Mullanpur: In a high-octane encounter at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Gujarat Titans (GT) secured their berth in the IPL final for the third time. Exhibiting clinical precision, the Titans chased down a massive target of 215 runs to defeat the Rajasthan Royals (RR) by 7 wickets with 8 balls to spare.

While the night was set up by an explosive 96-run innings from Rajasthan's 15-year-old batting prodigy, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, it was ultimately eclipsed by a breathtaking, record-breaking century from Gujarat's skipper, Shubman Gill. With this clinical victory, Gujarat Titans have set up a mouth-watering title clash against the defending champions, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), in Ahmedabad.

Sooryavanshi and Jadeja Propel Rajasthan to 214/6

Opting to bat first on a used, slightly slower pitch, the Rajasthan Royals got off to a disastrous start. Explosive opener Yashasvi Jaiswal and Dhruv Jurel were both dismissed cheaply within the first two overs by Mohammed Siraj and Kagiso Rabada.

With the team reeling early, the teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi stood his ground courageously against a fierce, short-ball barrage from GT’s speedsters. Targeted with 150+ kph deliveries, Sooryavanshi showed maturity well beyond his years. After taking a sharp blow to his helmet from a Rabada bouncer, the youngster counter-attacked fearlessly, even smashing a stunning straight six off a 153 kph delivery from the South African pacer.

Ravindra Jadeja, promoted to number 4, played a perfect anchoring role, stitching a vital partnership with the teenager despite battling an elbow injury. Sooryavanshi accelerated spectacularly in the middle overs, hitting 8 fours and 7 sixes. However, heartbreak struck the youngster in the 90s for the second consecutive game, as he holed out to deep third man off Rabada for a magnificent 47-ball 96.

A late-innings explosive cameo from Donovan Ferreira (38* off 11 balls)—who plundered 27 runs off Rashid Khan’s final over—drove the Royals to a formidable total of 214/6.

The Gill-Sudharsan Show Demolishes the Chase

Chasing 215 in a high-pressure knockout game is traditionally considered a daunting task, but Gujarat’s opening duo made it look like an effortless evening stroll. Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan tore the Rajasthan bowling attack apart with a monumental 167-run opening partnership off just 77 deliveries, shattering the record for the highest partnership in IPL playoff history.

While Sudharsan played an elegant supporting role with a rapid 58 off 32 balls (before getting hit-wicket in a bizarre fashion for the second game in a row), Shubman Gill was the absolute orchestrator of the chase.

[Highest IPL Playoff Partnerships]
1. S. Gill & S. Sudharsan (GT) : 167 runs vs RR (2026)
2. V. Sehwag & M. Vohra (KXIP) : 141 runs vs KKR (2014)

Record-Breaking Cap for the Skipper

Gill’s innings was a masterclass in orthodox, classical cricketing strokes rather than brute force. He timed the ball exquisitely, piercing gaps at will and punishing both the express pace of Jofra Archer and the spin of Ravindra Jadeja.

Gill brought up his 5th IPL century overall off just 47 deliveries, registering the fastest hundred in IPL playoff history and becoming the first captain to score a century in the tournament's playoffs. His final score of 104 off 53 balls completely took the game away from Rajasthan. Following his dismissal, stable finishes from the middle order wrapped up the game comfortably in 18.4 overs.