How the Night Unfolded
The Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur was buzzing on Friday night, but by the time the last wicket fell, only one team was celebrating. GT put up a masterclass performance against Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2026 Match 52, winning by a massive 77 runs to record the biggest victory margin in their franchise history. It was not just a win. It was a statement.
Gill and Sudharsan Set the Stage
Shubman Gill walked out to bat despite nursing a niggling ankle concern and made the Rajasthan bowlers wish he had stayed in the dugout. Alongside Sai Sudharsan, Gill stitched together a 118-run opening stand in just 10.5 overs, completely suffocating the hosts in the powerplay and beyond. Sudharsan was clinical and composed, bringing up his half-century off 36 balls with six fours and two sixes before departing for 55. Gill, playing with visible discomfort but zero hesitation, hammered 84 off 44 deliveries, including nine boundaries and three towering sixes at a strike rate of 190.91.
Gill Pushes Through the Pain
There was a moment midway through the innings when Gill called the physio out twice after twisting his ankle taking a quick single. Medical staff clearly advised him to leave the field. He refused both times, went back to his crease, and kept timing the ball through the covers as if nothing happened. It spoke volumes about his character. For a player who is also India’s full-time Test and ODI captain with a busy schedule ahead, risking further injury showed just how much this IPL campaign means to him and his team.
Washington Sundar Adds the Final Blows
Once the openers were dismissed, Washington Sundar was promoted up the order and made the most of it. He blazed his way to an unbeaten 37 off 20 deliveries, hitting two fours and three sixes to push the total past the 225-run mark. Rajasthan’s bowlers tried slower balls and yorkers in the death overs, but the scoreboard pressure was relentless. Brijesh Sharma managed two wickets for 47 but the damage had been done. Gujarat posted 229 for 4, their highest team total of the season.
Royals Start Bright Then Fall Apart
Rajasthan’s response started in the most explosive fashion possible. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi smashed 36 off just 16 balls, including three fours and three sixes, and Dhruv Jurel was equally aggressive at the other end with 24 off 10 deliveries. At 62 for 2 after just five overs, the chase was very much on and the crowd had come alive again. What followed, however, was a batting collapse of the highest order.
Rashid Khan Takes Over
Enter Rashid Khan. The Afghan leg-spinner had been in fine form throughout the season, and this night was his masterpiece. Bowling through the middle overs between the eighth and fourteenth, he exploited a hint of turn and variation in pace to completely dismantle the Rajasthan middle order. He dismissed Dhruv Jurel with a sharp delivery that knocked back the off stump. Three balls later, Donovan Ferreira was rattled by a leg-break that drifted in and turned away sharply. Rashid later trapped Ravindra Jadeja in front and finished with four wickets for 33 runs in four overs, including three bowled dismissals. It was vintage Rashid.
Jadeja Fights Alone but Lacks Support
Ravindra Jadeja did his best to hold the innings together, top-scoring for Rajasthan with 38 off 25 balls, hitting three fours and two sixes. However, he got little support from the other end. Wickets kept tumbling at regular intervals as Kagiso Rabada took two in the powerplay and Mohammed Siraj removed Sooryavanshi early. Jason Holder came back in the backend to clean up the tail brilliantly, claiming three wickets for just 12 runs in 2.3 overs. Rajasthan were bowled out for 152 in 16.3 overs.
What This Means for GT’s Playoff Hopes
This win pushed Gujarat Titans to second on the IPL 2026 points table with 14 points, equal to table-toppers Sunrisers Hyderabad. Four wins on the trot coming into the business end of the season, a captain scoring runs despite injury, a spinner finding his best form, and a potent pace attack all clicking at once. GT look like a team nobody wants to face in the playoffs. Rajasthan, on the other hand, slip into a three-way tie for third place and will need to look over their shoulder in the coming weeks as the race for the top four gets tighter by the night.
Written by 8JJ.com | May 10, 2026
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