Gujarat Titans avenge loss to RCB with four-wicket win in IPL 2026

Key facts

• Gujarat Titans beat Royal Challengers Bengaluru by four wickets on April 30, 2026 in Ahmedabad.
• RCB were bowled out for 155 despite Virat Kohli's 28 off 10 balls.
• Shubman Gill scored 43 off 22 balls, including 24 runs off Josh Hazlewood's first over.
• Bhuvneshwar Kumar took 3-28 for Gujarat.
• Jos Buttler hit 39 off 19 balls with four sixes.
• Rahul Tewatia remained unbeaten on 27 off 17 balls.
• RCB stayed second with 12 points; Gujarat moved to fifth with 10 points.

Gujarat's pacers set up revenge win

Gujarat Titans avenged their five-wicket loss to Royal Challengers Bengaluru last week with a commanding four-wicket victory at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Thursday. The home side's four-man pace attack bowled out the defending champions for 155, a total they chased down in just 15.5 overs. Captain Shubman Gill led from the front with a blistering 43 off 22 balls, setting the tone after RCB's early onslaught. The win lifted Gujarat to fifth in the IPL standings with 10 points, while RCB remained second with 12 points.

Kohli's fireworks fizzle out

Virat Kohli gave RCB a flying start, smashing Kagiso Rabada for five consecutive boundaries in the second over. He struck five fours and a six in his first 10 balls before Rabada fought back, inducing a catch to mid-wicket off a sharp short delivery. Kohli's dismissal for 28 triggered a middle-order collapse. Devdutt Padikkal top-scored with 40, but RCB's innings never regained momentum. Impact player Venkatesh Iyer managed only 12 off 15 balls before holing out to deep mid-wicket. RCB could score just 29 runs in the final six overs, finishing at 155 all out.

Gill and Buttler power chase

Chasing 156, Gill welcomed Josh Hazlewood with a boundary over point, then lifted him for another four over extra cover. After a dot ball, he smashed a six over mid-on, followed by a four through point and another six over square leg in the same over, taking 24 runs. Jos Buttler continued the assault, hitting four sixes and two fours in his 39 off 19 balls before falling to Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Gujarat reached 158-6 with four wickets and 25 balls to spare. Rahul Tewatia ensured no late wobble, scoring an unbeaten 27 off 17 balls.

Bowling and fielding stand out

Bhuvneshwar Kumar was the pick of the bowlers with 3-28 from four overs, while Arshad Khan took 3-22. Jason Holder claimed 2-29 and held three brilliant catches, including a diving effort off captain Rajat Patidar. Romario Shepherd dismissed Shahrukh Khan and Washington Sundar in one over. Gill praised his team's bowling and fielding, saying, "Restricting them to under 160 was a tremendous job by the bowlers. Our fielding was one of the things … and how we came back together (after the second over) was pleasing."

RCB's captain rues missed opportunity

RCB captain Rajat Patidar acknowledged that 155 was not enough on the pitch. "The score was not good enough on this track," he said. "The way Shubman played, he played beautifully and put pressure on us. We gave a lot of wickets in the middle and that kept us in the backseat." Patidar remained philosophical about the standings, adding, "It's a long way (to go) and we will take it one game at a time. We are not looking at the table. Our aim is to play good cricket."

Implications for the playoff race

The result tightened the IPL standings, with Gujarat moving to 10 points and RBC stuck at 12. Last week, RCB had beaten Gujarat by five wickets after the Titans posted 205-3. Thursday's win showed Gujarat's ability to adapt and execute a different game plan. With several matches remaining, both teams have work to do to secure playoff spots. RCB's middle-order fragility and Gujarat's bowling depth will be key factors in the weeks ahead.

The bottom line

• Gujarat's pace attack, led by Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Arshad Khan, dismantled RCB's batting lineup.
• Shubman Gill's aggressive captaincy and batting set up the chase after a shaky start.
• RCB's middle order collapsed after Kohli's dismissal, scoring only 29 runs in the last six overs.
• Gujarat avenged last week's defeat, moving to fifth in the standings.
• RCB remain second but need to address batting consistency to stay in playoff contention.