All-round RCB outclass Gujarat Titans and fly to IPL final

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) booked a direct berth in the IPL final in Ahmedabad after they crushed the Gujarat Titans by 92 runs in the first qualifier at Dharamsala on Tuesday.

Skipper Rajat Patidar led from the front with a fiery 93 as RCB piled up a daunting 254/5 against Gujarat, to which they fell short at 

The RCB skipper remained unbeaten after smashing five fours and nine sixes that completely deflated the Gujarat bowling attack. Patidar was particularly severe on left-arm pacer Kulwant Khejroliya, hammering 28 runs in a single over.

Former captain Virat Kohli and all-rounder Krunal Pandya chipped in with 43 runs each to ensure RCB crossed the 250-run mark. Devdutt Padikkal made 30 runs while Jithesh Sharma remained unbeaten at 15.

In reply, Gujarat never looked settled as wickets kept falling at regular intervals. Only three batters managed to reach double figures, with impact substitute Rahul Tewatia producing a brilliant 68 to reduce the margin of defeat. Jos Buttler scored 29, while Sai Sudharsan made 14.

Gujarat skipper Shubman Gill departed for just two runs, and none of the remaining batters made any significant contribution. 

New Zealand pacer Jacob Duffy starred with figures of 3/39, while Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Krunal Pandya and Rasikh Salam picked up two wickets each.

Gujarat will now face the winner of the eliminator between Rajasthan Royals and Sunrisers Hyderabad in the second qualifier on Friday. The eliminator is scheduled to be played on Wednesday.