RCB vs GT, IPL 2026 Qualifier 1: Rajat Patidar's brilliance takes defending champs back to title game – Action in Images

One-way action in the IPL's Qualifier 1 as GT are thoroughly overpowered and outclassed in Dharamshala by defending champs RCB, who win by 92 runs.

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Published on May 26, 2026 11:50 pm IST 12 Photos
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A couple of key moments going against GT, but in truth it was RCB all the way as they booked a spot in another IPL final. Rajat Patidar will take the headlines with a captain's performance for a record playoff score, before the bowling blew apart GT's batting to make the match a near-formality. Dominant start to the playoffs.(PTI)

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Venkatesh Iyer started on fire with a few big hits and excellent shotmaking, but his stay didn't last long – Kagiso Rabada with the wicket, giving GT a good start.(PTI)

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But the wicket didn't matter much to Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal. The pair joined forces and continued the onslaught, scoring at a quick rate and making it a very successful powerplay for RCB. The platform was set, as Kohli continued to play in his ultra-attacking avatar despite a few early struggles in this knock.(PTI)

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GT seemed to reverse the momentum thanks to Jason Holder – after a quiet post-powerplay spell, Holder returned to take the wickets of both Kohli and Padikkal in the same over, suddenly giving GT a chance to force RCB onto the back foot.(PTI)

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But RCB wouldn't stay on the backfoot for long. Rajat Patidar and Krunal Pandya spent a couple of overs restructuring, before beginning to tee off again. Their powerplay gave RCB all the momentum again, with some truly spectacular hitting as no bowler was spared.(PTI)

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