IPL 2026, PBKS vs RR Highlights: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi shines again, Rajasthan Royals hand Punjab Kings first defeat of the season

That's it from a cracker - And that wraps up a cracking game, where the Rajasthan Royals held their nerve to get over the line, while the Punjab Kings saw their winning run come to an end. Up next in the Indian Premier League 2026, the action shifts to the City of Dreams, with the Mumbai Indians set to face the high-flying Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Wankhede Stadium on 29th April, Wednesday. It will begin at 7.30 pm IST (2 pm GMT), and you can join us early for all the build-up. Until then, cheers and goodbye!

The victorious skipper of the Rajasthan Royals - Riyan Parag says that as a team, they achieved what they had discussed before the tournament in this game. He adds that they could have restricted the opposition to a slightly lower total, but the batters made up for it. Parag mentions they could have bowled a few overs better, and the batters, too, could have improved in phases, but the aim was always to do well across the full 40 overs. He adds that while there may be concerns from the outside, the team has complete trust in its players. Riyan shares that the plan was to keep wickets in hand without falling too far behind the run rate. Tells that Jaiswal and Sooryavanshi made things easier for the rest of the batters. Admits that after the Powerplay, they fell a little behind, but did well to pick it up again. The RR skipper praises Shubham Dubey and Donovan Ferreira, saying their batting was commendable.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH - Donovan Ferreira wins the award for his match-winning knock of 52* off 26. He says it was a good innings, and he was just trying to keep his mind clear and felt like a boy playing with a toy truck. Ferreira says that he just played every ball on its merit, and he kept reminding himself that it was just 10-12 an over and they'll chase it, and even if the side dropped back a bit, he could score the runs towards the end. He credits the batting unit, saying that Jaiswal and Vaibhav set this up well, and the way Dubey played with him towards the end was a really pleasing aspect in this win.

Presentation Time...

Time to hear from the RR camp - Yashasvi Jaiswal hands over the Orange Cap to his opening partner, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, before speaking to the broadcasters. Jaiswal says he enjoys batting with Vaibhav and finds it amazing to watch the way he plays at the other end. He adds that they knew it was a high-scoring ground, and with more than 200 runs to chase,  if the ball was in his range, he went after it. Yashasvi mentions that there is a lot of trust within the group and that not everyone will perform on the same day. He adds that they have a very good team, are practising hard, and are enjoying each other's company.

The captain of the Punjab Kings - Shreyas Iyer says 222 on the board was a brilliant score, but the way the opponents batted was exceptional, and they, as a bowling unit, did not execute well. Iyer credits the partnerships for RR as a main reason for their victory. Shreyas believes that it was all about execution, and had they done that well, things could have been different, but it just wasn't to be. Mentions that one result doesn't change much, and they will be looking to stick to their plans and take a couple of days to rest and go back to the drawing board. Iyer ends by saying that this is their first defeat and such defeats teach a lot, and they just have to put this aside, and he will be looking to stay optimistic and not let this result affect them.

Inconsistent pacers undo Punjab's effort - Punjab Kings were on the back foot right from the Powerplay, with their pacers lacking consistency and leaking runs. Arshdeep did manage a wicket, but they were always playing catch-up. Harpreet Brar stood out with a tidy spell of 25 from his four overs, while Chahal’s 3/36 dragged things back and briefly put Punjab on top. However, the pacers failed to build on that momentum, continuing to dish out boundary balls for the Royals batters to feast on, and it ultimately cost them, with all the quicks going at over 12 an over.

Stoinis powers Punjab Kings to a big total - Earlier in the game, Punjab Kings put up a strong total on the back of a classy fifty from Prabhsimran Singh, with Priyansh Arya and Cooper Connolly adding handy cameos, but it was the late onslaught that stole the show as Stoinis went full ‘Hulk smash’, hammering 62* off just 22 to swing the momentum their way. Rajasthan Royals weren't quite rewarded for their efforts with the ball, with a few edges not sticking, though the spinners kept things tight. Jadeja was very economical, while Yash Punja picked up a couple. Archer and Burger got one each, but Burger was expensive, and Brijesh's tidy spell turned on its head in the final over, leaking 24 to hand Punjab the edge.

