Gujarat Titans vs Rajasthan Royals, Qualifier 2 Match Summary

The Titans march into the Finale - A tough loss for the Rajasthan Royals, which marks the end of the road for them. And now, it's time for the final dance as the summit clash is locked and loaded for the 19th IPL season. It will be the defending champions, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, taking on the 2022 champions, Gujarat Titans, at the gigantic Narendra Modi Stadium. A familiar rivalry rekindled, a rematch of Qualifier 1 where RCB prevailed. But finals have a way of rewriting scripts. Will history repeat itself, or will the Titans turn the tide this time around in front of their home crowd? We shall find out on Sunday, 31st May, and the first ball of the Grand Finale is scheduled to be bowled at 7.30 pm IST (2 pm GMT). But our build-up will begin well in advance, so do mark your presence for that as well. Until then, we sign off. Stay safe, CIAO!

The victorious captain of the Gujarat Titans - Shubman Gill is also the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his match-winning 104 (53). He says that there was some confusion at the toss, but he is happy to get the win. Adds that he and Sai complement each other well, and the communication between them is really good. They know each other's game pretty well, and they know that one of them has to take one bowler down, and they are very good at deciding who will take on which bowler. Gill mentions that no one has probably seen anything like that before, especially with the way Sai has been dismissed hit wicket in two matches in a row. Tells that he recently came across a video on social media about taping the bat handle and jokes that Sai might have to try that in the next game. Speaking about his knock, he says he was simply in a zone where he focused on finding the gaps rather than trying to hit the ball too hard. He adds that he was watching the ball closely, backing his scoring areas and timing everything nicely, which is what tends to happen when a batter is in good rhythm. Gill admits they felt 215 was chaseable, especially after at one stage it looked like the opposition would only get around 180-190. After the strong start, he says the discussion was about finishing the game, which is why he was disappointed with the way he got out. On the variety in their bowling attack, he says the side is fortunate to have several quality bowling options. He points out that Sai Kishore played this game but did not even need to bowl, highlighting the depth they possess with six or seven bowling choices alongside a deep batting lineup. He ends by saying that it is now about putting everything together in the final and hopes the team can deliver another strong performance.

... Time for the post-match Presentation ...

The Royals finished on a high - It looked like a two-paced surface initially, and a GT fightback through the middle overs set the stage for a cagey finish, but Rajasthan Royals had enough elixir left. Sooryavanshi was the heartbeat of the innings, picking his moments before launching into a breathtaking assault at the death, with Ferreira piling on the misery for Rashid Khan in the final over, plundering 4 sixes off it. Jadeja, battling a tennis elbow injury that forced him off mid-innings, dug deep to return and finish on 45 off 35, giving the innings crucial spine after early strikes from Siraj and Rabada early in the innings. RR looked in all sorts, but eventually they did manage to put on a challenging 214 on the board.

Sooryavanshi shines yet again - You have got to feel for this god-gifted kid. Sooryavanshi cut a dejected figure in the RR dugout as the final whistle blew on their campaign, and in that moment, the teenager finally showed his age. On the field, facing bowlers, there is not a trace of it. He carried RR's batting yet again, almost single-handedly, with a sensational 96. The century remained out of reach for Sooryavanshi for the second time running, but the maturity and intent stitched into every shot told a story far bigger than the number he finished on.

The Prince's hunger to claim the crown - The frontline attack was left in tatters as the two openers grew increasingly imperious, unfurling a gallery of graceful strokes at will. Dew remained absent, yet batting had become a noticeably different proposition from earlier in the evening, when Rajasthan's batters had wrestled with a two-paced surface. And then, in a moment nobody saw coming, Sudharsan did what no RR bowler could manage, he got himself out, hit wicket for the second game running. With the way he was batting, that was perhaps the only way to send him back. But by then, the damage was irreversible. Gill brought up a classy hundred, though he was dismissed sooner, with almost run-a-ball needed. Buttler, Sundar, and Tewatia ensured GT coasted home safely.

GT make it look like a stroll - Mountains have been moved this season, targets well beyond 200 hunted down with a nonchalance that would have seemed absurd a decade ago. That is the modern batting beast, evolved, remorseless, and utterly unsparing. But there is something different when the Gujarat Titans do it. No barrage of sixes, no fury, no chest-thumping assault. Just a quiet, suffocating efficiency, playing the ball on merit, bleeding the dot balls dry to mount pressure on the opposition. That's what the two GT openers did this time around as well. RR had the runs on the board, and the new-ball spells from Archer and Burger carried enormous weight, given how central the Gujarat Titans' top order has been to their campaign. But Archer was taken to the cleaners in his opening spell, with Gill and Sudharsan threading and muscling their way through with alarming ease. Sudharsan dropped on 14, and a string of extras only compounded RR's misery, as the Titans cannonballed to 100 for nought inside the ninth over.

GT's ever-consistent opener is next up - Sai Sudharsan jokes that he is going to try some grip changes because he does not really have an answer for losing hold of the bat. He laughs that in the previous game the bat bounced and hit the stumps, while tonight he was simply trying to hit it straight. Talking about the chase, Sudharsan says the aim was to have a strong first over and set the tone early, which eventually translated into an excellent Powerplay. He adds that the focus was simply on winning the Powerplay and then assessing things from there, rather than worrying about whether the target was par or above par. Speaking about his partnership with Shubman Gill, Sudharsan says the pair understand conditions well and know what is required in different situations, while reserving special praise for his captain, describing Gill's innings as unbelievable. Reflecting on his own season, Sai says his game has to keep evolving every year. He feels he has improved steadily during his time with the Titans, but also acknowledges there are still areas to work on and is determined to come back as an even better player next season. On reaching the final, Sudharsan says the entire dugout is delighted but stresses the importance of staying grounded and treating the final like just another game.

