Dharamshala: Royal Challengers Bengaluru booked their place in the final of the Indian Premier League for the second consecutive season after thrashing Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 1.
Batting first, RCB piled up a massive 255 runs in 20 overs, powered by a sensational unbeaten knock from captain Rajat Patidar, who smashed 93 off just 33 balls.
Virat Kohli contributed 43 runs, while Devdutt Padikkal scored 30 and Krunal Pandya added a quickfire 43 to propel RCB to a daunting total.
Chasing 256, Gujarat Titans collapsed under pressure against RCB’s disciplined bowling attack and were bowled out for 162 runs.
Sai Sudharsan managed 14 runs, skipper Shubman Gill was dismissed for just 2, while Jos Buttler scored 29. Rahul Tewatia fought hard with a 68-run knock, but Gujarat never looked close to the target.
The emphatic victory sends RCB into their fifth IPL final, while Gujarat Titans will get another opportunity to qualify through Qualifier 2.