Dubey and Ferreira seal the deal - Rajasthan Royals got off to a flying start, with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi leading the charge with a blistering 43 off just 16. Yashasvi Jaiswal carried the momentum forward after the wonderkid's departure, combining with Jurel to power the Royals to 84 in the Powerplay, the duo adding 54 together, with Jaiswal bringing up a fine half-century. However, the innings hit a brief wobble as both set batters fell in quick succession, and Riyan Parag once again couldn't convert his start. With the middle order under pressure, it felt like a familiar script, but the Impact Sub Shubham Dubey turned the tide with a fiery 31* off 12, before Donovan Ferreira, known as one of the best finishers in this format, sealed the deal with an unbeaten 52 off 26, guiding his side home with four balls to spare.

Royals stun table-toppers Punjab - Rajasthan Royals become the first team to hand a defeat to the league leaders, Punjab Kings, and they've done it in some style. The Kings will feel like they had this one in control, only to let it slip at the death with some ordinary bowling. Parag spoke about winning the small moments at the toss, and his players backed it up perfectly, getting back to winning ways, while handing Punjab a taste of their own medicine. As for the Kings, they'll hope this is just a minor blip in an otherwise impressive run of form.

Marco Jansen to Donovan Ferreira, SIX! Donovan Ferreira finishes the game off in style and also brings up his FIFTY. Jansen pushes it across the right-hander but gets the length wrong. Dishes out a full toss, outside off. Ferreira clears the front leg and dispatches it over mid on for a six. Donovan has come in clutch for his side on the night, along with Shubham Dubey. Punjab's juggernaut has been halted. Rajasthan Royals win by 6 wickets with four balls to spare.

Marco Jansen to Shubham Dubey, Just short! Jansen slams the deck hard, keeping it around the tramline. Dubey reaches out to flay at it. Gets the height but not the distance. Arshdeep Singh comes in charging in from deep point but the ball lands in front of him. Single taken. The scores are level.

Marco Jansen will bowl the last over.

Lockie Ferguson to Donovan Ferreira, Ferguson rolls his fingers over the ball and delivers it on a good length, on off. Shubham Dubey taps it wide of point and takes a single. RR need 2 more runs.

Lockie Ferguson to Donovan Ferreira, Stays on a shortish length, keeping it away from the batter's arc. Donovan drags the pull in front of square on the leg side for one.

Lockie Ferguson to Donovan Ferreira, FOUR! Off the top edge, but they all count. Just 4 more needed for RR. Pace on now by Ferguson, on a hard length, on off. Ferreira swings hard for the pull but the ball gets big on him. It flies off the top edge between the keeper and short third and races into the deep third fence.

Lockie Ferguson to Donovan Ferreira, A swing and a miss. Going away, pace off and into the surface, Donovan swings across the line with all his might but fails to connect.

Lockie Ferguson to Donovan Ferreira, SIX! BANG! My goodness. A 105-metre hit from Donovan Ferreira. Ferguson bends his back and bangs it in short, on off. This sits up to be hit, and Donovan climbs into it. He pummels it way over mid-wicket into the top tier for a biggie.

Lockie Ferguson to Donovan Ferreira, FOUR! Hit hard and wide enough! Across off, full in length, Donovan Ferreira shuffles across to the off side and picks the bones out of it. He cracks the drive a bit uppishly down the ground. Shreyas Iyer flings himself to his right at mid off but the ball is past him in a flash.

Who will be trusted with the penultimate over? It will be Lockie Ferguson.

