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A place in the IPL 2026 final is at stake as Rajasthan Royals take on Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 2 at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur, New Chandigarh. The winner will secure a berth in Sunday's title clash against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Ahmedabad, while the losing side's campaign will end one step short of the final.
The contest will be played at the same venue where Rajasthan Royals booked their place in Qualifier 2 with a convincing win over Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Eliminator. Teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi starred in that win with a stunning 97 off 29 balls, that laid the foundation for a thumping 47-run victory.
Gujarat Titans, meanwhile, arrived in the playoffs as one of the competition's most consistent teams. They finished second in the league standings with 18 points from 14 matches and a net run rate of +0.695. However, their title charge suffered a setback in Qualifier 1, where they were outplayed by Royal Challengers Bengaluru, conceding 254/5 before being bowled out for 162 in a 92-run defeat.
With a place in the final on the line, both teams now have one last opportunity to keep their title hopes alive.
Follow the live updates from IPL 2026 Qualifier 2 below:
Both teams have named their Impact Player substitutes ahead of Qualifier 2.
Rajasthan Royals Impact Subs: Shubham Dubey, Sushant Mishra, Aman Rao Perala, Ravi Bishnoi, Tushar Deshpande.
Gujarat Titans Impact Subs: Rahul Tewatia, Glenn Phillips, Anuj Rawat, Kumar Kushagra, Arshad Khan.
Qualifier 2 began with a rare moment at the toss. RR captain Riyan Parag called heads on the first flip, but match referee Prakash Bhatt indicated he had not heard the call clearly, leading to the toss being conducted again.
Parag won the re-toss and chose to bat first, handing RR the opportunity to set a target on a surface that is expected to slow down a little as the match progresses.
Away from the playoff action, speculation surrounding IPL 2027 has already begun, with Hardik Pandya's future with Mumbai Indians in doubt amid reports linking the India all-rounder with a potential move to Chennai Super Kings.
Read more about this latest development here.
Riyan Parag (RR Captain): We will bat first. Pretty much the same wicket, but I think it slows down at the backend, and we have the bowlers for it. We just need to play better cricket for 40 overs, the best team will win. The support staff have been incredible about recoveries and injuries. Same team.
Shubman Gill (GT Captain): We would have batted first as well. Forty overs of cricket already on this wicket and it won't behave differently. We have everything to play for, it's a now or never situation. One change: Sai Kishore is back.
The team sheets are in for Qualifier 2, with Gujarat Titans opting for an extra spin option while Rajasthan Royals enter the contest unchanged from the Eliminator.
Here's a look at the Playing XIs for both sides.
Gujarat Titans (Playing XI): Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (C), Jos Buttler (WK), Nishant Sindhu, Washington Sundar, Jason Holder, Rashid Khan, Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore, Kagiso Rabada, Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj.
Rajasthan Royals (Playing XI): Yashasvi Jaiswal, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Riyan Parag (C), Donovan Ferreira, Dasun Shanaka, Ravindra Jadeja, Jofra Archer, Nandre Burger, Brijesh Sharma, Yash Raj Punja
There's some confusion at the Toss and it has to be done twice since the match referee says the call wasn't clear at first. Rajasthan Royals captain Riyan Parag eventually wins the toss and elects to bat first in Qualifier 2 against Gujarat Titans in Mullanpur.
Stay tuned for the Captain's quotes from the Toss and the Playing XIs.
Ian Bishop and Michael Clarke believe Qualifier 2 could produce another batting-friendly contest, with conditions in Mullanpur expected to closely resemble those seen during the Eliminator earlier this week.
In their pitch report on the broadcast, the former internationals noted that the match will be played on Pitch No. 4, which has an even grass covering but remains dry underneath. While they expect the surface to be marginally slower due to recent use, they still anticipate good pace, bounce and carry for batters.
Bishop and Clarke also pointed to a steady breeze across the ground, suggesting dew may not play as significant a role as many had expected. With square boundaries measuring 69m and 63m and the straight boundary at 74m, they felt the dimensions would continue to encourage aggressive strokeplay.
Based on the conditions, the duo estimated that a first-innings total of around 220 could be a competitive score, setting the stage for another potentially high-scoring playoff encounter.
