New Delhi: Royal Challengers Bangalore captain Rajat Patidar A dominant 92-run win over Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 1 in Dharamsala on Tuesday cemented their name deeper into IPL folklore as the defending champions reached their second consecutive final.Powered by a clinical all-round display, RCB completely outclassed GT in every department to reach the final of IPL 2026, moving a step closer to a rare back-to-back title win.The standout moment of the night came from Patidar, who delivered another explosive playoff masterclass. He remained unbeaten on 93 off just 33 balls, hitting 9 sixes and smashing the GT bowling attack with a stunning score of 281.82.With this feat, Patidar joined an elite group of captains who have led their teams to consecutive IPL finals. He is now only the fifth captain in the history of the tournament to achieve this milestone. MS Dhoni, Rohit SharmaHardik Pandya and Shreyas Iyer.
- Captains who led their teams to back-to-back IPL finals:
- MS Dhoni (2010, 2011)
- Rohit Sharma (2019, 2020)
- Hardik Pandya (2022, 2023)
- Shreyas Iyer (2024, 2025)
- Rajat Patidar (2025, 2026)
RCB’s consistency has placed them in the elite bracket of franchises for reaching consecutive finals as defending champions alongside powerhouse teams like Chennai Super Kings, Mumbai Indians and Gujarat Titans in various IPL tours.The 92-run victory was also historically significant, the biggest win in IPL playoff cricket by a run margin.
- Biggest wins (by runs) in IPL Knockouts/Playoffs:
- 105 RR v. DC (Wankhede, 2008)
- 92 RCB v GT (Dharamsala, 2026)
- 86 CSK v DC (Chennai, 2012)
- 81 MI v LSG (Chennai, 2023)
- 71 RCB v RR (Pune, 2015)
GT, however, will survive the competition and get another chance to reach the final when they take on the winner of the eliminator between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Rajasthan Royals in Qualifier 2 on Friday.
