Rajasthan Royals vs Gujarat Titans has become a mouthwatering new rivalry in IPL very quickly. Despite making their IPL debut in 2022, Gujarat Titans’ tussles with Rajasthan Royals have borne remarkable memories, edge-of-the-seat finishes and nail biting playoff contests. The ongoing rivalry between RR and GT continues to get intense with each season, from IPL 2022 Final to most thrilling last over chases.
Technically, this article follows a timeline that will lead you through the complete journey of Rajasthan Royals vs Gujarat Titans covering major matches, turning points, star performances and head to head statistics in a human-readable & theory based format up to October 2023.
Introduction to the RR vs GT Rivalry
The Rajasthan Royals were one of the original IPL sides and won the first-ever IPL title in 2008 when Shane Warne was captain. Meanwhile, Gujarat Titans were a new franchise who entered the tournament in 2022 under Hardik Pandya. GT surprisingly soon took charge over many seasoned teams like Rajasthan Royals.
This rivalry gained notoriety mainly because both teams made playoffs and finals during Gujarat Titans’ first season in 2022. Since then, every match between RR and GT has caught the eyes of the cricketing world.
Rajasthan Royals lead overall wins over Gujarat Titans, but in recent head-to-head data have worked hard to close that gap.
Timeline of Rajasthan Royals vs Gujarat Titans
IPL 2022 – Origins of the Rivalry
First Match – April 14, 2022
Later, the match was conducted at the Dr DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai.
Rajasthan Royals and Gujarat Titans face off for the first time ever in IPL 2022. Batting first, Gujarat scored 192/4 in their 20 overs.
Captain Hardik Pandya smashed the highest innings of the IPL journey with 87 runs unbeaten. Cricket fans across India were also impressed with his all-round captaincy. Gujarat’s bowlers kept a tight reign on Rajasthan Royals as they set off to chase the target.
Despite Jos Buttler’s quick half-century, RR lost by a margin of 37 runs. This win provided maximum upliftment to Gujarat Titans in their first IPL season ever.
Key Highlights
- Hardik Pandya scored 87* runs
- Gujarat Titans won by 37 runs
- Jos Buttler carried with him the form he has had so far in this IPL
- GT performed well in both batting and bowling
Qualifier 1 IPL – 2022 Finalist-Gujarat Titans
Match Date – May 24, 2022
Venue: Eden Gardens, Kolkata
Qualifier 1 of IPL 2022: The second big chapter in Rajasthan Royals vs Gujarat Titans saga Both our teams had shown the best possible form in the league stage and were now battling for a direct entry to the final.
Batting first Rajasthan Royals scored 188/6 Jos Buttler delivered another stunning innings scoring 89 runs while Sanju Samson flexed his muscles before the middle overs.
Even in the pressure of playoffs, Gujarat Titans chased down the target with ease. Keeping it aside, the sensational knock of David Miller (68* off 38 balls). And rightly so, Hardik Pandya supported him to the perfection.
Final Score: Gujarat Titans won the Match by 7 Wickets and became the first team to book a place in IPL 2022 Final.
Important Moments
- A big innings from Jos Buttler (89) kept RR in the game
- The arrival of power hitting by David Miller changed the nature of the match.
- Hardik Pandya displayed calm captaincy
- Gaining cred in crunch situations.
Gujarat Titans Make History |IPL 2022 Final
Match Date – May 29, 2022
Venue: Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
The IPL 2022 Final was the biggest match so far in the brief RR vs GT history. It was the third time during the season that Rajasthan Royals and Gujarat Titans had clashed.
Gujarat bowlers broke through the Rajasthan Royals front batting. Hardik Pandya was superb in an all-round display, contributing with the ball and then with the bat towards the end of a pursuit.
RR could only muster a total of 130/9 in their 20 overs Despite Jos Buttler’s fine season with 39, there was little support from the middle order.
Admittedly, Gujarat Titans chased down the target with ease thanks to a masterclass by Shubman Gill alongwith contributions from David Miller and Hardik Pandya. GT emerged as winners by 7 wickets and were crowned the IPL champions in their first season.
Why This Match Was Historic
- Gujarat Titans won IPL in the first season of their existence
- Hardik Pandya joins elite list of captains who have won IPL on first attempt
- When they faced the Rajasthan Royals in the 2008 final, they squandered an opportunity to win their second IPL title
- That rivalry went global following the final
IPL 2023 – Rajasthan Royals Look To Keep The Winds Up
RR Register Their Maiden Win Over GT
Match Date – April 16, 2023
Venue: Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
This rivalry entered a new chapter with IPL 2023. Rajasthan Royals came into the match with eye to avenge their only defeat of the season against Gujarat Titans.
A nail-biting ended with Rajasthan Royals chasing a competitive total posted by GT Shimron Hetmyer scored that winning knock and saw his side home with poise.
DD finally managed to defeat GT by 3 wickets and broke the winning run of Gujarat against in the rivalry. Rajasthan took a big confidence boost with this win.
Main Talking Points
- Shimron Hetmyer was praised for finishing
- RR first win against GT
- The rivalry tipped more into a balanced exchange
Gujarat Titans Who Have Dominated The IPL 2023
Match Date – May 5, 2023
Venue: Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur
In IPL 2023 later, the Titans outdid themselves by beating poor Rajasthan Royals once more. GT’s bowlers kept RR to a mediocre total, and then their batters chased it down without breaking a sweat.
