Shubman Gill equals Samson with fifth IPL hundred, blows RR away in Qualifier 2

Shubman Gill stood tall when Gujarat Titans needed him the most and produced a brilliant century to put his side on the brink of the IPL 2026 final in Qualifier 2 against Rajasthan Royals in Mullanpur. Chasing a daunting target, the Titans skipper took the lead from the outset and reached his hundred in just 47 balls.

It was his fifth IPL century, bringing him level with Sanju Samson and the fastest ever hundred by a Gujarat Titans batsman. The hundred also created a new IPL Playoffs record. Gill’s 47-ball ton surpassed his own 49-ball century mark when he scored 129 against Mumbai Indians in the 2023 Season 2 Qualifier.

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Playing close to home in suburban Chandigarh, Gill looked in complete control throughout the chase. He achieved the milestone by stepping out to Ravindra Jadeja and lifting him over the infield, a shot he used effectively against the left-arm spinner during the innings. With this knock, Gill became the first player in IPL history to score two centuries in the Playoffs, scoring a hundred in Qualifier 2 in 2023.

When the hundred had arrived, Gill removed his helmet, raised his hands to the crowd, and bowed. It was a celebration befitting the occasion and the quality of the innings. Gujarat were set a challenging target of 215, but their captain ensured the chase never got out of hand, combining elegance with authority at the crease.

Chasing 215, Gujarat got off to a dream start through Gill and Sai Sudharsan. Rajasthan’s decision to hand Jofra Archer the new ball backfired as the England pacer escaped 19 runs in the opening over, offered width to Sudharsan and strayed to Gill’s pads. The Titans openers cashed in immediately and never allowed Rajasthan’s bowlers to settle down.

The pair raced to 69 not out in the Powerplay before continuing their onslaught after fielding restrictions. Gill and Sudharsan added another 22 runs in two overs after the powerplay, keeping the scoreboard moving without taking any unnecessary risks. At the end of eight overs, Gujarat jumped to 91 for no loss.

Gill reached his half-century in 30 balls, dropping Tushar Deshpande for a six and a four in the ninth before adding two more boundaries. Sudharsan matched his partner’s pace and reached his fifty off just 26 deliveries with a towering six over long-off. The left-hander also crossed the 700-run mark for the season as he continued his quest for the Orange Cap.

The partnership was significant beyond the match situation. During their stand, Gill and Sudharsan surpassed Virat Kohli and Chris Gayle to become the second highest scoring batting pair in IPL history. Only Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers have amassed more runs in the tournament combined.

The pair then etched their names into the playoff record books. Their opening stand of 160 runs became the highest partnership in IPL playoff history, surpassing the 159 runs between Michael Hussey and Murali Vijay in the 2011 final.

Sudharsan’s fun knock ended in a bizarre way. After scoring 58 off 32 balls, he was denied a hit wicket when the bat slipped from his hands while attempting a powerful square shot and hit the stumps. Notably, this was his second consecutive dismissal after suffering a similar fate in Gujarat’s previous match.

By then, however, Rajasthan’s hopes were hanging in the balance.

Gill made sure there would be no going back. The Gujarat skipper mixed power with precision, repeatedly finding gaps and punishing anything that went too far. He brought up his century in style, dancing down the track and lofting a full delivery over cover, sparking celebrations in the Titans dugout.

– The end

Issued by:

Saurabh Kumar

Published on:

29 May 2026 23:07 IST