Rajasthan Royals hold a slight edge over Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 2 of IPL 2026 at the New PCA Stadium, Mullanpur on Friday, May 29, 2026 (7:30 PM IST).
Vs
Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur
29 May 2026 07:30 PM
The winner faces Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL 2026 Final at Ahmedabad on May 31. The loser goes home.
After Sooryavanshi’s record-breaking 97 off 29 balls destroyed SRH in the Eliminator, RR arrive with incredible momentum. GT, meanwhile, need to recover from a 92-run humiliation by RCB in Qualifier 1.
Two words define this match: knockout cricket. Every ball matters. Every catch is do-or-die.
GT vs RR Qualifier 2: Complete Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | Gujarat Titans vs Rajasthan Royals, Qualifier 2 |
| Tournament | IPL 2026 (TATA Indian Premier League) |
| Date | Friday, May 29, 2026 |
| Time | 7:30 PM IST |
| Venue | New PCA Stadium, Mullanpur (New Chandigarh) |
| Winner Advances To | IPL 2026 Final vs RCB (May 31, Ahmedabad) |
| Loser | Eliminated from the tournament |
| Live Telecast | JioStar Network Channels |
| Live Streaming | JioHotstar App & Website |
GT vs RR Head-to-Head Record in IPL
GT dominate 7-4 in this rivalry. However, RR won the first meeting this season and arrive with significantly better momentum.
| Stat | Details |
|---|---|
| Total Matches | 10 |
| GT Wins | 7 |
| RR Wins | 3 |
| This Season | RR won at Guwahati (6 runs), GT won at NMS (77 runs) |
| GT’s Advantage | Won 4 consecutive from 2023-2025 |
| Last Meeting | GT 229/4, RR 152 all out (77-run GT win) |
New PCA Stadium Mullanpur Pitch Report for Qualifier 2
Mullanpur is PBKS’ home ground neutral for both GT and RR. The surface averaging 211 means anything below 200 is below par.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Avg 1st Innings Score (IPL 2026) | ~211 (highest among all IPL venues!) |
| Surface | Flat, true bounce, batting paradise |
| Key Stat | 5 of 6 innings here saw 220+ totals |
| RR at Mullanpur | Beat SRH here in the Eliminator (243/8) |
| Chase Record | Chasing teams have dominated this season |
| Dew Factor | Expected from 2nd innings |
Mullanpur Weather Forecast for Qualifier 2
| Parameter | Forecast |
|---|---|
| Temperature (Match Time) | 30–36°C |
| Humidity | 40–55% |
| Rain Chance | ~35% (worth monitoring) |
| Wind Speed | Light breeze |
| Dew Factor | Expected from 2nd innings |
| Conditions | Partly cloudy, warm evening |
A 35% rain chance adds uncertainty to a knockout match. If rain interrupts, DLS could dramatically change the contest.
GT vs RR Toss Prediction
Chasing has dominated at Mullanpur. With dew expected, the toss winner will bowl first.
Toss Prediction: Bowl first.
GT vs RR Probable Playing XIs for Qualifier 2
Here are Probable Playing XI of both Teams:
Gujarat Titans Predicted XI
| # | Player | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sai Sudharsan | Opener |
| 2 | Shubman Gill (C) | Opener |
| 3 | Jos Buttler (WK) | Middle Order |
| 4 | Glenn Phillips | Middle Order |
| 5 | Jason Holder | All-rounder |
| 6 | Rahul Tewatia | Finisher |
| 7 | Rashid Khan | Spin All-rounder |
| 8 | Washington Sundar | All-rounder |
| 9 | Kagiso Rabada | Fast Bowler |
| 10 | Mohammed Siraj | Fast Bowler |
| 11 | Prasidh Krishna | Fast Bowler |
Rajasthan Royals Predicted XI
| # | Player | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vaibhav Sooryavanshi | Opener |
| 2 | Yashasvi Jaiswal (C) | Opener |
| 3 | Dhruv Jurel (WK) | Middle Order |
| 4 | Lhuan-dre Pretorius | Middle Order |
| 5 | Donovan Ferreira | Finisher |
| 6 | Shubham Dubey | All-rounder |
| 7 | Dasun Shanaka | All-rounder |
| 8 | Jofra Archer | Fast Bowler |
| 9 | Sandeep Sharma | Medium Pacer |
| 10 | Sushant Mishra | Left-arm Pacer |
| 11 | Brijesh Sharma | Medium Pacer |
Why RR Will Win This Match
Sooryavanshi’s Record-Breaking Momentum
A player who just scored 97 off 29 balls, broke Gayle’s sixes record, and became the first to 600 runs at SR 200+ doesn’t slow down. He speeds up.
