“Happy to get the win”: Shubman Gill delighted after winning POTM and stroming i – Shubman Gill Century Propels Gujarat Titans Into IPL 2026 Final
The High-Stakes Showdown in Mullanpur
The Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur was filled to capacity as the Gujarat Titans (GT) and the Rajasthan Royals (RR) faced off in the high-stakes Qualifier 2 of the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026. With a ticket to the grand final on the line, the stage was set for a thriller. In what turned out to be a masterclass in run-chasing, the Gujarat Titans registered a resounding 7-wicket victory, dominated by a magnificent century from skipper Shubman Gill.
Early Toss Confusion and Team Changes
The match began with a rare and unusual moment of confusion during the toss. The coin had to be flipped twice because the first call from Rajasthan Royals’ player Riyan Parag was not heard clearly by the match referee and officials. Consequently, the toss was re-conducted, and the coin fell in favor of the Royals. RR captain elected to bat first, fielding an unchanged lineup. The Gujarat Titans, on the other hand, made a tactical adjustment, introducing left-arm spinner R Sai Kishore to their playing XI.
Rajasthan Royals Post a Formidable 214/6
Rajasthan Royals’ decision to bat first initially seemed to backfire as they got off to a disastrous start. Aggressive opener Yashasvi Jaiswal was dismissed early for just 1 run, and Dhruv Jurel quickly followed him back to the pavilion after scoring only 7. Struggling at 9/2, the Men in Pink were in desperate need of a partnership to steady the ship.
That stabilization came from young sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and the experienced Ravindra Jadeja. Sooryavanshi played an aggressive knock, bringing up his half-century in just 31 deliveries. Meanwhile, Jadeja contributed a steady 34 runs before he was forced to retire hurt. However, a quick succession of wickets meant Jadeja had to return to the crease later in the innings to rescue the side. Sooryavanshi continued his onslaught, transitioning into top gear before unfortunately being dismissed on 96, narrowly missing out on a well-deserved century.
The final five overs of the Royals’ innings saw an explosive assault from Jadeja and Donovan Ferreira. Ferreira played the role of the primary aggressor, smashing an unbeaten 38 runs off just 11 deliveries. Jadeja remained solid at the other end, finishing unbeaten on 45 as Rajasthan Royals posted a highly competitive total of 214/6 in their allotted 20 overs.
GT’s Blistering Start and the Record Opening Partnership
Chasing a challenging target of 215, Gujarat Titans needed a fast start, and their opening duo of Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan delivered exactly that. The two batters launched a fierce attack on the Royals’ bowling unit, racing to 50 runs within the first four overs. They capitalised on the powerplay, compiling 69/0 in the first six overs to lay a rock-solid foundation for the chase.
The opening partnership looked completely unbothered by the pressure of the playoff match, easily crossing the 100-run mark. During this partnership, the GT captain Shubman Gill brought up his half-century off just 30 balls. However, just as the chase seemed entirely under control, the 167-run opening stand was broken in an unfortunate manner. Sai Sudharsan was dismissed hit-wicket for 58 runs, missing out on finishing the game alongside his captain.
Gill’s Sensational Century Seals the Victory
Undeterred by the loss of his partner, Shubman Gill continued his imperious form, pacing his innings to perfection. He reached his spectacular century in just 47 balls, putting on a show of clean hitting and calculated risk-taking. Gill’s knock of 104 runs brought the Titans to the brink of victory, leaving very little work for the incoming batsmen.
Following Gill’s departure late in the chase, the experienced Rahul Tewatia ensured there were no late hiccups. Tewatia remained unbeaten on 17 runs, hitting the winning runs in style to guide the Gujarat Titans over the finish line and into the IPL 2026 final.
Player of the Match Reaction
For his match-winning century, Shubman Gill was named the Player of the Match. Speaking after the game, the GT skipper expressed his satisfaction with the team’s performance and discussed his batting mindset during the chase.
“There was some confusion there but happy to get the win,” Gill stated, referencing the early match incidents. “We complement each other well, we understand each other very well and when we communicate we know what bowler to take down. I don’t think I have seen anything, no one has seen anything like that in two matches in a row. It was all about I was in kind of in a zone, I was looking at the bowlers and see the ball, pick my spots to score the runs.”
Gill further added, “That’s what happens when you are batting well. We got a total, and once we got off to a start, I wanted to finish the game. We are very fortunate to have very good bowlers, Sai Kishore didn’t even have a bowl today.”
