Table of Contents
The Rajasthan Royals and Gujarat Titans have developed one of the IPL’s most closely followed matchups since Gujarat entered the league in 2022. Their meetings have included league-stage contests, playoff pressure, and the 2022 final, giving the rivalry significance beyond the regular points table. In the completed 2026 IPL season, Gujarat Titans finished the league stage with 18 points from 14 matches, while Rajasthan Royals ended with 16 points from 14. Both reached the playoffs, but their paths eventually crossed again in Qualifier 2, where Gujarat won by seven wickets.
This article explains where the two teams finished, how their points and net run rates compared, what their recent form looked like, and how their head-to-head record shaped the rivalry during the 2026 season.
Current Standings
The 2026 IPL league stage finished with Gujarat Titans on 18 points and Rajasthan Royals on 16. Gujarat recorded nine wins and five losses, while Rajasthan finished with eight wins and six losses. GT’s net run rate was +0.695, compared with +0.189 for RR.
| Team | Matches | Wins | Losses | Points | Net Run Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gujarat Titans | 14 | 9 | 5 | 18 | +0.695 |
| Rajasthan Royals | 14 | 8 | 6 | 16 | +0.189 |
The two points separate more than just their win-loss records. Gujarat also held a significantly stronger net run rate, which reflects the margins of their results across the league campaign. Because IPL teams receive two points for a win, the two additional victories gave Gujarat an 18-point finish.
Rajasthan’s 16 points were enough for fourth place and a playoff berth. Gujarat’s 18 points placed them second in the final league-stage table, behind Royal Challengers Bengaluru on net run rate. Sunrisers Hyderabad also finished with 18 points but had a lower NRR than Gujarat.
Position in ICC Rankings
IPL franchises do not receive positions in the ICC men’s team rankings. The ICC rankings cover international teams, while the IPL uses its own competition standings based on matches, wins, points, and net run rate.
For Gujarat Titans and Rajasthan Royals, the relevant ranking during the IPL season was therefore their position in the IPL points table.
This distinction matters when searching for team rankings. A query about an IPL franchise’s “ranking” generally refers to the league table rather than the ICC ranking system.
Recent Form
The final league-stage form provides useful context for the difference between the teams.
Gujarat finished the league phase with three wins in their final five matches. Their sequence included victories over Punjab Kings, Rajasthan Royals, Sunrisers Hyderabad and Chennai Super Kings, with a loss to Kolkata Knight Riders during that stretch.
Rajasthan also finished strongly. They won their final two league matches against Lucknow Super Giants and Mumbai Indians after losing three consecutive matches to Delhi Capitals, Gujarat Titans and Delhi Capitals. Their 30-run win over Mumbai secured the fourth playoff position with 16 points.
| Team | Final 5 League Matches | Wins | Losses |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gujarat Titans | W, L, W, W, W | 4 | 1 |
| Rajasthan Royals | W, W, L, L, L | 2 | 3 |
The sequence also shows why NRR became important. Gujarat combined several substantial victories with nine league wins overall, while Rajasthan needed a late recovery to secure their playoff place.
Performance Analysis
Gujarat Titans
Gujarat’s 18-point league campaign was built around consistency. They won nine of their 14 matches and produced several large-margin victories that strengthened their net run rate.
One of their biggest league-stage results came against Rajasthan in Jaipur on May 9. GT scored 229/4 and dismissed RR for 152 in 16.3 overs, winning by 77 runs. Shubman Gill made 84, Sai Sudharsan scored 55, and Rashid Khan took 4/33. The result moved Gujarat to 14 points at that stage of the tournament.
Gujarat later defeated Chennai Super Kings by 89 runs on May 21. That result helped them finish the league stage with nine victories and a +0.695 NRR.
Their batting gave them the ability to build high totals, while the bowling attack regularly created pressure through the middle and final overs.
Rajasthan Royals
Rajasthan finished fourth with 16 points after winning eight league matches. Their campaign contained several strong performances but also a difficult middle-to-late stretch.
The Royals opened their 2026 head-to-head campaign against Gujarat with a six-run victory in Ahmedabad. Rajasthan scored 210/6 before Gujarat finished on 204/8.
