GT vs RR, IPL 2026 Qualifier 2: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to Shubman Gill- players to watch out for

Qualifier 2 between Gujarat Titans and Rajasthan Royals promises to be a blockbuster clash with a place in the IPL 2026 final against Royal Challengers Bengaluru at stake. While Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s sensational rise has dominated headlines, several match-winners from both camps could ultimately decide who books the final spot in Ahmedabad.Here are five players to watch out for in the high-pressure knockout clash at Mullanpur. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (Rajasthan Royals)All eyes will once again be on 15-year-old sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi after his astonishing 97 off just 29 balls against Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Eliminator. The teenage opener produced one of the greatest innings ever seen in an IPL knockout game, smashing 12 sixes and coming within touching distance of Chris Gayle’s record for the fastest IPL century.Sooryavanshi has been the standout batter of IPL 2026 and currently leads the Orange Cap race with 680 runs in 15 innings at an average of 45.33 and a staggering strike rate of 242.85. He has already broken Gayle’s long-standing record for most sixes in a single IPL season with 65 maximums.GT’s biggest challenge will be stopping him early before he completely changes the game inside the Powerplay.Jofra Archer (Rajasthan Royals)Jofra Archer remains Rajasthan Royals’ biggest weapon with the ball and his opening spell could shape the entire contest. Gujarat Titans are heavily dependent on their top-order trio of Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan and Jos Buttler, making Archer’s Powerplay battle extremely crucial.The England fast bowler has already shown his ability to destroy batting line-ups early, as seen against SRH in the Eliminator where he removed Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan in a devastating spell.Archer is RR’s leading wicket-taker and currently the third-highest wicket-taker overall in IPL 2026 with 24 wickets at an economy rate of 9.17. His contest against GT captain Shubman Gill could become one of the defining moments of Qualifier 2.Shubman Gill (Gujarat Titans)If Gujarat Titans are to recover from their heavy defeat against RCB in Qualifier 1, much will depend on captain Shubman Gill leading from the front.GT’s batting collapsed dramatically in their previous match after Gill, Sai Sudharsan and Jos Buttler all fell inside the Powerplay. Against RR’s aggressive pace attack, Gill’s role becomes even more important.The GT skipper has enjoyed another superb IPL campaign, scoring 618 runs at an average of 44.14 and a strike rate of 159.27. However, his record against Archer remains a concern, with the RR pacer dismissing him three times in seven T20 innings.Gill’s ability to absorb pressure and anchor the innings may determine whether GT can handle RR’s explosive batting unit.Jos Buttler (Gujarat Titans)Former Rajasthan Royals superstar Jos Buttler will now stand in the way of his old franchise reaching the IPL final.One of the most dangerous white-ball batters in world cricket, Buttler has the ability to completely alter knockout matches with his attacking strokeplay. GT will rely heavily on his experience, especially after their top order failed in Qualifier 1.Buttler also brings an outstanding IPL playoff record into the contest and remains one of the cleanest strikers in the tournament. If he gets through Archer’s early spell, RR could face a major problem in the middle overs.Facing his former franchise in such a high-pressure game only adds another fascinating layer to the contest.Kagiso Rabada (Gujarat Titans)Just like Rajasthan Royals depend heavily on Archer, Gujarat Titans will rely massively on Kagiso Rabada to strike early with the new ball.Rabada’s primary challenge will be dismissing Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Yashasvi Jaiswal before RR race away in the Powerplay. The South African quick has been one of the most dangerous wicket-taking bowlers this season and currently sits joint-top of the wicket charts alongside Bhuvneshwar Kumar.Rabada has taken 26 wickets in IPL 2026 at an economy rate of 9.48 and possesses the pace and bounce required to trouble RR’s aggressive openers. His battle against Sooryavanshi could decide whether GT can finally stop the teenage sensation’s relentless run-scoring spree.With both teams stacked with match-winners and aggressive top orders, Qualifier 2 could ultimately come down to which bowling attack handles the pressure better under knockout conditions.