Archer Removed SRH’s Top 3
In the Eliminator, Archer dismissed Abhishek, Head, and Kishan. If he does the same to Gill and Sudharsan, GT’s innings collapses.
GT Were Destroyed by 92 Runs in Qualifier 1
The mental scars of that RCB thrashing are fresh. Knockout cricket is 90% mental, and GT’s confidence has been shattered.
RR Already Won at This Venue
They beat SRH at Mullanpur in the Eliminator two days ago. They know the pitch, the dew timings, and the conditions.
Why GT Could Still Win
7-3 Head-to-Head Dominance
GT have won 7 of 10 meetings. In pressure situations, historical dominance matters.
Gill + Sudharsan = 1,066 Combined Runs
The most prolific opening combination in IPL 2026. On Mullanpur’s flat surface, this pair can post 220+ to put pressure on RR’s brittle middle order.
An Extra Day’s Rest
GT played Qualifier 1 on Tuesday; RR played the Eliminator on Wednesday. GT have had one more day to recover and prepare.
Rabada and Rashid Under Lights
If GT bowl second, Rabada’s pace and Rashid’s spin under lights with dew could make bowling last more effective than usual.
GT vs RR Qualifier 2 Betting Odds and Win Probability
| Team | Win Probability | Key Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| Gujarat Titans | 45% | 7-4 H2H, Gill + Sudharsan 1,066 runs, extra rest day, knockout experience |
| Rajasthan Royals | 55% | Sooryavanshi (Orange Cap, 97 off 29), Archer 20+ wkts, Eliminator momentum, won at this venue |
GT vs RR Qualifier 2 Prediction: Who Will Win?
Predicted Winner: Rajasthan Royals
| Factor | GT Edge | RR Edge |
|---|---|---|
| Head-to-Head | 7-3 (dominant) | 3 wins (but won earlier this season) |
| Last Playoff Result | Lost to RCB by 92 runs (Qualifier 1) | Beat SRH by 47 runs (Eliminator) |
| Top Order | Gill 512 runs + Sudharsan 554 runs | Sooryavanshi 612+ runs (Orange Cap, 97 off 29) |
| Bowling | Rabada, Rashid (back to best), Prasidh | Archer 20+ wkts (removed SRH’s top 3) |
| Venue | Neutral (first match here this season) | Won the Eliminator here 2 days ago |
| Momentum | Shattered after 92-run loss to RCB | Sky-high after Sooryavanshi’s Eliminator masterclass |
| Key Concern | 92-run loss confidence damage | Middle order beyond Sooryavanshi/Jaiswal is thin |
| Winner Plays | RCB in Final (Ahmedabad, May 31) | RCB in Final (Ahmedabad, May 31) |
RR’s momentum from the Eliminator, Sooryavanshi’s once-in-a-generation form, and GT’s shattered confidence make this an RR-favoured knockout.
GT’s 7-3 head-to-head advantage and the Gill-Sudharsan partnership keep them in the conversation. But knockout cricket is about who peaks at the right time – and right now, RR are peaking harder than anyone.
The match will be decided by Rabada vs Sooryavanshi in the powerplay. If Rabada dismisses him early, GT’s experience takes over. If Sooryavanshi survives, the match is RR’s to lose.
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Final Verdict: Rajasthan Royals Beat Gujarat Titans to Reach IPL 2026 Final
This GT vs RR Qualifier 2 is a knockout clash for the right to face RCB in the IPL 2026 Final.
RR arrive riding the wave of Sooryavanshi’s once-in-a-generation Eliminator performance (97 off 29, broke Gayle’s record) and Archer’s demolition of SRH’s top order.
GT counter with a 7-3 head-to-head lead, the Gill-Sudharsan partnership (1,066 combined runs), and an extra day’s rest. But their confidence was shattered by a 92-run loss to RCB.
Expect a high-scoring thriller at Mullanpur (avg 211), with Rajasthan Royals advancing to the IPL 2026 Final on the back of Sooryavanshi’s historic season and Archer’s knockout bowling.