Their second league meeting produced the opposite result. Gujarat posted 229/4 in Jaipur before bowling Rajasthan out for 152. The 77-run defeat was one of the most decisive results between the teams.
Despite that setback, Rajasthan recovered late in the league stage. They beat Lucknow Super Giants by seven wickets on May 19 and Mumbai Indians by 30 runs on May 24 to finish fourth.
Tournament Standings
The complete 2026 league-stage table shows the gap between the two teams and the strength of the playoff race.
| Position | Team | Matches | Wins | Losses | Points | NRR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 14 | 9 | 5 | 18 | +0.783 |
| 2 | Gujarat Titans | 14 | 9 | 5 | 18 | +0.695 |
| 3 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 14 | 9 | 5 | 18 | +0.524 |
| 4 | Rajasthan Royals | 14 | 8 | 6 | 16 | +0.189 |
| 5 | Punjab Kings | 14 | 7 | 6 | 15 | +0.309 |
| 6 | Delhi Capitals | 14 | 7 | 7 | 14 | -0.651 |
| 7 | Kolkata Knight Riders | 14 | 6 | 7 | 13 | -0.147 |
| 8 | Chennai Super Kings | 14 | 6 | 8 | 12 | -0.345 |
| 9 | Mumbai Indians | 14 | 4 | 10 | 8 | -0.584 |
| 10 | Lucknow Super Giants | 14 | 4 | 10 | 8 | -0.740 |
The table shows how tight the top of the competition was. Three teams finished on 18 points, so net run rate determined their positions. Rajasthan’s 16 points placed them two points behind that group but two points ahead of Punjab Kings.
Qualification Scenario
By the end of the league stage, both teams had qualified for the playoffs.
Gujarat’s second-place finish gave them a place in Qualifier 1 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Rajasthan’s fourth-place finish sent them into the Eliminator against Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Rajasthan then defeated Hyderabad by 47 runs, powered by Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s extraordinary 97 from 29 balls. That victory sent RR into Qualifier 2 against Gujarat.
The playoff meeting created a direct test between the second- and fourth-placed teams from the league stage.
Gujarat won Qualifier 2 by seven wickets after chasing Rajasthan’s 214/6 with 219/3 in 18.4 overs. Shubman Gill produced a century during the chase, while Sai Sudharsan also contributed heavily. The result sent GT into the final.
What the Rankings Mean
IPL standings are determined primarily by points. A win gives a team two points, while a defeat gives none. If teams finish level on points, net run rate becomes an important separator.
That explains the 2026 table clearly:
- Gujarat Titans: 18 points and +0.695 NRR
- Rajasthan Royals: 16 points and +0.189 NRR
- Gujarat won nine league matches.
- Rajasthan won eight league matches.
- Both played 14 league matches.
- Both qualified for the playoffs.
The table therefore measures the entire league campaign rather than the result of one rivalry match.
The playoff results are recorded separately from the league standings. Gujarat’s Qualifier 2 win over Rajasthan did not change their league-stage points totals.
Head-to-Head Record
Gujarat entered the IPL in 2022 and quickly established a strong record against Rajasthan. By the end of the 2026 season, the franchises had met 11 times across league and playoff matches.
| Head-to-Head Category | Rajasthan Royals | Gujarat Titans |
|---|---|---|
| Matches | 11 | 11 |
| Wins | 3 | 8 |
| Losses | 8 | 3 |
| No Result | 0 | 0 |
| Highest Team Score | 214/6 | 229/4 |
Gujarat’s eight victories include the 2022 IPL final, when GT defeated RR by seven wickets. Rajasthan’s three wins include their six-run victory in Ahmedabad in April 2026 and their eight-wicket chase in Jaipur in 2025.
The overall record is particularly notable because the teams have met only since 2022. Gujarat has therefore won the majority of their encounters during a relatively short period.
Recent Meetings
The 2026 season featured three meetings between the franchises.
| Date | Match | Result |
|---|---|---|
| April 4, 2026 | GT vs RR, Ahmedabad | RR won by 6 runs |
| May 9, 2026 | RR vs GT, Jaipur | GT won by 77 runs |
| May 29, 2026 | GT vs RR, Qualifier 2 | GT won by 7 wickets |
The first match was a close contest. Rajasthan made 210/6 and Gujarat reached 204/8, leaving the Royals six runs ahead.
