IPL 2026 Qualifier 2 will be played between the Gujarat Titans and Rajasthan Royals at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Stadium in Mullanpur, New Chandigarh, on May 29. Rajasthan Royals entered Qualifier 2 following a 47-run win over the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), thanks to an explosive knock from Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who scored 97 off just 29 balls. Sooryavanshi played at a strike rate of 334.48, laced with five boundaries and 12 sixes.
After Sooryavanshi’s wicket, Dhruv Jurel (50 off 21 balls) and Riyan Parag’s quick cameo knock powered RR to a massive total of 243. SRH failed to chase the target as they failed to build a single key partnership, and the wickets kept falling at regular intervals.
Meanwhile, the Gujarat Titans, who faced the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in Qualifier 1, suffered a 92-run defeat at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala. GT’s dependency on their top-three batters is one of the main reasons why Shubman Gill’s side needs to worry ahead of the do-or-die clash.
GT vs RR: 3 reasons why Rajathan Royals might win Qualifier 2
Ahead of Qualifier 2, let’s take a look at the story in detail and find out about the three reasons why Rajasthan Royals might win IPL 2026 Qualifier 2.
1. Explosive batting lineup and match-winner like Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
Rajasthan Royals enter qualifier 2 riding on Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s explosive knock. Meanwhile, RR’s top order has played a key role throughout the IPL 2026 season. When Sooryavanshi failed to deliver, Yashasvi Jaiswal led the charge. Dhruv Jurel has been a key contributor with the bat, while skipper Riyan Parag, Donovan Ferreira, and Ravindra Jadeja have also given explosive finishing touches.
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Sooryavanshi is the leading run-scorer for RR, and holds the top spot in orange cap list with 680 runs. Meanwhile, Dhruv Jurel and Yashasvi Jaiswal has scored a total of 508 and 426 runs respectively.
2. Strong bowling attack led by Jofra Archer
Rajasthan Royals IPL 2026 season will be remembered for Sooryvanshi’s explosive batting and Jofra Archer’s delivering sensational spells every single time RR needed a wicket. In the eliminator match against SRH, Archer returned with figures of 3/58, and destroyed Hyderabad’s top order. The star England pacer has picked up a total of 24 wickets in 15 matches in IPL 2026. Archer was well supported by Nandre Burger, who picked two wickets in the do-or-die match. Another RR player who has grabbed everyone’s attention is Brijesh Sharma, he is the second leading wicket taker for RR, followed by Nandre Burger, who have picked 13 wickets this season.
3. Eliminator momentum and RR’s do-or-die confidence
Riyan Parag-led Rajasthan Royals will look to carry their winning momentum heading into the do-or-die match against the Gujarat Titans. RR playoff qualification was in doubt as they went out of track in the middle of the league stage, but they bounced back stronger to seal their playoff berth. However, RR never looked back and they have won two back-to-back league stage matches to seal their playoff spot. Despite all the setbacks, RR have showcased an all-round performance in all the do-or-die matches this season. Keeping the Gujarat Titans batting weakness in mind, RR can easily conquer the Qualifier 2 challenge and head into the final.
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Also Read: GT vs RR Weather And Pitch Report Before IPL 2026 Qualifier 2
