’s captain, made an unbeaten 93 from 33 balls as his side piled up 254 for 5, which the IPL said was the highest team total in playoff history. Gujarat were then bowled out for 162. How emphatic was the win? RCB’s 254 for 5 was described by the IPL as a record playoff total, and the margin of victory was 92 runs. Patidar’s innings included nine sixes and five boundaries, while Virat Kohli made 43 from 25 balls and Krunal Pandya added 43 from 28 in a 95-run stand with Patidar for the fourth wicket. (iplt20.com) Gujarat’s chase unraveled after what the IPL match report called a top-order collapse. The official report said Jacob Duffy and Bhuvneshwar Kumar led the early damage as Titans, chasing 255, never recovered and were dismissed for 162. Why did this match matter more than a normal knockout? Qualifier 1 carries a double advantage in the IPL playoff format. (iplt20.com) NDTV Profit’s playoff schedule said the winner of RCB-Gujarat would go directly to the final, while the loser would get another chance in Qualifier 2 against the winner of the Eliminator. That meant Tuesday’s game turned two possible fixtures into one guaranteed final assignment for Bengaluru. Instead of preparing for a second knockout, RCB now move directly to Ahmedabad, while Gujarat wait for the result of Sunrisers Hyderabad against Rajasthan Royals in Wednesday’s Eliminator. (ndtvprofit.com) Why is Patidar’s 93 the number everyone will remember? Patidar’s 93 not out came from 33 deliveries at a strike rate of 281.82, according to the IPL’s official match report. The innings began after RCB slipped to 104 for 3, and it transformed the match from a strong platform into a total beyond Gujarat’s reach. (ndtvprofit.com) The IPL report said Patidar reached his half-century in 21 balls and “drove” RCB’s record total. That made his innings the central performance in the playoff, not only because of the runs but because it came after Gujarat had briefly pulled the game back with two wickets from Jason Holder. What happens to Gujarat Titans now? (iplt20.com) Gujarat are not out of the tournament. NDTV Profit’s playoff explainer said Qualifier 2 in New Chandigarh on Friday will be played between the loser of Qualifier 1 and the winner of the Eliminator. (iplt20.com) Sunrisers Hyderabad and Rajasthan Royals meet in the Eliminator on Wednesday in New Chandigarh, with the winner advancing to face Gujarat. NDTV Profit said all playoff matches start at 7:30 p.m. IST. What does reaching the final change this week? (ndtvprofit.com) The IPL schedule now fixes RCB’s next appearance at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on May 31. That gives the team a defined gap between Qualifier 1 and the final, while the other finalist must come through an extra knockout on Friday. (ndtvprofit.com) Google also rolled out a cricket-themed doodle for the playoff phase on May 26, underlining the wider attention around the final four matches. NDTV Profit said the doodle was launched ahead of the playoffs and featured cricket imagery against a stadium backdrop. (ndtvprofit.com) May 31 is the next confirmed date in the bracket. RCB will play the winner of Gujarat Titans versus the winner of Sunrisers Hyderabad-Rajasthan Royals, with the final set for Ahmedabad at 7:30 p.m. IST. (ndtvprofit.com 1) (ndtvprofit.com 2)