Rajasthan Royals vs Gujarat Titans – IPL 2026 Match Report | Statz
Gujarat Titans won by 77 runs – a commanding victory over Rajasthan Royals at Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur, in the 52nd match of 74 in the Indian Premier League 2026. Rajasthan Royals won the toss and elected to bowl, but Gujarat Titans had no trouble posting 229/4 before Rashid Khan dismantled the chase. RR were all out for 152 in 16.3 overs. The result moves GT to 2nd in the table with 14 points, while RR drop back to 5th on 12 – a result that tightens the top-four race with 22 matches still to play.
Gujarat Titans Innings – 229/4 (20 overs)
Gujarat Titans were sent in and immediately made Rajasthan Royals regret it. Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan put on a massive opening stand – the pair were together until Sudharsan was caught for 55 off 36 balls (6 fours, 2 sixes, SR 153) at 118/1 in the 11th over. Gill continued to dominate, eventually dismissed caught for 84 off 44 – 9 fours, 3 sixes, SR 191 – when the score reached 185/2 in the 16th.
Jos Buttler arrived and fell quickly for 13 off 10 at 150/3 in the 13th, before Washington Sundar hit a blistering 37* off 20 – 2 fours and 3 sixes, SR 185 – to keep the foot on the accelerator. Jason Holder fell for 7 at 205/4 in the 18th. Rahul Tewatia provided an explosive finish – 14* off just 4 balls including 2 sixes at SR 350 – to push GT to 229/4.
For Rajasthan Royals, Ravindra Jadeja was the most economical bowler with 1/34 off 4 overs at economy 8.50. Brijesh Sharma took 2/47 and Yash Raj Punja claimed 1/37. Jofra Archer was expensive – 0/46 off 3 overs including 9 wides – as Rajasthan struggled to contain the Gujarat opening pair.
Rajasthan Royals Chase – 152 all out (16.3 overs)
Rajasthan needed 230 – a stiff target but not impossible at Jaipur. The chase started brightly. Vaibhav Suryavanshi came out swinging – 36 off 16, 3 fours and 3 sixes at SR 225 – before being caught at 38/1 in the 3rd over. Yashasvi Jaiswal fell for just 3 off 4 at 40/2 in the same over, and when Shimron Hetmyer went for 6 at 68/3, the chase was already under pressure.
Dhruv Jurel briefly provided hope with 24 off 10 – 1 four, 3 sixes, SR 240 – before being clean bowled at 87/4 in the 7th. Donovan Ferreira fell quickly for 4 at 91/5. Ravindra Jadeja fought back hard with 38 off 25 – 3 fours, 2 sixes – before being LBW at 136/6 in the 14th. Shubham Dubey made 15 off 14, Dasun Shanaka added 16 off 11, but Rashid Khan had already done the damage. Rajasthan were bowled out for 152 in 16.3 overs.
Rashid Khan was devastating – 4/33 off 4 overs at economy 8.25, official Man of the Match. Jason Holder took 3/12 off 2.3 overs at economy 4.80 – a superb death bowling spell. Kagiso Rabada claimed 2/33 off 3 overs.
Statz MVP – Rashid Khan (101.53)
Statz rates Rashid Khan as the match MVP with an MI Rating of 101.53, using a formula that calculates impact based on match context. Statz and the official Man of the Match selectors agree – Rashid was the difference. His 4/33 dismantled a chase that had briefly threatened to become competitive, and his rating of 101.53 puts him above the match’s season average, reflecting just how dominant his contribution was in this context.
Top 5 Statz Ratings
- Rashid Khan (Gujarat Titans) – 101.53 – 4/33, the wickets that sealed the match
- Shubman Gill (Gujarat Titans) – 96.98 – 84 off 44 (SR 191), the innings foundation
- Ravindra Jadeja (Rajasthan Royals) – 94.00 – 38 off 25 batting, 1/34 bowling – best of the Royals
- Washington Sundar (Gujarat Titans) – 67.87 – 37* off 20 (SR 185) to push the score to 229
- Sai Sudharsan (Gujarat Titans) – 54.58 – 55 off 36 (SR 153), half of a match-winning opening stand
Turning Point
Rajasthan needed 230 and were still in it – just – at 87/3 after Dhruv Jurel’s explosive 24 off 10. Then Rashid Khan bowled him for 24 in the 7th over at 87/4. That was the wicket that broke the chase. From 87/4, Rajasthan lost their last 6 wickets for 65 runs. Rashid took 3 more after that wicket, and Jason Holder cleaned up the tail.
Match Context
This was the 52nd match of 74 in the IPL 2026 Regular Season. Gujarat Titans sit 2nd – 14 points from 11 matches (W7 L4), NRR +0.228. Rajasthan Royals drop to 5th – 12 points from 11 matches (W6 L5), NRR +0.082. Gujarat leapfrog on run rate to sit behind only Sunrisers Hyderabad (also 14pts, NRR +0.737) at the top. The head-to-head record now stands at GT 7-3 RR in all-time meetings. Rajasthan remain in the playoff picture but will need wins in their remaining three games to secure a top-four finish.