The win against Gujarat Titans was a 9-wicket one, the joint biggest victory those two franchises have had over the other. It was through Rashid Khan and the GT bowling unit that Rajasthan’s batting lineup was controlled to a certain degree.
Match Significance
- GT regained dominance
- Rajasthan struggled with batting consistency
- Kohli was content with Rashid Khan’s bowling as again he managed to take wickets conceding only 24 runs in the 4 overs.
IPL 2024 – A Another Nail Biting Finish
Match Date – April 10, 2024
Venue: Jaipur
Rajasthan Royals vs Gujarat Titans rivalry in IPL 2024 Both sides did so amid playoff aspirations and good squads.
It became a nail biting contest which went well down onto the final few overs. The 4th Test featured a tight finish, with Gujarat Titans staying composed and winning by 3-wickets over Rajasthan Royals.
It was a match which showed how well Gujarat could keep their nerves under pressure. They again proved decisive on the finishing front.
Important Observations
- GT Was Stronger in Close Finishes
- Batting depth RR get better
- Fans witnessed another exciting thriller
IPL 2025 – Rajasthan Royals Make a Strong Comeback
Because Rajasthan Royals were threatening the Gujarat Titans much more vigorously in IPL 2025, that season became a pivotal one in terms of the rivalry.
When you first think of not going to the Rajasthan Royals, one of the best matches to remember is when superbly chased a big 200-plus target in Jaipur. Young batting sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi scored a match-winning century becoming one of the youngest players to score a hundred in IPL history.
Rajasthan Royals 08 wickets win the game, confirming that they are not scared anymore by Gujarat Titans.
Why IPL 2025 Was Important
- RR pulled off one of their biggest chases Vs GT
- Youngsters broke out as future stars
- The rivalry became more unpredictable
IPL 2026 – A New Competitive Phase
Rajasthan Royals continued to battle against Gujarat Titans in IPL 2026. Another tight finish came when they played their match in Ahmedabad.
The extent to which the team evolved from 2022 was visible when Rajasthan Royals pulled off a narrow win over GT in 2023. RR’s case of excellent navigation also involved some leadership, a new generation of Indian talent and much better bowling.
Head-to-Head Record
According to recent records, Gujarat Titans still lead the overall rivalry in total victories. However, Rajasthan Royals have started closing the gap in recent seasons.
| Category | Rajasthan Royals | Gujarat Titans |
| Matches Played | 9 | 9 |
| Wins | 3 | 6 |
| IPL Titles | 1 | 1 |
| Biggest Rivalry Moment | 2022 Final | 2022 Championship Win |
RR vs GT Rivalry: Top Players
Jos Buttler
Jos Buttler has been the biggest threat for Rajasthan Royals against Gujarat Titans. RR has managed to win quite a few matches due in no small part to his aggressive starts and consistency.
Hardik Pandya
Hardik Pandya contributed to GT’s early dominance. The rivalry was defined, particularly in the first two seasons, by his all-round performances and leadership.
David Miller
Lastly, with David Miller at crease position; the way he played amazing finishing innings in playoffs of IPL 2022 that helped gujarat titans to win the matches.
Rashid Khan
Middle overs remain an area where SRH bowlers, especially Rashid Khan have continued to trouble RR batters.
Sanju Samson
Sanju Samson has played some key attacking innings during his time as RR captain and has also bailed Rajasthan out of jams.
Major Turning Points in the Rivalry
How a Few Moments Shifted the Course of Rivalry for Rajasthan Royals Vs Gujarat Titans
- Gujarat Titans (GT) 3 Wins Over RR in IPL 2022
- Match-winning innings from David Miller in Qualifier 1
- IPL 2022 Final – Brilliant all-round show by Hardik Pandya
- IPL 2023: RR registers first win over GT.
- Rajasthan successfully chased 200+ total in IPL 2025
This led to excitement mounting between the two franchises.
Why Fans Love RR vs GT Matches
Its Rajasthan Royals vs Gujarat Titans fans love, both teams play fearless cricket. RR rely largely on youth and aggression with the bat, while GT seem to thrive on cool heads and controlled all-round efforts.
The rivalry also includes:
- Close finishes
- Big individual performances
- Playoff pressure matches
- Strong captaincy battles
- Young Indian talent
Thanks to these reasons, RR vs GT has grown into one of the fiercest rivalries in IPL history.
Read more: Delhi Capitals vs Gujarat Titans Timeline || Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Mumbai Indians Timeline || Mumbai Indians vs Gujarat Titans Timeline || Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Mumbai Indians Timeline
Conclusion
The Rajasthan Royals vs Gujarat Titans timeline shows how a new IPL rivalry became an overnight sensation in as many seasons. The early years belonged to Gujarat Titans, especially their dream 2022 campaign, before Rajasthan Royals inched closer and made the contest more competitive.
Whether it’s Hardik Pandya’s captaincy or Jos Buttler’s big hitting, this rivalry has churned out classic IPL moments. As both the teams continue weaving strong squads, fans can look forward to many more nail-biting RR vs GT contests in seasons of IPL to come.
Not the rivalry of win-loss records anymore. It symbolises competition, strategy, youth aspiration and innovation embodied by the Indian Premier League.