Shubman Gill smashes a massive hundred against RR in the Qualifier 2 [Source: AFP]Shubman Gill delivered a captain’s masterclass in Qualifier 2 of IPL 2026, smashing a breathtaking 104 off just 53 balls against Rajasthan Royals in Mullanpur. Chasing a stiff 215, Gill combined with Sai Sudharsan in a 167-run opening stand to put Gujarat Titans in complete control. His 15 fours and 3 sixes powered the fastest hundred ever by a GT batter, off only 47 balls. The knock also marked his fifth IPL century, moving him past David Warner and Shane Watson on the all-time list, and his second hundred as captain. A Captain Leading from the Front In GT vs RRFacing a must-win knockout clash, Shubman Gill walked out with clear intent. Rajasthan Royals had posted 214 for 6, powered by Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s 96 and Donovan Ferreira’s late blitz. The pressure was huge, but Gill took charge from the first over. He found an able partner in Sai Sudharsan, and together they tore the bowling apart. The 167-run opening stand came in just 12.5 overs, with Gill contributing 95 of those runs in quick time. However, more importantly, Gill joined an elite list of cricketers with most hundreds in IPL. Most 100s in IPL: 9 – Virat Kohli 7 – Jos Buttler 6 – Chris Gayle, KL Rahul 5 – Sanju Samson, Shubman Gill4 – David Warner, Shane Watson With this hundred, Gill registered his fifth IPL century, joining Sanju Samson at joint-fourth on the all-time list. Only Virat Kohli with 9 hundreds and Jos Buttler with 7 have more alongside Chris Gayle and KL Rahul’s 6 centuries. Also Read- Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers Dethroned By Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan In IPL FeatWhat makes this century even more special is the occasion. A virtual semi-final where a loss would have ended GT’s campaign. How Gill Recorded The Fastest Century in GT History To Overshadow Sooryavanshi? Batting first, Rajasthan Royals lost Yashasvi Jaiswal and Dhruv Jurel early, but Sooryavanshi launched a stunning counter-attack. He tore into both pace and spin, hammering 8 fours and 7 sixes at a strike rate of 204.26. His 73-run stand with Ravindra Jadeja steadied the innings, and later he added another 54 with Jadeja in a rapid partnership. Sooryavanshi fell just four short of what would have been a record-breaking teenage hundred, caught off Kagiso Rabada for 96. Moreover, the teenager’s power-hitting was the talk of the first innings. Gill's Reply With The BatGill replied with a quick century off 47 balls, which is now the fastest hundred ever scored by a Gujarat Titans batter in the IPL. He bettered his own record of 49 balls, set against the Mumbai Indians in 2023. He also held the previous joint record of 50 balls against CSK in 2024. Fastest Century in GT History47 — Shubman Gill vs RR, Mullanpur, 2026 49 — Shubman Gill vs MI, Ahmedabad, 2023 50 — Shubman Gill vs CSK, Ahmedabad, 2024 50 — Sai Sudharsan vs CSK, Ahmedabad, 2024The 15 boundaries and three sixes from Shubman Gill came all around the ground, leaving the Royals’ attack with no answers. Gill Records Most Hundreds as Captain in IPLThe century also saw Gill join an exclusive leadership club. He now has two IPL hundreds as captain, a feat bettered only by Virat Kohli with five and KL Rahul with three. 5 - Virat Kohli3 - KL Rahul2 - Shubman Gill As GT’s skipper, Gill has taken on more responsibility this season, and his batting has flourished under that added pressure. With the win led by Gill, GT have now reached the IPL 2026 Final which they will play against RCB on May 31 at their home ground in Ahmedabad.Also Read- Gujarat Titans Achieve Highest Successful Run Chase In IPL Playoff History; Check Full List
