Last updated: May 29, 2026 | IPL 2026 Qualifier 2 — Gujarat Titans vs Rajasthan Royals, New PCA Stadium, Mullanpur
Quick answer: Rajasthan Royals are the slight favourites in this IPL Playoff Prediction, edged ahead by red-hot momentum, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s once-in-a-generation form; and a flawless record at Mullanpur. The Gujarat Titans, however, hold a commanding head-to-head advantage and an extra day of rest – making this one of the most evenly poised knockouts of IPL 2026. Below is the full IPL Betting India Playoff Prediction analysis with match prediction, pitch report, head-to-head record, and key player breakdown to help you decide who can win Qualifier 2.
Match Snapshot
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | IPL 2026 Qualifier 2 |
| Teams | Gujarat Titans (GT) vs Rajasthan Royals (RR) |
| Date | Friday, May 29, 2026 |
| Start time | 7:30 PM IST (toss 7:00 PM IST) |
| Venue | Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium (New PCA Stadium), Mullanpur, New Chandigarh |
| At stake | A place in the IPL 2026 Final vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru |
| Final venue | Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad — Sunday |
This is a straight knockout: the winner books the last seat in the final against RCB, while the loser’s season ends here.
How Both Teams Reached Qualifier 2
The two finalists-in-waiting arrived at this stage along opposite emotional paths, and that contrast is central to this IPL Betting India Playoff Prediction analysis.
Gujarat Titans earned the luxury of a second shot at the final by finishing in the league’s top two (10 wins from 14 — one of the strongest league campaigns of the season). But they stumbled badly in Qualifier 1, losing to defending champions RCB by 92 runs. Chasing a daunting 254/5, GT collapsed to 51/5 inside the powerplay and were bowled out for 162, with Rahul Tewatia’s 68 the only meaningful resistance. Their celebrated bowling and fielding both had an off night — a rare wobble in an otherwise dominant season.
Rajasthan Royals had to win to survive, and they did so emphatically. In the Eliminator at this very ground, RR posted a franchise-record 243/8 before bowling out Sunrisers Hyderabad for 196 to win by 47 runs. The innings was lit up by Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s stunning 97 off just 29 balls (12 sixes) — one of the most destructive knocks in IPL playoff history. Jofra Archer then ripped out Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, and Travis Head to seal the chase.
Recent form (most recent first):
Gujarat Titans: L-W-L-W-W
Rajasthan Royals: W-W-W-L-L
Momentum, clearly, sits with Rajasthan.
Head-to-Head Record: GT vs RR in the IPL
History tells a very different story to current form — which is exactly why this IPL Betting India Playoff Prediction remains so finely balanced.
| Head-to-head stat | Record |
|---|---|
| Total IPL meetings | 10 |
| Gujarat Titans wins | 7 |
| Rajasthan Royals wins | 3 |
| IPL 2026 league stage | 1–1 |
In the league phase this season, GT won by 77 runs in Jaipur, while RR responded with a tense six-run win in Ahmedabad. Crucially for the Titans’ confidence, GT also beat RR in both the IPL 2022 Qualifier 1 and the final — the year Gujarat won the title in their debut season. In high-pressure knockouts specifically, the Titans have historically had Rajasthan’s number.
Pitch Report & Venue Stats — Mullanpur (New PCA Stadium)
The surface at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium will play a decisive role in deciding who can win Qualifier 2, and all the major conditions have been covered in this IPL Betting India Playoff Prediction guide.
Scoring: A batting-friendly deck, averaging roughly 170–175 in the first innings across IPL matches.
Behaviour: Sand-based foundation offers carry and bounce for the quicks early; the pitch slows through the middle overs, rewarding spin.
Dew factor: Dew typically sets in from around the 14th over of the second innings, easing the ball onto the bat and helping the chasing side.
Bat first vs chase: Across 16 IPL games here, the split is even — eight wins batting first, eight wins chasing.
Toss read: Both captains are expected to bowl first if they win the toss.
Venue records that matter most:
Rajasthan Royals are unbeaten at Mullanpur — winners of all four of their matches here, including the Eliminator just two days ago. They know the dew timings, the pace of the outfield, and the surface intimately.
Gujarat Titans have struggled here — just one win in three visits.
This venue familiarity is one of RR’s strongest cards in the match prediction.
Key Players Who Can Decide Qualifier 2
For Rajasthan Royals
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
The teenage sensation is the story of IPL 2026. With around 676–680 runs in 15 matches at an average near 45 and a barely-believable strike rate above 235, he has redefined what a powerplay assault looks like. His 97 off 29 in the Eliminator single-handedly flipped a match. RR own the best powerplay run-rate in the tournament (11.66), and Sooryavanshi is the engine. If he fires for even four overs, GT could be chasing the game from the start.
Jofra Archer
RR’s spearhead and the man tasked with the single most important job of the night: removing Shubman Gill early before the GT openers settle. Archer’s new-ball spell could define the contest.