The second meeting was much more one-sided. Gujarat’s 229/4 was followed by a collapse that left Rajasthan at 152. Rashid Khan’s 4/33 was central to the result.
The third meeting came in the playoffs. Rajasthan posted 214/6, but Gujarat chased the target with eight balls remaining, reaching 219/3.
Major Records
The rivalry has produced several notable figures.
| Record | Player/Team | Figure |
|---|---|---|
| Most wins in rivalry | Gujarat Titans | 8 |
| Most RR wins against GT | Rajasthan Royals | 3 |
| Highest GT total vs RR | Gujarat Titans | 229/4 |
| Highest RR total vs GT | Rajasthan Royals | 214/6 |
| Highest RR individual score vs GT | Vaibhav Sooryavanshi | 101 |
| Best RR bowling vs GT | Ravi Bishnoi | 4/41 |
| Best GT bowling vs RR | Rashid Khan | 4/33 |
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s 101 against Gujarat in 2025 remains Rajasthan’s highest individual score in this matchup. Ravi Bishnoi’s 4/41 is the best bowling return by an RR player against GT, while Rashid Khan’s 4/33 in the May 2026 meeting is Gujarat’s best bowling performance in the rivalry according to Rajasthan Royals’ head-to-head record.
A Rivalry Shaped by Big Matches
The relationship between these franchises is unusual because some of their most important meetings have come in knockout cricket.
Their first season together ended with Gujarat beating Rajasthan in the 2022 final. The same season also featured a Qualifier 1 between the sides, which Gujarat won by seven wickets.
That history gives their league meetings additional context. A regular-season result does not determine a championship, but these teams have repeatedly encountered one another when tournament pressure is high.
The 2026 season continued that pattern. After splitting their first two league meetings, Gujarat produced another victory in Qualifier 2 to eliminate Rajasthan and reach the final.
Why Net Run Rate Matters
Net run rate is particularly important late in an IPL season because several teams can finish with the same number of points.
The 2026 table illustrates this perfectly. RCB, Gujarat and Hyderabad all finished with 18 points. Their positions were separated by NRR:
- RCB: +0.783
- Gujarat: +0.695
- Hyderabad: +0.524
Rajasthan finished on 16 points with +0.189.
For a team chasing a playoff place, the margin of victory can therefore matter almost as much as the victory itself. Gujarat’s 82-run win over Hyderabad and 89-run win over Chennai were examples of results that significantly improved their scoring margin.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where did Gujarat Titans finish in the 2026 IPL standings?
Gujarat Titans finished second in the 2026 IPL league-stage table with 18 points from 14 matches. They won nine games, lost five and recorded a net run rate of +0.695.
Where did Rajasthan Royals finish in the 2026 IPL standings?
Rajasthan Royals finished fourth with 16 points from 14 matches. They won eight games and lost six, with a net run rate of +0.189.
How many times did RR and GT play each other in IPL 2026?
They met three times in 2026. Rajasthan won the April league match by six runs, Gujarat won the May league match by 77 runs, and Gujarat won Qualifier 2 by seven wickets.
What is the overall RR vs GT head-to-head record?
Through the end of the 2026 season, Gujarat Titans had won eight of 11 meetings, while Rajasthan Royals had won three. There were no ties or no-results in those meetings.
Did both teams qualify for the 2026 IPL playoffs?
Yes. Gujarat finished second and Rajasthan fourth in the league stage. Gujarat progressed through the playoffs to reach the final, while Rajasthan defeated Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Eliminator before losing to Gujarat in Qualifier 2.
Conclusion
The 2026 IPL standings show a clear difference between the two campaigns. Gujarat Titans finished the league stage with nine wins, 18 points and a +0.695 net run rate, while Rajasthan Royals finished with eight wins, 16 points and a +0.189 NRR. Both teams reached the playoffs, and their rivalry produced three matches during the season.
The final chapter came in Qualifier 2, where Gujarat chased Rajasthan’s 214/6 to win by seven wickets and advance to the final. Across 11 IPL meetings overall, Gujarat finished the 2026 season with an 8-3 head-to-head advantage.
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