Ahmedabad, May 1: Gujarat Titans kept their playoff hopes alive with a convincing four-wicket victory over Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Match 42 of the Indian Premier League 2026 at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Thursday.
Chasing a modest target of 156, Gujarat Titans displayed an aggressive batting approach to reach 158/6 in just 15.5 overs, sealing the win with 25 balls to spare.
After winning the toss and opting to bowl, GT bowlers delivered a disciplined performance to bundle out RCB for 155 in 19.2 overs. Despite a promising start, the Bengaluru side lost momentum as their middle order collapsed under pressure.
Devdutt Padikkal top-scored with 40, while Virat Kohli contributed 28 runs. However, regular wickets prevented RCB from posting a competitive total.
Captain Shubman Gill set the tone for the chase with a blistering 43 off just 18 balls, attacking the RCB bowlers early in the innings.
He was well supported by Jos Buttler, who added 39 runs, as GT raced ahead during the powerplay.
Although RCB bowlers, led by Bhuvneshwar Kumar (3/28), tried to pull things back, the target proved insufficient to defend.
The match was eventually sealed by the lower middle order, with contributions from Rahul Tewatia and Rashid Khan ensuring a comfortable finish for the hosts.
The win marks an important turnaround for Gujarat Titans, who are now back in contention for the playoffs after a slow start to the season. Meanwhile, RCB suffered another setback, exposing vulnerabilities in their middle order.
