Rahul Tewatia top-scored for Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 1 of IPL 2026 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Dharamsala on Tuesday (May 26). Batting at No. 7 in a 255-run chase at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, Tewatia faced 43 balls and scored 68 runs with the help of eight fours and four sixes.
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Although his knock could not help Gujarat Titans avoid a 92-run defeat, it did help Tewatia break a 13-year-old IPL record held by MS Dhoni.
By scoring 68 runs as a No. 7 batter, Tewatia registered the highest score by a No. 7 or lower batter in an IPL playoffs match.
Highest scores by No. 7 or lower batter in IPL playoffs match
| PLAYER | TEAM | RUNS | BALLS | 4/6s | AGAINST | VENUE | DATE |
| Rahul Tewatia | Gujarat Titans | 68 | 43 | 8/4 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Dharamsala | May 26, 2026 |
| MS Dhoni | Chennai Super Kings | 63* | 45 | 3/5 | Mumbai Indians | Kolkata | May 26, 2013 |
| Brad Hodge | Rajasthan Royals | 54* | 29 | 2/5 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | Delhi | May 22, 2013 |
| Andre Russell | Kolkata Knight Riders | 49* | 25 | 3/5 | Rajasthan Royals | Kolkata | May 23, 2018 |
| Carlos Brathwaite | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 43* | 29 | 1/4 | Chennai Super Kings | Mumbai (WS) | May 22, 2018 |
Dhoni, widely regarded as one of the greatest cricketers
of all time, had previously held the record with an unbeaten 63 off 45 balls for Chennai Super Kings in the IPL 2013 final against Mumbai Indians at the Eden Gardens.
The overall record for the highest score by a No. 7 or lower batter in an IPL match is held by Andre Russell. The former West Indies all-rounder smashed 88 runs off just 36 balls for Kolkata Knight Riders against Chennai Super Kings in an IPL 2018 match at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on April 10.
Highest score No. 7 or lower batter in an IPL match
| PLAYER | TEAM | RUNS | BALLS | 4/6s | AGAINST | VENUE | DATE |
| Andre Russell | Kolkata Knight Riders | 88* | 36 | 1/11 | Chennai Super Kings | Chennai | April 10, 2018 |
| Rashid Khan | Gujarat Titans | 79* | 32 | 3/10 | Mumbai Indians | Mumbai (WS) | May 12, 2023 |
| Donovan Ferreira | Rajasthan Royals | 69 | 44 | 7/3 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | Hyderabad | April 13, 2026 |
| Dwayne Bravo | Chennai Super Kings | 68 | 30 | 3/7 | Mumbai Indians | Mumbai (WS) | April 7, 2018 |
| Shardul Thakur | Kolkata Knight Riders | 68 | 29 | 9/3 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Kolkata | April 6, 2023 |
| Rahul Tewatia | Gujarat Titans | 68 | 43 | 8/4 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Dharamsala | May 26, 2026 |
The record for the highest score by a No. 7 or lower batter for Gujarat Titans in an IPL match is held by Rashid Khan, who scored 79 runs off just 32 balls against Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium on May 12, 2023.
During his innings against RCB on Tuesday, Tewatia also added 68 runs for the ninth wicket with Mohammed Siraj. Their partnership is now the second-highest ninth-wicket stand in IPL history.
The record for the highest ninth-wicket partnership in the IPL is held by Rashid Khan and Alzarri Joseph, who added an unbeaten 88 runs against Mumbai Indians at Wankhede Stadium on May 12, 2023.
