Gujarat Titans sealed a crucial four-wicket win over an in-form Royal Challengers Bengaluru and kept their playoff hopes alive in IPL 2026. Speaking after the win, GT batter Jos Buttler said the team bagged two points as the race for the knockout stage heats up.
Chasing a modest target of 156, GT kept losing wickets but skipper Shubman Gill’s 43 off 18 balls and Buttler’s 39 off 19 at the top provided enough cushion for Rahul Tewatia (27 not out) to take the side over the line in 15.5 overs on Thursday, which also helped boosting their NRR.
This was Gujarat’s fifth win of the season, while RCB remained in second place with 12 points despite the loss.
“Yeah, massive two points for us. We’re in that scenario where we need to hold on to those guys (teams) ahead of us, and we play a lot of them as well. So, massive time in the tournament and a really important win today,” said Buttler.
He credited pacers Modammed Siraj and Kagiso Rabada for making early inroads on a batter-friendly surface, as GT after opting to bowl first bowled RCB out for 155.
“A really good batting surface. I think the bowlers deserve a lot of credit there. And one of the biggest differences, I think, for us is taking our catches today,” said Buttler after the match.
“Some fantastic bowlers on show, obviously, with the new ball. Siraj and Rabada have been great for us,” said the England batter.
He said Gill’s calm approach to the chase gave him and the team the confidence to make light work of the chase.
“…nice piece of bowling from Bhuvi (RCB’s Bhuvneshwar Kumar). We spoke about it before the match. When your leader goes out there and does exactly what he spoke about, so calmly, so clinically, against a top bowler (like Kumar), I think that gave a lot of confidence and broke the back of the chase very early,” added Buttler.
GT skipper Gill said restricting a star-studded batting lineup like RCB under 160 was a “tremendous job by the bowlers.”
“Our fielding was one of the things… in phases, we have not fielded well. Energy in the field was very nice, and how we came back together (after the second over) was pleasing…we lost a couple more wickets than we would have liked,” said Gill.
On the other hand, RCB skipper Rajat Patidar admitted his batters did not put enough runs on the board.
“I think the score was not good enough, but I think the way we bowled and stretched it to 15, 16 overs, I think that’s a positive sign for us.
“I think the way Shubman played, I think he played beautifully in the powerplay. And he put the pressure on us, but the way we came back and stretched till 16th over, I think that’s a positive.”
Patidar rued that they were not able to get a partnership going and kept losing wickets in the middle overs. “I think we gave a lot of wickets in the middle and that kept us on the back seat.”
He lauded Bhuvneshwar Kumar for bowling exceptionally well yet again in the powerplay and picking up three wickets.
“He’s an experienced bowler of T20 format and the way he bowled in the first half, I think that is incredible. But I think it’s a long way and we’ll take one game at a time. There’s bound to be a hiccup on the way.
“We are not looking at it on the table. But our aim is to play good cricket,” Patidar said.
