Gujarat Titans (GT) recorded their fifth win in the ongoing IPL 2026 after downing defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) by four wickets at the Ahmedabad's Narendra Modi stadium on April 30.
GT down RCB by 4 wickets
GT first rode on Arshad Khan's fiery three-fer to bundle out RCB for 155 and then completed the chase in just 15.5 overs, thanks to Shubman Gill's 18-ball 43 and Jos Buttler's 19-ball 39.
Earlier, RCB batters struggled big time against GT's disciplined bowling. Despite an explosive start that promised a massive total, a disciplined bowling effort from the Titans triggered a consistent collapse, seeing RCB lose wickets at regular intervals. Ultimately, the defending champions were bowled out for a modest 155 in 19.2 overs.
The innings began with high drama as Virat Kohli took charge early on. Facing Kagiso Rabada in the second over, Kohli dismantled the veteran pacer with five consecutive boundaries, propelling the score to 27 in no time. However, the momentum was short-lived; Mohammed Siraj provided the first breakthrough by dismissing Jacob Bethell for 5, and Rabada soon exacted his revenge by removing Kohli for a blistering 28 off 13 balls. By the end of the powerplay, RCB sat at 59/2, having lost their most dangerous assets.
The middle overs proved disastrous for the visitors as the Titans' attack tightened its grip. Arshad Khan removed RCB skipper Rajat Patidar for 19, while Jason Holder and Rashid Khan combined to dismantle the middle order, sending back Jitesh Sharma and Tim David cheaply. The collapse left Bengaluru reeling at 91/5 after just ten overs. While Devdutt Padikkal provided a brief spark with a fluent 40 off 24 balls, his dismissal by Rashid Khan in the 14th over effectively ended hopes of a late-innings surge.
The tail struggled to provide much resistance against the clinical Titans' bowlers. Jason Holder claimed his second wicket by removing Romario Shepherd, while Arshad Khan capped off a brilliant spell to finish with figures of 3/22. Despite minor contributions from Venkatesh Iyer and an unbeaten 15 from Bhuvneshwar Kumar to drag the score to 155, the Titans emerged as the dominant side. Rashid Khan (2/19) and Holder (2/29) were instrumental in the collapse, supported by single strikes from Siraj and Rabada.
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Gill-Buttler's batting blitz in GT's win
GT captain Gill ignited the chase with an explosive start, immediately targeting Josh Hazlewood to put the opposition on the back foot. The Indian Test and ODI skipper showcased his dominance by racing to a rapid 43 runs off only 18 deliveries, a fiery knock highlighted by four boundaries and three sixes. Operating at a strike rate exceeding 238, Gill’s aggressive intent set a high-octane tone for the Titans' pursuit of the RCB total.
Following Gill's departure, Jos Buttler maintained the momentum with a brisk 39-run cameo off 19 balls, ensuring the run rate remained well under control. The finishing touches were applied by Jason Holder and Rahul Tewatia, who navigated the closing stages with composure. Tewatia remained unbeaten on 27 from 17 balls, while Rashid Khan struck the winning runs, contributing an undefeated 7 to secure another vital victory for the Gujarat franchise.
RCB’s bowling effort was spearheaded by Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who emerged as the standout performer with a three-wicket haul. Romario Shepherd provided valuable support by claiming two wickets, but their efforts weren't enough to stifle the Titans' deep batting lineup. Despite the loss, RCB retain second place on the table with 12 points from nine matches, while GT remain in fifth position, moving up to a total of 10 points.