South African fast bowler Kagiso Rabada added another milestone to his impressive IPL career after setting a new record for the most wickets taken in the powerplay during a single Indian Premier League season. The Gujarat Titans pacer achieved the feat during Qualifier 1 of IPL 2026 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala.
Rabada surpassed Indian pacer Mohammed Shami’s previous record by claiming his 18th wicket inside the first six overs this season. The breakthrough came when he dismissed RCB opener Venkatesh Iyer early in Bengaluru’s innings, giving Gujarat an important advantage in a high-pressure playoff encounter.
Rabada Delivers in a Crucial Moment
The Qualifier began with Gujarat Titans captain Shubman Gill winning the toss and choosing to bowl first on a surface expected to assist seamers under cool Dharamshala conditions. Royal Challengers Bengaluru started aggressively, with Venkatesh Iyer attacking Mohammed Siraj in the opening over.
Iyer struck three boundaries in Siraj’s first over, helping RCB collect 14 runs and immediately put pressure on Gujarat’s bowling attack. In response, Gill handed the ball to Kagiso Rabada in the second over, trusting the experienced fast bowler to break the momentum.
Rabada began with discipline, conceding just a single run from his first four deliveries. However, Venkatesh attempted to continue the attack by playing an audacious ramp shot over fine leg for six. The South African quick responded brilliantly on the very next ball.
Using a sharp back-of-a-length delivery, Rabada forced Iyer into a mistimed shot that looped towards mid-off. Gujarat skipper Shubman Gill completed a difficult backward-running catch to end the dangerous cameo.
Venkatesh Iyer departed after scoring 19 runs from only seven balls, but his wicket proved historically significant as it helped Rabada move past Mohammed Shami’s long-standing IPL powerplay record.
Kagiso Rabada’s Dominance in IPL 2026
The 2026 season has highlighted Kagiso Rabada’s effectiveness with the new ball. His ability to generate pace, bounce, and movement in the opening overs has consistently troubled opposition batters throughout the tournament.
Rabada now leads the list for most wickets taken during the powerplay in a single IPL edition with 18 dismissals. Mohammed Shami previously held the record with 17 wickets during the 2023 season. Former Mumbai Indians pacer Mitchell Johnson and New Zealand left-arm quick Trent Boult share the next spot with 16 wickets each, achieved in 2013 and 2020 respectively.
The achievement further strengthens Rabada’s reputation as one of the most dangerous fast bowlers in T20 cricket. Over the years, the South African has built a reputation for delivering breakthroughs in crucial moments, and his latest record came in one of the biggest matches of the IPL season.
Gujarat Titans Aim for Direct Final Spot
Qualifier 1 carried enormous importance as the winner would secure direct entry into the IPL 2026 final. Gujarat Titans entered the contest with a balanced squad featuring experienced international names alongside emerging Indian talent.
The side relied heavily on its pace attack led by Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj, and Prasidh Krishna, while Rashid Khan remained the key spin option in the middle overs.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru, meanwhile, fielded a strong batting lineup featuring Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, captain Rajat Patidar, and explosive finisher Tim David. The early dismissal of Venkatesh Iyer gave Gujarat immediate control during the powerplay phase.
At the time of the match update, RCB had reached 83 for 1 after 6.4 overs, recovering steadily after the early breakthrough.
Playing XIs for IPL 2026 Qualifier 1
Royal Challengers Bengaluru
Venkatesh Iyer, Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar (captain), Jitesh Sharma (wicketkeeper), Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jacob Duffy, Josh Hazlewood, Rasikh Salam Dar.
Gujarat Titans
Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (captain), Jos Buttler (wicketkeeper), Washington Sundar, Nishant Sindhu, Jason Holder, Rashid Khan, Kulwant Khejroliya, Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna.
Rabada’s record-breaking spell has once again shown why fast bowlers capable of striking in the powerplay remain one of the most valuable assets in modern T20 cricket.