Rajasthan Royals finisher Donovan Ferreira says his side's recent run of knockout cricket has helped players settle into a routine ahead of Qualifier 2 against Gujarat Titans.
"It's about being on autopilot now and just doing what needs to be done," Ferreira said when asked about RR's must-win run through the playoffs.
The South African also underlined his comfort with the finisher's role, saying he is prepared to bat wherever the team requires but is particularly confident operating in the closing overs.
"Personally, I'm comfortable going in after the 15th over. If I have to go in before that, I just adapt. It gives everyone time to get used to the wicket so I can explode at the back end of the game," he said.
Ferreira also expects another batting-friendly surface in Mullanpur, noting that even disciplined bowling efforts have struggled to keep scores below 200 at the venue this season.
The build-up to Qualifier 2 continues to revolve around Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, with the broadcasters sharing a video of the 15-year-old training in the nets ahead of the knockout clash.
One big game away from the final 👀
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) May 29, 2026
The Boss Baby is ready for the challenge! 💪#TATAIPL 2026 Qualifier 2 👉 #GTvRR | FRI, 29th MAY, 6:30 PM pic.twitter.com/9io1RLs8Mp
Qualifier 2 features two intriguing batter vs spinner contests.
Jos Buttler has found Ravindra Jadeja difficult to score against, managing just 42 runs from 36 balls while being dismissed three times across 10 innings. With GT heavily reliant on their top order, Jadeja's ability to slow down or remove Buttler could be a significant factor in tonight's contest.
At the other end, GT will back Rashid Khan to continue his strong record against Donovan Ferreira. The RR finisher has managed just 27 runs from 22 balls against Rashid across six innings and has been dismissed three times. With Ferreira tasked with accelerating in the closing overs, his duel with Rashid could have a major bearing on how Rajasthan finish their innings.
15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has been turning heads ahead of Qualifier 2. The IPL have released a clip celebrating the Boy from Bihar's remarkable rise this season.
Who left them in total disbelief? 👀
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 29, 2026
Watch to find out 😉 #TATAIPL | #TheFinalLeap | #Qualifier2 | #GTvRR pic.twitter.com/sHz0vn5utB
Away from the Qualifier 2 build-up, a major development has emerged from Lucknow Super Giants. Rishabh Pant has stepped down as captain after two seasons in charge, ending a tenure that began when he joined the franchise as a record signing ahead of IPL 2025.
Read more on Pant's decision and what it could mean for LSG moving forward.
The battle for the IPL 2026 Purple Cap could take a major turn in Qualifier 2. Kagiso Rabada enters the match level with Bhuvneshwar Kumar at the top of the wicket charts on 26 wickets, while Jofra Archer is just two behind on 24.
With both pacers in action tonight and potentially another game to come in the final, the race for the tournament's leading wicket-taker award remains wide open.
Here's a look at Archer's latest 3-wicket haul and the top five standings for the Purple Cap going into Qualifier 2.
The IPL has released its cinematic preview for Qualifier 2 as anticipation builds for tonight's clash between Gujarat Titans and Rajasthan Royals.
One more step before #TheFinalLeap 👊
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 29, 2026
Royals 🆚 Titans for a 𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗲 ✈️🏆#TATAIPL | #Qualifier2 | #GTvRR | @gujarat_titans | @rajasthanroyals pic.twitter.com/bFcRRJaJVi
An interesting trend has emerged in the closing stages of IPL 2026 with six of the last seven matches won by the team batting first. Both knockout fixtures saw the Captain winning the Toss opt to bowl first and lose the games.
With scoreboard pressure set be a significant factor in Qualifier 2, Shubman Gill and Riyan Parag could both be influenced to bat first and set a big target in New Chandigarh.
With Royal Challengers Bengaluru already through to the title clash and Qualifier 2 set to decide their opponents, tickets for the IPL 2026 final in Ahmedabad are now on sale.
Fans looking to attend the season's biggest match can book their seats through District by Zomato. Here's everything you need to know about ticket prices, availability and the booking process.
Two of IPL 2026's top wicket-takers will be in action tonight as Kagiso Rabada and Jofra Archer face-off in an intriguing Purple Cap subplot.
