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Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) produced absolute carnage with the bat against Gujarat Titans (GT) in Qualifier 1 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 at the HPCA Stadium, Dharamsala.
The defending champions completely dismantled the GT bowling attack and piled up a gigantic total of 254/5 in 20 overs, registering one of the highest totals ever recorded in a knockout match in T20 cricket history.
RCB’s brutal batting display also helped them enter an elite list alongside some of the greatest T20 batting performances ever witnessed.
Also Read: Virat Kohli scripts history as RCB post a mammoth 254 against GT in IPL 2026 Qualifier 1
RCB achieves major feat after batting carnage at Dharamsala
RCB captain Rajat Patidar led the charge with a breathtaking unbeaten 92 off just 33 deliveries.
Patidar tore apart the GT bowling attack with fearless strokeplay and ensured RCB maintained a stunning scoring rate throughout the innings.
Virat Kohli also continued his sensational IPL 2026 form with a quickfire 43 off 25 balls.
The innings also helped Kohli become the first player in IPL history to register four consecutive 600-run seasons.
Several other RCB batters chipped in with impactful knocks.
Devdutt Padikkal smashed 30 off 19 balls, while Krunal Pandya added a crucial 43 off 28 deliveries.
Venkatesh Iyer hammered 19 off just seven balls and Jitesh Sharma scored 15 off five balls as RCB crossed the 250-run mark in emphatic fashion.
With their total of 254/5, RCB now hold the fourth-highest total ever scored in a knockout/playoff game in T20 cricket history.
Highest totals in knockout/playoff matches in T20 cricket:
265/5 – Somerset vs Derbyshire, Taunton, 2022
262/3 – Jharkhand vs Haryana, Pune, 2025
255/5 – India vs New Zealand, Ahmedabad, 2026
254/5 – RCB vs GT, Dharamsala, 2026
253/7 – India vs England, Wankhede, 2026
Interestingly, four of the five 250-plus totals by Indian teams have come since December 2025, showcasing the aggressive shift in modern T20 batting.
GT collapse badly in massive run chase
Chasing a gigantic target of 255 runs, Gujarat Titans never really looked in control of the contest.
RCB bowlers kept striking regularly and completely derailed GT’s chase early in the innings.
At the end of 16 overs, Gujarat Titans were struggling at 134/8 with the match almost slipping away from them.
Rahul Tewatia was fighting a lone battle with 48 runs off 31 balls, while Mohammed Siraj was at the other end trying to support him.
With GT needing an improbable finish, RCB looked firmly on course to seal a direct place in the IPL 2026 final and move one step closer towards defending their title successfully.
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