Riyan Parag & Dhruv Jurel
The captain and the keeper-batter provide the middle-order spine RR will lean on if the openers don’t go big.
For Gujarat Titans
Shubman Gill & Sai Sudharsan
The most prolific opening pair in IPL 2026. Sudharsan leads GT’s run charts (~652 runs) and Gill has 600+ at a strike rate above 160; together they have struck 59 sixes this season. On a flat Mullanpur surface, this duo is capable of posting 220+ and exposing RR’s brittle middle order.
Jos Buttler
Facing his former franchise, Buttler brings an outstanding playoff pedigree and remains among the cleanest strikers in the tournament. If he survives Archer’s opening burst, GT’s middle overs look far more secure.
Kagiso Rabada
GT’s enforcer with the new ball, sitting joint-top of the wicket charts (26 wickets at an economy of 9.48). His specific challenge: dismiss Sooryavanshi and Yashasvi Jaiswal before they detonate the powerplay. Rashid Khan in the middle overs, with dew a factor, completes a genuinely dangerous attack.
Who Can Win the Qualifier 2? The Verdict
Match winner prediction: Rajasthan Royals are slight favourites, but Gujarat Titans are far from out of it in this IPL Betting India Playoff Prediction breakdown.
Here is the balanced case on both sides.
Why Rajasthan Royals can win:
- Momentum is overwhelmingly theirs after a 47-run demolition of SRH.
- Sooryavanshi is in the form of his life and capable of winning the match in the first six overs.
- They are unbeaten at Mullanpur and understand the conditions and dew better than any side.
- GT’s bowling and fielding looked vulnerable in Qualifier 1, and the scars of a 92-run thrashing are fresh going into a high-pressure knockout.
Why Gujarat Titans can win:
- A dominant 7–3 head-to-head record, including knockout wins over RR in 2022.
- The Gill–Sudharsan opening pair is the best in the tournament and can post a total RR’s middle order can’t chase.
- GT had an extra day’s rest (Qualifier 1 on Tuesday vs RR’s Eliminator on Wednesday).
- A settled, experienced bowling attack — Rabada, Rashid, Siraj, Prasidh — that can exploit dew if GT bowl second.
External models lean the same way: aggregated predictions put RR’s win probability at roughly 55%, largely on the strength of Sooryavanshi’s form and venue record. That is an edge, not a certainty — a single GT powerplay explosion or an early Archer wicket can flip it instantly.
Bottom line: Expect a high-scoring, top-order-dominated contest. If Rajasthan win the toss, bowl first, and contain GT’s openers, their batting depth and momentum should carry them to the final. If GT’s openers click and post 210+, their bigger bowling attack and head-to-head psychology make them dangerous favourites in defence. We tip Rajasthan Royals by a narrow margin — with the caveat that this is genuinely a coin-flip knockout.
Probable Playing XIs
Gujarat Titans:
Shubman Gill (c), Sai Sudharsan, Jos Buttler (wk), Nishant Sindhu, Washington Sundar, Rahul Tewatia, Jason Holder, Rashid Khan, Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna (Manav Suthar / R Sai Kishore in contention as the second spinner)
Rajasthan Royals:
Yashasvi Jaiswal, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Riyan Parag (c), Donovan Ferreira, Dasun Shanaka, Ravindra Jadeja, Jofra Archer, Nandre Burger, Brijesh Sharma, Yash Raj Punja (RR likely to stick with the winning combination)
Frequently Asked Questions
Who will win the Qualifier 2 of IPL 2026?
Rajasthan Royals are the slight favourites to win Qualifier 2 against Gujarat Titans, backed by superior momentum, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s form, and an unbeaten record at Mullanpur. Aggregated predictions give RR around a 55% win probability, though GT’s 7–3 head-to-head edge keeps the contest open.
When and where is the GT vs RR Qualifier 2 being played?
The match is on Friday, May 29, 2026, at 7:30 PM IST at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium (New PCA Stadium) in Mullanpur, New Chandigarh.
Who does the Qualifier 2 winner play in the final?
The winner of GT vs RR faces defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL 2026 Final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday.
What is the GT vs RR head-to-head record?
Gujarat Titans lead 7–3 across 10 IPL meetings. This season they split their two league games 1–1, with GT winning by 77 runs in Jaipur and RR winning by six runs in Ahmedabad.
Who is the key player to watch in Qualifier 2?
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for RR is the standout — around 676 runs at a strike rate above 235 this season, including a 97 off 29 balls in the Eliminator. For GT, the Gill–Sudharsan opening pair and pacer Kagiso Rabada are the most influential.
What is the Mullanpur pitch like for Qualifier 2?
A batting-friendly surface averaging 170–175 in the first innings, with early carry for pace, spin assistance through the middle, and dew aiding the chasing side from around the 14th over of the second innings.
Disclaimer: This is a cricket match prediction and analysis based on current form, statistics, and conditions as of May 29, 2026. It is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not a guarantee of any outcome or a recommendation to place bets. Cricket is unpredictable, especially in knockouts.