Anil Kumble hails Shubman Gill’s ‘captain’s knock’ after Gujarat Titans seal record chase in Qualifier 2

Shubman Gill delivered when it mattered most, smashing a captain’s century to guide Gujarat Titans into their third IPL final in five seasons with a record-breaking chase against Rajasthan Royals in Qualifier 2.

Leading from the front in a must-win encounter, Gill struck a brilliant 104 off 53 deliveries, laced with 15 fours and three sixes, as GT chased down a daunting target of 215 with seven wickets in hand and eight balls to spare.

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The Gujarat skipper shared a match-defining 167-run opening partnership with Sai Sudharsan, whose 58 off 32 balls provided the perfect support as the Titans completed the highest successful run chase in IPL playoff history.

Former India captain and JioStar expert Anil Kumble hailed Gill’s innings as a textbook captain’s knock, praising both his intent and execution under pressure.

“It was clinical. The way he approached his batting, you could see that he was really switched on and wanted to get to that final. He would obviously have been disappointed with the performance against RCB in Qualifier 1. But the way he batted, he just took the bowlers on. As Sai Sudharsan mentioned, they wanted to go hard in the first over, make a statement, and then continue from there,” said Kumble.

“The way Shubman batted, not just against the fast bowlers but even against spin, was outstanding. He used his feet brilliantly against Ravindra Jadeja. It was a chanceless, classic innings, a typical Shubman innings. To reach a final with a hundred, it was truly a captain’s knock,” he added.

Earlier, Rajasthan Royals posted 214/6 after 15-year-old sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi narrowly missed out on a century, hammering 96 off 47 balls with eight fours and seven sixes. Donovan Ferreira then provided the finishing flourish with an unbeaten 38 off just 11 deliveries.

Also Read: IPL 2026: Gujarat Titans storm into final as Shubman Gill century downs RR despite Vaibhav’s heroics

However, Gill and Sudharsan ensured the target never looked out of reach as Gujarat Titans booked a place in the title clash.

This was the highest target chased in IPL playoff history, surpassing Punjab Kings’ successful chase of 204 against Mumbai Indians in Qualifier 2 last season. It was also Gujarat Titans’ highest-ever run chase in the IPL, eclipsing their 204-run pursuit against Delhi Capitals in 2025.

Now, GT will clash with RCB in a ‘Royal Clash’ for the title. Former India cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin looked ahead to the IPL 2026 final between RCB and GT.

“The two most consistent teams have reached the final. Both finished on 18 points after the league stage, so they deserve to be there. I have always said that GT have been the surprise package for me. I never expected them to have the strength to reach the final. I still feel it’s 50-50. But if GT win this time, and you must have heard about ‘Money Heist’, this would be the IPL heist,” said Ashwin.