What does it take to win a playoff game in the IPL? Ask the Gujarat Titans, and they will list out a few things. However, a couple of dropped catches, a hit wicket, and several plans failing to work at crucial moments turned out to be costly for GT. As a result, they will now have to play the second qualifier against the winner of the eliminator game.

(Source: ESPNCricinfo)

In the first qualifier of the IPL 2026, the Gujarat Titans met the defending champions, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Much like the laid out template this season, GT won the toss and elected to bowl. In the 14 group stage matches, GT won the toss in six games and went on to win four of them. 

RCB came out all guns blazing and posted 254 runs on the board for the loss of five wickets. Kagiso Rabada and Jason Holder were the most successful bowlers for GT and took two wickets each. Prasidh Krishna picked up one wicket. In reply, GT got bundled out for 162 runs and lost the match by 92 runs. 

Let’s take a look at seven reasons why GT failed to win the first qualifier –

• Catches Win You Matches

The word “peak” might be the word of the season this year. It was used for every player and team whenever they delivered an exceptional performance. However, one thing that never really peaked this year was the fielding standards of teams.

RCB had a great start and added 76 runs in the powerplay while losing just one wicket. The defending champions could manage only 23 runs in the next four overs. In the ninth over, RCB suffered two setbacks and were pushed onto the back foot.

Rajat Patidar and Krunal Pandya added 26 runs in the first two overs after the 10-over mark. Kulwant Khejroliya, who was playing his first game of the season, bowled the 13th over and conceded just three runs.

The pressure was back on Patidar and Pandya. Prasidh Krishna bowled the 14th over, and two catches were dropped in the over, both of Patidar. At the end of the over, Patidar was batting on 21 runs off 13 deliveries. In the next 20 balls, Patidar smashed 72 runs and helped RCB post the highest total in IPL playoffs history.

• No Power in the Powerplay

GT’s bowlers conceded the fewest runs in the powerplay during the first 14 matches this season and also picked up the most wickets in this phase. They had an economy rate of 8.76 and averaged almost two wickets per game in the powerplay. For RCB to beat GT, they needed to dominate the powerplay, and they managed to do exactly that. RCB scored at a run rate of 12.66 in the first six overs while losing just one wicket.

• No Chance in the Middle Overs

GT also had an excellent record in the middle overs during the first 14 matches this season. Their bowlers had an economy rate of 9.08, which was the third-best among all 10 teams. GT were the only side to take more than 40 wickets in this period and averaged nearly four wickets per game. The bowling average of 23.54 was also the best among all teams.

However, RCB dominated the middle overs in the first qualifier. GT’s bowlers had bowled 292 dot balls in this period before the game, averaging 20.85 dot balls per match. Against RCB, they managed only 10 dot balls. RCB did not lose a single wicket in the middle overs and scored 92 runs.

This period also included the 15th over, which completely changed the momentum of the match. Patidar and Pandya smashed 28 runs in the over, and RCB suddenly looked set to cross the 230-run mark.

• No Substance in Death Overs

GT picked up the second-most wickets in the death overs during the league stage. Their bowlers also maintained an economy rate of 10.47 in this phase.

However, RCB managed to dominate the final overs in the first qualifier. Although they lost two wickets, they still scored 86 runs in the death overs. The batters hit at least two sixes in every over except the 18th. GT’s bowlers managed just one dot ball in this phase.

• The Unknown Territory of Dharamsala

This was the 18th IPL match played in Dharamsala and GT’s first-ever game at the venue. In comparison, RCB had already played three matches here and were familiar with the conditions. Their previous match at the ground came against the Punjab Kings on May 17, where they became the first team since 2025 to win at the venue after batting first. RCB had posted 222 runs in that game and later restricted PBKS to 199.

RCB already understood what it took to win in Dharamsala despite losing the toss. The key was to bat aggressively from the start, and that is exactly what they did. Every RCB batter who scored more than 30 runs maintained a strike rate above 150. In comparison, apart from Rahul Tewatia, no GT batter managed to score more than 30 runs.

• Ineffectiveness of Siraj and Rabada

Mohammed Siraj and Kagiso Rabada were among the most successful bowlers in the league stage this season. By the end of the group matches, Siraj and Rabada had bowled 148 and 147 dot balls, respectively. Rabada picked up 24 wickets at an average of 20.54, while Siraj claimed 17 wickets at an average of 25.76.

However, both bowlers struggled in the first qualifier against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Facing his former side, Siraj managed only four dot balls and conceded 46 runs in three overs. It was just the second time this season that he failed to take a wicket. Rabada bowled six dot balls but gave away 54 runs in his four-over spell. It was also only the second occasion this season where Rabada conceded 50 or more runs in a match.

• Unfortunate Dismissal of Sai Sudharsan

The formula for success in almost every walk of life is often said to be luck, labour, and chance. GT did not have much luck on this particular day, while their bowlers also failed to deliver their best performance. Before this game, GT had chased down a 200-plus target only twice. Still, they would have backed themselves because they had two of the leading run-scorers of the season at the top of the order.

Sai Sudharsan got out hit wicket on the third ball of the third over, and that moment possibly changed the direction of the match for GT. He had already hit the previous delivery for a boundary and looked set for another aggressive shot. Sudharsan played a powerful cut shot, but the bat slipped out of his hands and hit the stumps.

GT lost another wicket in the following over. By the end of the powerplay, they were five wickets down, and their hopes of directly reaching the final had almost disappeared.