Ananya Lohia , Chandigarh - When the pressure hit its peak, the ‘Prince of Indian Cricket’ answered with royal authority. Shubman Gill turned the IPL playoff into his personal stage, smashing a breathtaking century to script Gujarat Titans’ thrilling march into the final. Written off after missing India’s T20 World Cup squad, Gill silenced every critic with a captain’s knock packed with swagger, class and fearless strokeplay. Even former India star Mohammad Kaif couldn’t hold back his admiration as Gill’s stunning comeback story gathered even more fire.

Chasing a massive 215 against Rajasthan Royals in the do-or-die Qualifier 2 clash, Gujarat Titans made the target look surprisingly easy thanks to Gill’s masterclass. The GT skipper smashed an unbeaten 104 off just 53 balls, hammering 15 fours and three sixes at a stunning strike rate of 196.23. Gujarat chased down the target in only 18.4 overs with seven wickets in hand to seal their place in the IPL final against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Gill’s heroic knock also took his tally to 722 runs in 15 matches this season, placing him second in the Orange Cap race. Reacting to the innings on X, Kaif praised Gill for staying calm despite the setback of missing India’s T20 World Cup squad. He highlighted how the youngster responded with performances rather than words and stepped up in the biggest game of the season.

Earlier, RR were powered by a blazing knock from teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who smashed 96 off 47 balls with eight fours and seven sixes. However, Rajasthan failed to build partnerships around him as wickets kept tumbling. Contributions from Donovan Ferreira and Ravindra Jadeja added some late runs, but GT’s batting firepower proved too strong in the chase.

Gill’s century was not just about runs — it was a statement from a young star determined to rise above setbacks. From questions over his T20 credentials to leading Gujarat Titans into the IPL final with a captain’s knock under pressure, Gill has scripted one of the season’s biggest comeback stories. And with momentum now firmly on his side, the ‘Prince’ will have his eyes set on finishing the campaign with the ultimate crown.