Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) outclassed Gujarat Titans (GT) by 92 runs in Qualifier 1 in Dharamsala on Tuesday (May 26), to book their spot in the IPL final for the second consecutive season.

Invited to bat first, the defending champions racked up the highest-ever score in IPL playoffs, posting 254/5 in 20 overs. Skipper Rajat Patidar led the charge with a scintillating 93* off 33 balls, while Virat Kohli (43 off 25) and Krunal Pandya (43 off 28) also made vital contributions.

In reply, GT’s innings folded for 162 in 19.3 overs, with only Rahul Tewatia (68 off 43) and Jos Buttler (29 off 11) managing to touch the 20-run mark. Jacob Duffy took three wickets for RCB, while Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Rasikh Salam Dar and Krunal Pandya bagged a couple of scalps each.

Following RCB’s qualification for the IPL 2026 final, former owner Vijay Mallya took to social media to celebrate the franchise’s success.

In his viral message, Mallya affectionately referred to the RCB squad as "namma dodda Simhagulu" (our big lions). He expressed pride in the team’s dominant run as reigning champions.

"Many Many congratulations to RCB namma dodda Simhagulu for an emphatic victory in Dharamshala tonight. You roared loud like the Lions of Bengaluru and roared into the IPL final as defending champions," Mallya wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

The IPL 2026 season has reached its business end with playoffs taking place this week. Sunrisers Hyderabad will lock horns against Rajasthan Royals in the Eliminator on Wednesday (May 27) in New Chandigarh.

Gujarat Titans will then play the winner of the Eliminator clash in Qualifier 2 on Friday (May 29) in New Chandigarh. The winner of Qualifier 2 will face RCB in the title clash on May 31 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.