Rahul Tewatia produced a memorable fighting knock for Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 1 of IPL 2026 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Dharamsala on May 26, 2026, but his effort could not prevent a heavy 92-run defeat. Batting at No. 7 in a daunting chase of 255, Tewatia scored 68 runs off 43 balls, striking eight fours and four sixes at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium.
Although the innings came in a losing cause, it carried major historical significance. Tewatia’s score became the highest by any No. 7 or lower batter in an IPL playoff match, breaking a 13-year-old record previously held by MS Dhoni. Dhoni had scored an unbeaten 63 off 45 balls for Chennai Super Kings against Mumbai Indians in the IPL 2013 final at Eden Gardens.
Tewatia’s effort pushed Dhoni to second place in the list of highest scores by a lower-order batter in IPL playoffs. Other notable entries on the list include Brad Hodge’s unbeaten 54 for Rajasthan Royals against Sunrisers Hyderabad in Delhi in 2013, Andre Russell’s 49 not out for Kolkata Knight Riders against Rajasthan Royals in 2018, and Carlos Brathwaite’s unbeaten 43 for Sunrisers Hyderabad against Chennai Super Kings in Mumbai in 2018.
The Gujarat Titans all-rounder also joined an elite list of lower-order batters with one of the biggest scores in IPL history overall. The record for the highest score by a No. 7 or lower batter in any IPL match remains with Andre Russell, who smashed 88 off 36 balls for Kolkata Knight Riders against Chennai Super Kings in Chennai on April 10, 2018. Rashid Khan’s 79 off 32 balls for Gujarat Titans against Mumbai Indians in Mumbai on May 12, 2023, is next on that list, followed by Donovan Ferreira’s 69 for Rajasthan Royals against Sunrisers Hyderabad in Hyderabad on April 13, 2026.
Tewatia’s 68 also matched other major lower-order performances, including Dwayne Bravo’s 68 for Chennai Super Kings against Mumbai Indians in 2018 and Shardul Thakur’s 68 for Kolkata Knight Riders against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2023. Among Gujarat Titans players, Rashid Khan still holds the franchise record for the highest score by a No. 7 or lower batter in an IPL match.
Another important milestone from Tewatia’s innings was his ninth-wicket partnership with Mohammed Siraj. The pair added 68 runs together, making it the second-highest ninth-wicket stand in IPL history. The all-time record remains an unbeaten 88-run partnership between Rashid Khan and Alzarri Joseph for Mumbai Indians at Wankhede Stadium on May 12, 2023.
Tewatia’s innings stood out as one of the few positives for Gujarat Titans in an otherwise one-sided knockout match. Even in defeat, the knock ensured his name moved into IPL record books alongside some of the league’s most celebrated finishers and lower-order batters.
