The second finalist of IPL 2026 will be decided on Friday , as Rajasthan Royals face Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 2. The winner will then meet Royal Challengers Bangalore in the final on Sunday. Both teams come in with different momentum , so this one feels like it’s going to be one of the most anticipated games of the season, kind of right from the start.

Rajasthan Royals are arriving with confidence after a strong win in the Eliminator. Gujarat Titans, on the other hand, are trying to bounce back from a tough defeat against RCB in Qualifier 1. Before the match, a lot of focus is landing on Rajasthan’s young opener Vaibhav Suryavanshi, whose explosive batting has become, honestly, one of the biggest talking points this tournament

Vaibhav Suryavanshi Remains the Main Attraction

At only 15 years old, Vaibhav Suryavanshi has basically rearranged Rajasthan’s batting order. His fearless mindset, along with aggressive stroke play, has troubled almost every bowling unit this season.

In the Eliminator against Sunrisers Hyderabad, Vaibhav made 97 runs off just 29 balls. The knock had 12 sixes, and it kept Rajasthan cruising to a rather dominant victory. Across 15 matches, he has stacked up 680 runs , averaging 45.33, with a strike rate sitting above 240.

A bunch of former cricketers have praised what he’s been doing. Sachin Tendulkar talked about his freedom at the crease, while Yuvraj Singh linked his power-hitting impact to Chris Gayle. Virender Sehwag even said he would bid ₹30 crore for Vaibhav in an IPL auction, like no hesitation.

For Gujarat Titans the job sounds simple, but it’s not easy at all: get Vaibhav out early , and do it before he sets the tempo.

Rajasthan Royals Regain Form at the Right Time

Rajasthan had mixed results in the middle section of the tournament. Still, they’ve pulled it back strongly, and now they’re entering Qualifier 2 carrying a three-match winning streak.

The batting unit seems kinda settled now, not perfect, but mostly stable. Alongside Vaibhav, Yashasvi Jaiswal has put up 426 runs this season, while Dhruv Jurel has been even better with 508. Riyan Parag and Ferreira also bring a bit of calm in the middle order, like they keep things from getting too wild too early.

On the bowling side, it has improved quite a lot in recent matches. Jofra Archer has basically been Rajasthan’s standout performer, picking up 24 wickets. His pace, and that proper control, has played a huge role in the team’s recent wins. Burger and Brijesh Sharma back him up well, and spinner Yashraj Punja adds that necessary balance during the middle overs, not letting the game drift away.

Still, even with this strong momentum, Rajasthan are kind of leaning on Vaibhav for batting, and Archer for bowling. If either of them has a bad day, then the team might feel pressure, like suddenly everything tightens.

Gujarat Titans Aim for a Strong Comeback

Gujarat Titans were among the most consistent teams in the league stage. They secured a top-two finish pretty comfortably, but then came that disappointing loss against RCB in Qualifier 1, and it changed the tone a bit.

Their batting strength really leans on the top order. Sai Sudharsan has scored 652 runs this season, while captain Shubman Gill has contributed 618. Jos Buttler has also crafted several key innings. But, Gujarat’s middle order tends to stumble when the top three fail to perform, kinda simple as that.

That exact problem showed up in Qualifier 1, where the side collapsed under pressure. Now Gujarat need a stronger full batting display, so they can actually fight Rajasthan on a batting-friendly surface.

Gujarat’s Bowling Attack Could Be the Difference

Even after that recent defeat, Gujarat still hold one of the tournament’s most effective bowling units, and that could matter a lot later.

Kagiso Rabada is leading the attack with 26 wickets this season, while Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna have also kept giving regular breakthroughs upfront. Rashid Khan still keeps things in order during the middle overs using his experience, and those little variations that confuse batters.

Meanwhile all rounder Jason Holder gives that extra stability , both with the ball as well as taking wickets in key moments. Now Gujarat’s bowlers are heading into what looks like their toughest assignment, because Rajasthan’s top order is aggressive and doesn’t really slow down easily.

How teams handle Vaibhav Suryavanshi might end up deciding the result, even before the late overs get rolling.

Pitch and Weather Report

The match is set for Mullanpur, and honestly high-scoring matches have shown up a lot this season. Teams have already managed chases beyond 220 at this venue, so it feels like another batting friendly surface is likely. Rajasthan Royals have also been in a good groove here, they’ve won all four IPL matches played at this ground this season. Gujarat Titans, on the other hand, have won one and lost two at the venue so far.

Rain could happen during the afternoon though. Still, forecasts say the match itself should continue , without any serious interruptions.

Head-to-Head Record

Gujarat Titans hold the upper hand overall when these two teams meet.

• Total Matches: 10  
• Gujarat Wins: 7  
• Rajasthan Wins: 3  

In IPL 2026 they met twice already:

• Rajasthan won by 6 runs on April 4  
• Gujarat won by 77 runs on May 9  

Probable Playing XIs

Gujarat Titans

• Shubman Gill (Captain), Sai Sudharsan, Jos Buttler, Nishant Sindhu, Washington Sundar, Rahul Tewatia/Sai Kishore, Jason Holder, Rashid Khan, Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna.

Rajasthan Royals

• Yashasvi Jaiswal, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Dhruv Jurel, Riyan Parag (Captain), Ferreira, Shanaka/Sushant Mishra, Ravindra Jadeja, Jofra Archer, Burger, Brijesh Sharma, Yashraj Punja.

Key Battle to Watch

The contest between Vaibhav Suryavanshi and Gujarat’s pace attack could shape the entire game. If Gujarat dismiss him early, Rajasthan may struggle to maintain their aggressive scoring rate. If Vaibhav survives the powerplay, Rajasthan could quickly take control.

With strong batting lineups, quality fast bowlers, and a place in the IPL final at stake, Qualifier 2 promises to deliver a high-pressure contest between two dangerous teams.