Arshdeep Singh to Shubham Dubey, SIX! Shubham Dubey ends the over the same way Donovan Ferreira started it. Arshdeep bowls the slower, short ball. Dubey anticipates the line to be around the guideline. He walks across the stumps and swings across for the pull. He is slightly early into the shot but still clears deep mid-wicket for a six. The 200 is up for RR. 18 needed off 12.

Arshdeep Singh to Shubham Dubey, Well bowled! From over the wicket for the left-hander, pace off and into the wicket. Shubham Dubey thinks about gliding it behind the wicket on the off side before bailing out of the shot. The ball sneaks just inside the tramline.

Arshdeep Singh to Donovan Ferreira, Attacks the stumps, does Arshdeep. Donovan Ferreira crouches and takes it on the full. He swipes it in front of square on the leg side for a run.

Arshdeep Singh to Donovan Ferreira, Lowish full toss, outside off. Donovan throws his hands at it but bunts it beside the strip on the off side.

Arshdeep Singh to Donovan Ferreira, FOUR! Targets the same region and picks up a boundary. Arshdeep switches to around the wicket but misses the mark as he attempts the yorker. It comes out as a low full toss, just outside the off stump. Ferreira pumps it back over the bowler's head and the long off fielder stands no chance. 10 runs off the first 2 balls. 25 needed off 16.

Arshdeep Singh to Donovan Ferreira, SIX! Straight as an arrow! Arshdeep begins from over the wicket and angles it across the right-hander. Hurls it on a length, and Ferreira extends his hands into the lofted hit. He gets under it and smokes it over the sight screen for a six. Pressure on Arshdeep early in the over.

Arshdeep Singh (3-0-51-1) replaces Marco Jansen.

Lockie Ferguson to Shubham Dubey, Good running! Angled into the pads, on a length, Dubey picks the slower ball and waits for the ball to arrive. He nudges it in front of deep square leg with soft hands and comes charging back for the second run. Still, 8 runs off the over. 35 needed off 18.

Lockie Ferguson to Shubham Dubey, FOUR! Nicely played! Ferguson drifts on the pads with a full ball. Dubey gets into a bit of a tangle but he gets the front pad out of the way and uses the around-the-wicket angle to his advantage. He flicks it fine of the man at deep backward square leg for a four.

Lockie Ferguson to Donovan Ferreira, Bangs it in short, on off, Donovan drags the pull to deep mid-wicket for just a single. So far, so good from Ferguson. Just 2 runs off the first 4 balls.

Lockie Ferguson to Donovan Ferreira, And again! Excellent change up from Lockie. Takes pace off and lands it on a length, just outside the off stump. Ferreira has a hoick across the line but is beaten on the inside edge and the ball is not far away from crashing into the off pole.

Lockie Ferguson to Donovan Ferreira, A big swing and a miss! Ferguson goes searching for the yorker but ends up serving a low full toss, across off. Donovan Ferreira clears the front leg and swings for the hills but connects with thin air.

Lockie Ferguson to Donovan Ferreira, Wide! Tries to push it across the batter but this is well beyond the tramline.

Lockie Ferguson to Donovan Ferreira, Steams in from around the wicket and bowls the loopy, pace-off yorker, outside off. Donovan Ferreira swings at it but the ball drops under his bat and goes behind towards the keeper.

Marco Jansen to Donovan Ferreira, Pace off, on a good length, on off. Donovan Ferreira dabs it to point and retains the strike with a single. 15 runs off the over. The Royals require 43 runs off 24 balls.

Marco Jansen to Shubham Dubey, Excellent stroke but terrible running between the wickets as they take just one off this. Jansen comes over the stumps and bowls a yorker on off, Shubham Dubey opens his bat face and guides this through the backward point region. Dubey starts running but as the batters cross, Dubey assumes that this has raced to the fence but an excellent fielding effort from Marcus Stoinis chasing this from backward point keeps it inside the playing area. Dubey panics and starts running back towards the striker's end without even completing the first but is sent back to the right end by Donovan Ferreira to complete one.