Rabada enters Qualifier 2 joint-top of the Purple Cap list with 26 wickets from 15 matches, while Archer has claimed 24 in the same number of games.
Both have been the standout pace bowlers for their teams this season, with Rabada striking regularly with the new ball and Archer making a habit of striking in the powerplay, cleaning up all three SRH top-order batters in the Eliminator.
A strong performance tonight could not only shape the result of the game but also swing the Purple Cap race heading into the final.
History favours GT, who dominate the head-to-head record between the two sides heading into Qualifier 2.
GT have won seven of their 10 IPL meetings against Rajasthan Royals, including a win in the IPL 2022 final to lift their maiden title.
The rivals shared the spoils during the league stage this season, with RR claiming a six-run win in Ahmedabad before GT responded with a commanding 77-run victory in Jaipur.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's stunning 97 off 29 balls in the Eliminator continues to dominate conversations ahead of Qualifier 2.
The 15-year-old's record-breaking innings against SRH earned high praise from across the cricketing world, with Sachin Tendulkar among those applauding the Rajasthan Royals opener.
Read how cricket greats reacted to one of the standout knocks of IPL 2026.
Rajasthan Royals are expected to retain the XI the win over Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Eliminator at this same venue.
With Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Dhruv Jurel in form, and the bowling attack combining well to bowl out SRH, RR are unlikely to make changes.
Rajasthan Royals (Probable XI): Yashasvi Jaiswal, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Riyan Parag (C), Donovan Ferreira, Dasun Shanaka, Ravindra Jadeja, Jofra Archer, Nandre Burger, Sushant Mishra, Brijesh Sharma.
Impact Sub: Yash Raj Punja.
Gujarat Titans may consider tweaking their bowling attack for Qualifier 2, with the used Mullanpur pitch expected to offer more assistance to spinners than a fresh surface.
Left-arm spinners Manav Suthar and R Sai Kishore are among the options to come into the XI after pacer Kulwant Khejroliya conceded 31 runs in two overs during the Qualifier 1 defeat to Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
Any change would give GT additional spin support alongside Rashid Khan as they look to bounce back in a must-win clash against Rajasthan Royals.
Gujarat Titans (Probable XI): Shubman Gill (C), B Sai Sudharsan, Jos Buttler (WK), Nishant Sindhu, Washington Sundar, Rahul Tewatia, Jason Holder, Rashid Khan, Kagiso Rabada, Manav Suthar/R Sai Kishore, Mohammed Siraj
Impact Sub: Prasidh Krishna.
"He's one of the players who has changed the game!" AB de Villiers reserved high praise for Vaibhav Sooryavanshi ahead of Qualifier 2, highlighting the impact the Rajasthan Royals teenager has had during IPL 2026.
When legends admire greatness 🙌#ABdeVilliers praises #VaibhavSooryavanshi’s fearless batting after the youngster surpassed #ChrisGayle’s #TATAIPL sixes milestone! 🏟️🔥#TATAIPL 2026 Qualifier 2 👉 #GTvRR | FRI, 29th MAY, 6:30 PM pic.twitter.com/nzxTjofFZC
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) May 29, 2026
IPL Qualifier 2, New Chandigarh Pitch And Weather Conditions: Conditions in Mullanpur suggest runs could once again dominate proceedings. The venue has produced several high-scoring games this season, with first-innings totals regularly crossing the 200-mark. While the new ball may offer some assistance to the seamers, batting is expected to become easier as the match progresses.
Dew is also likely to influence tactics later in the evening, making the toss a significant factor. Clear skies are forecast, with temperatures expected to remain between 25°C and 30°C throughout the match.
Just two days after his 97 off 29 balls against Sunrisers Hyderabad in a crucial knockout Eliminator, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will once again be in the spotlight as Rajasthan Royals now face Gujarat Titans with a place in the IPL 2026 final at stake.
Rajasthan arrive with momentum after eliminating Sunrisers Hyderabad, while GT are looking to respond after a heavy defeat to Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Qualifier 1.
With a spot in final against RCB at stake, both sides have one last hurdle to clear in Mullanpur.
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