The captain of the Rajasthan Royals - Riyan Parag reflects on the defeat. He says that 215 was a defendable score, but the heavy roller made batting a bit easier on this pitch. Adds that in the first innings, there was something in for the spinners with the slower, shorter ones sticking on the surface a bit more. He feels it was a par score, but it could have been better. Parag mentions that 230-240 would have made the chase far more competitive, but admits they failed to get Gujarat's openers early, which made the task extremely difficult afterwards. Reflecting on RR's season, he calls it a campaign filled with positives, adding that not many expected such a young and inexperienced side to even qualify. He praises the character shown by the group through multiple transitions and combinations, saying finishing third is a strong foundation for the future. Speaking about Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Parag says he struggles to describe what the youngster is doing. He explains that it is not blind slogging, but calculated batting with remarkable game awareness and understanding of conditions. Parag hopes Sooryavanshi continues his rise, represents India for a long time and eventually helps Rajasthan Royals win a second IPL title.

The Titans 'royally' crush RR - Some franchises take years to find themselves. To establish their legacy in a tournament as tough as the IPL. Gujarat Titans seem to have never had that problem. Unveiled in 2022, they walked straight into the IPL and walked straight out with the trophy. GT qualifying for their third IPL final in five seasons tells you everything about a side that has made consistency its identity and the big stage a natural habitat. Unfortunately for the Rajasthan Royals, the wait for a second crown goes on. They have circled glory time and again in recent years, close enough to feel it, yet just distant enough for it to slip away at the very last moment, making the ache linger a little longer each time.

SIX! Rahul Tewatia seals the win for the Gujarat Titans with a flat hit. A tough chase made to look easy by the Titans, and they set up a meeting with RCB in the final. Hugs and smiles all around in the GT camp as they win by 7 wickets with 8 balls to spare. Brijesh serves it full, on off and middle. Tewatia hangs deep in the crease and gets under the ball. He thumps it over mid on for a flat six. The dejection is evident on the face of young Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who is being consoled by Ravindra Jadeja with an arm around his shoulder.

Pace off and into the surface, outside off. Tewatia lets it pass.

FOUR MORE! Good hit! Brijesh Sharma errs in line as he offers width and it is on a length. Tewatia hangs low and reaches out to slam it over cover. Not from the middle of the bat, but the ball has enough legs to reach the fence.

FOUR! Gets it away! Sharma bangs it in on a hard length from around the wicket, on middle and leg. With fine leg inside the circle, Tewatia makes use of the angle as he swivels and pulls to the right of short fine leg for a boundary. GT require 6 more runs.

Last 2 overs to go in Qualifier 2. Gujarat Titans need 10 runs to win. Archer and Burger are both done with their spells now. Brijesh Sharma (3-0-30-1) will bowl the penultimate over.

Slips in the yorker, on middle. Tewatia hurriedly gets his bat down and jams it out wide of cover for a quick single. 10 more needed for GT.

Fuller in length, around the off stump. Tewatia gets his hands out in front and lofts it over wide mid off. He does not quite get hold of it and Jofra Archer is able to haul it in from mid off. Two runs taken.

Wide! Out comes the short ball again, on middle. Tewatia hops to play the upper cut but does not connect. Too high for the umpire's liking. Given wide for height, but RR have reviewed it. The Ball Tracking comes up and it confirms that the ball is indeed passing over Rahul's head. It will stay as a wide.

Good change up by Burger as he digs it in short now, over middle. Rahul Tewatia ducks under it.

The length stays full and this is angled in at the sticks. Tewatia brings his bat out in front to nudge it into the leg side. Gets a soft leading edge as the ball dribbles to cover.

Pitched up by Nandre, on off. Tewatia presses forward and the ball pings off his blade as he plays the drive but he can't get it past cover.

Rahul Tewatia is the next batter in for the Titans, with them needing 14 runs from 17 balls.

OUT! IN THE AIR AND GONE! Washington Sundar holes out and Donovan Ferreira makes no mistake this time. A leg-cutter by Burger, bowled into the surface, around off. Sundar hangs back and tries to loft it on the rise. One hand comes off the bat handle, and he gets the height but not the distance. Donovan Ferreira charges across to his left from long on and takes a safe catch close to his chest. GT are 3 down for 201, needing 14 more runs.

Nandre Burger is back on. 3-0-31-0 so far and he replaces Tushar Deshpande. GT need 14 runs from 18 balls.

A sharp and quick bumper, over the right shoulder. Buttler drops his wrists and sways away from the line of the ball.

Full and straight, aimed at the stumps. This is driven to long on for a single.

SIX! Wow, that is a shot and a half. Archer hurls it on a length with an upright seam, outside off. Sundar leans towards the line of the ball and presents a high elbow to play the lofted hit over extra cover for half a dozen. The 200 comes up for GT and they need 15 more runs.

FOUR! Lovely extension of the arms. A bit fuller than the previous ball and the line stays outside off. Washington lets his hands flow into the shot and launches it over cover. One bounce and over the ropes.

A play and a miss! From around the wicket, bowled on a good length, outside off. Sundar's feet go nowhere and he pushes away from his body, only to be beaten on the outside edge.

Hits the back of a length, around off. Buttler stays back and runs it down to deep third for a single.