IPL 2026 GT vs RR Qualifier 2: Wounded Titans Face Surging Royals for a Spot in the Grand Finale
The stage is officially set for an epic showdown at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur, New Chandigarh. Tomorrow, on May 29, 2026, the Gujarat Titans (GT) will clash with the Rajasthan Royals (RR) in Qualifier 2 of the IPL 2026 playoffs.
The equation is simple: the winner punches their ticket to Ahmedabad for the Grand Final against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on May 31, while the loser goes home empty-handed.
The Road to Qualifier 2
- Gujarat Titans: Having finished second in the league stage, GT missed their first chance at the final after suffering a heavy 92-run defeat against a rampant RCB side in Qualifier 1. Shubman Gill’s men are desperate to wipe that slate clean.
- Rajasthan Royals: RR are riding an absolute wave of momentum. They entered the final four in the final week of the league stage and subsequently knocked out Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) by 47 runs in a high-scoring Eliminator clash right here at Mullanpur.
Match Information
| Match Feature | Details |
| Fixture | GT vs RR Qualifier 2: Gujarat Titans vs Rajasthan Royals |
| Date & Time | May 29, 2026, at 7:30 PM IST (Toss at 7:00 PM) |
| Venue | Maharaja Yadavindra Singh PCA Stadium, Mullanpur |
| Live Stream | JioHotstar App & Website |
| TV Broadcast | Star Sports Network |
Head-to-Head & Current Form
Historically, Gujarat Titans hold the upper hand with 7 wins out of 10 matches against the Rajasthan Royals. However, the 2026 season tells a much more balanced story.
In their two regular-season encounters, honors were shared evenly:
- Match 9 (April 4): RR hung on for a thrilling 6-run win at Ahmedabad, courtesy of an extraordinary 4-wicket haul by Ravi Bishnoi.
- Match 52 (May 9): GT exacted massive revenge in Jaipur, routing the Royals by 77 runs behind a dominant 84 from Shubman Gill and a masterclass from Rashid Khan.
Pitch & Conditions Report
The Mullanpur surface has turned into a certified paradise for stroke-makers in the latter half of the tournament. As seen during the Eliminator match, the true bounce allows batters to hit through the line with impunity.
The Mullanpur X-Factor: Rajasthan Royals remain completely familiar with these conditions and are virtually unbeaten at this ground. Furthermore, evening dew will heavily affect the second innings, making bowling second an absolute nightmare. The team winning the toss will undoubtedly bowl first.
Predicted Playing XIs for GT vs RR Qualifier 2
Gujarat Titans (GT)
GT will look to shore up their batting order after the Qualifier 1 collapse, relying heavily on their experienced overseas core.
Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (C), Jos Buttler (WK), Nishant Sindhu, Washington Sundar, Jason Holder, Rashid Khan, Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Kulwant Khejroliya. (Impact Player: Rahul Tewatia)
Rajasthan Royals (RR)
All eyes will be on the 15-year-old batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who smashed an unbelievable 97 off just 29 balls against SRH in the Eliminator.
Yashasvi Jaiswal, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Riyan Parag (C), Shimron Hetmyer, Donovan Ferreira, Jofra Archer, Nandre Burger, Tushar Deshpande, Brijesh Sharma, Ravi Bishnoi. (Impact Player: Ravindra Jadeja)
Key Player Key Matchups
Gill vs Jofra Archer
Shubman Gill scored a brilliant 84 against RR earlier this season. Stopping him in the powerplay falls squarely on Jofra Archer’s heavy-length express pace.
Sooryavanshi vs Rabada
The teenage prodigy blew SRH away, but Kagiso Rabada’s pinpoint hard lines and subtle variations will offer a much sterner test.
Expert Match Prediction
Google’s live prediction models currently favor Rajasthan Royals at 52.9% over Gujarat Titans at 47.1%.
While GT finished higher on the points table, their structural vulnerability against express pace was thoroughly exposed by RCB. Combined with the fact that RR treats Mullanpur as a fortress and boasts the red-hot form of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Riyan Parag, the momentum leans pink.
Our Prediction: Rajasthan Royals to win a close encounter and advance to the IPL 2026 Final.
