In one of the most eagerly awaited IPL 2026 matches, the Rajasthan Royals (RR) traveled to New Chandigarh to play the Punjab Kings (PBKS). After winning the toss, Riyan Parag chose to bowl first.
PBKS openers contributed 37 runs for the first wicket, with Prabhsimran Singh scoring 59 and Priyansh Arya scoring 29. Shreyas Iyer (30) and Cooper Connolly (30) came out to help the PBKS innings. But Marcus Stoinis put up a fantastic display when it looked like PBKS might not reach 200 runs.
Punjab reached 222/4 in 20 overs after Stoinis hit 62* in 22 balls.
In response, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi hammered the PBKS bowlers, scoring 43 runs in 16 balls with 3 fours and 5 sixes, as RR raced to 51 in 3.2 overs before he was dismissed. Yashasvi Jaiswal continued, scoring 51 in 27 balls, while Dhruv Jurel scored 16 runs.
Yuzvendra Chahal dismissed both the batters to give RR some setback, but Riyan Parag (29) and Donovan Ferreira brought the visitors back into the game. Ferreira kept scoring runs at one end, though Parag got out.
South Africa found some much-needed support in Shubham Dubey, who slammed 31* in 12 balls with 3 fours and 2 sixes. Dubey and Ferreira (52* in 26 balls) took RR to win with 6 wickets in hand and 4 balls remaining.
This loss snapped PBKS’ undefeated streak in the IPL 2026, but they remain at the no. 1 spot. RR moved to the 3rd spot with 6 wins in 9 games and 12 points to their name.
The cricket fraternity was all praises for RR batters as they chased down a tough target against a rampaging PBKS. They shared their reactions on social media.
Here are posts:
