• Source:JND

GT vs RR IPL 2026 Qualifier 2: Gujarat Titans skipper Shubman Gill had scored his fifth IPL hundred against the Rajasthan Royals during the second Qualifier on Friday. He smashed his century off 47 balls, and it's the fastest hundred by a batter in the playoffs and had surpassed his own tally of 49 balls, which he had achieved during his match-winning innings of 129 runs against the Mumbai Indians during IPL 2023.

Batters like Wriddhiman Saha (2014) and Rajat Patidar (2022) have also smashed centuries off 49 balls during the playoffs.

Gill had also become the first player to smash two hundreds in the playoffs, including his hundred in IPL 2023, which came in Qualifier 2.

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Playing close to home on the outskirts of Chandigarh, Gill commanded the chase from start to finish. He seized the milestone by striding out to Ravindra Jadeja and launching him over the infield, a shot he dispatched effectively against the left-arm spinner during the innings. With this knock, Gill became the first player in IPL history to hammer two centuries in the Playoffs, having also smashed a hundred in Qualifier 2 in 2023.

As the hundred arrived, Gill removed his helmet, raised his arms towards the crowd, and took a bow. It was a celebration befitting the occasion and the quality of the innings. Gujarat had been set a challenging target of 215, crucial in this high-stakes Qualifier 2 with a place in the final at stake. Their captain ensured the chase never drifted out of control, combining elegance with authority at the crease.

Chasing 215, Gujarat made a dream start, and anticipation buzzed in the air with every stroke from Gill and Sai Sudharsan. Rajasthan’s gamble in handing Jofra Archer the new ball quickly turned into anxiety as the England pacer leaked 19 runs in the opening over. The Titans’ openers seized the moment, exuding confidence and immediately putting the Royals under immense pressure.

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The pair rocketed to 69 without loss in the Powerplay and continued their onslaught after the fielding restrictions. Gill and Sudharsan drove another 22 runs in the two overs following the Powerplay, propelling the scoreboard without taking undue risks. By the end of eight overs, Gujarat had surged to 91 for no loss.

Gill’s half-century in 30 balls sent waves of excitement through the stands, as he hammered Tushar Deshpande for a six and a four in the ninth over. The crowd roared, feeding off Gill's intensity. Sudharsan, matching his partner’s electric pace, brought up his own fifty off just 26 balls with a towering six that seemed to defy gravity. Each shot stoked hope and awe in the Gujarat faithful, fueling the belief of an epic chase.

The partnership exploded beyond the match situation. During their stand, Gill and Sudharsan stormed past Virat Kohli and Chris Gayle to become the second-highest scoring batting pair in IPL history. Only Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers have racked up more runs together in the tournament.

The duo then etched their names into the playoff record books. Their 160-run opening stand shattered the record for the highest partnership in IPL playoff history, outstripping the 159-run stand between Michael Hussey and Murali Vijay in the 2011 final.

Sudharsan’s entertaining innings ended in an almost surreal moment. Having powered to 58 off 32 balls, he was dismissed hit wicket when his bat, flung from his hands in a mighty swing, crashed into the stumps—leaving the crowd momentarily stunned. The disbelief was palpable; it was his second hit-wicket dismissal in as many matches, adding a dramatic twist to Gujarat's charge.

By then, Rajasthan's hopes flickered desperately, drowned out by the deafening cheers of the home crowd, who sensed victory within their grasp.

Gill allowed no opening for a comeback. The Gujarat captain, fierce and focused, unleashed a dazzling array of strokes, sending the crowd into a frenzy with every boundary. When he reached his hundred by dancing down the track and lifting the ball over cover, the stadium exploded in celebration, Titans players leaping to their feet in exultation—the captain had led from the front in the match of a lifetime. This innings firmly secured Gujarat's place in the IPL final, underscoring the importance of Gill's milestone in the playoff context.


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