Former India captain Anil Kumble has backed Rajasthan Royals ahead of their crucial TATA IPL 2026 Qualifier 2 clash against Gujarat Titans, saying he expects young batting sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi to once again play a match-winning role.
Speaking on JioHotstar’s Game Plan, Kumble praised the Rajasthan Royals opener for his remarkable IPL 2026 season and predicted that RR could have the advantage if the Orange Cap holder delivers another explosive innings.
Anil Kumble Backs Rajasthan Royals
Despite Rajasthan Royals entering the contest as underdogs, Kumble believes the team’s recent form makes them a strong contender for a place in the IPL 2026 Final.
“I’ll go with the underdogs. I’m still expecting Vaibhav to do what he did against SRH because if Vaibhav does that, Rajasthan will have the advantage.”
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Rajasthan Royals have won three consecutive must-win matches to reach Qualifier 2 and now stand just one victory away from the final.
Kumble Praises Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s Record-Breaking Season
Kumble highlighted the consistency shown by Vaibhav Suryavanshi throughout the tournament.
The 15-year-old batter currently holds the Orange Cap, scoring 680 runs at a remarkable strike rate of 242.
According to Kumble, Vaibhav’s success is not based on a few standout performances but on sustained excellence across the entire season.
“He’s done it consistently over the last two months, and that says a lot about the youngster.”
Kumble also pointed out that Gujarat Titans will look to use Mohammed Siraj and Kagiso Rabada aggressively with the new ball in an attempt to dismiss Vaibhav early.
Pressure on Yashasvi Jaiswal
Kumble also discussed Yashasvi Jaiswal’s form heading into the knockout clash.
While praising the opening partnership against Sunrisers Hyderabad, he noted that much of the scoring was dominated by Suryavanshi, leaving Jaiswal under pressure to produce a substantial innings against Gujarat Titans.
The former India captain believes Rajasthan Royals would benefit greatly if Jaiswal can bat deep into the innings and support the team’s aggressive approach.
How RCB Exposed Gujarat Titans
Analysing Gujarat Titans’ defeat to Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Qualifier 1, Kumble suggested that GT’s preferred game plan was disrupted by the massive target set by RCB.
According to him, Gujarat are comfortable chasing scores around the 200-run mark, but targets beyond 220 put significant pressure on their top order.
The added pressure forced GT to attack early, leading to mistakes from key players including captain Shubman Gill.
GT vs RR – Qualifier 2 Preview
With Vaibhav Suryavanshi in sensational form and Rajasthan Royals carrying momentum from three consecutive victories, Qualifier 2 promises to be one of the most exciting matches of IPL 2026.
All eyes will once again be on the young Rajasthan Royals star as he attempts to guide his team into the IPL Final.
Quick Facts
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | Gujarat Titans vs Rajasthan Royals |
| Tournament | TATA IPL 2026 |
| Stage | Qualifier 2 |
| Prediction | Anil Kumble backs Rajasthan Royals |
| Key Player | Vaibhav Suryavanshi |
| IPL 2026 Runs | 680 |
| Strike Rate | 242 |
| Orange Cap | Yes |
| Time | 7:30 PM |
| Streaming | JioHotstar |
| TV Broadcast | Star Sports Network |
Who did Anil Kumble predict to win Qualifier 2?
Anil Kumble backed Rajasthan Royals to defeat Gujarat Titans and qualify for the IPL 2026 Final.
What did Anil Kumble say about Vaibhav Suryavanshi?
Kumble praised Vaibhav’s consistency throughout IPL 2026 and said he expects the youngster to repeat his match-winning performance against Sunrisers Hyderabad.
How many runs has Vaibhav Suryavanshi scored in IPL 2026?
Vaibhav Suryavanshi has scored 680 runs and currently holds the Orange Cap.
Where can fans watch GT vs RR Qualifier 2?
The match will be available live on JioHotstar and Star Sports Network.
