Rajasthan Royals (RR) defeated Punjab Kings (PBKS) by 6 wickets in the 40th match of IPL 2026 at Tira in New Chandigarh. After being invited to bat first, Punjab Kings posted a huge total of 222/4 in 20 overs.
Prabhsimran Singh gave Punjab Kings a flying start alongside Priyansh Arya. He played a brilliant knock of 59 runs off 44 balls. Marcus Stoinis also delivered a blazing innings, scoring 62 off just 22 balls and remained unbeaten till the end. Yash Punja (2/41 in 4 overs) was the most successful bowler for Rajasthan Royals.
While chasing, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi began aggressively and added 51 runs in just 3.2 overs for the first wicket. Jaiswal played a superb knock of 51 runs off 27 balls. When Riyan Parag was dismissed by Yuzvendra Chahal in the 14th over, Rajasthan Royals still needed 72 runs in 6 overs.
Then came Donovan Ferreira, who played a blistering knock of 52 runs off 26 balls. He added 77 runs for the fifth wicket with Shubham Dubey, who scored a quickfire 31 off 12 balls. Both Ferreira and Dubey remained unbeaten till the end and chased down the target with 4 balls to spare.
Despite this win, Rajasthan Royals are placed third on the points table, just below RCB with 12 points. Punjab Kings continue to hold the top position with 13 points.
Strong Performances From PBKS Not Enough
Yuzvendra Chahal picked up 3 for 36. Marcus Stoinis smashed an unbeaten 62 off just 22 balls. However, their efforts could not secure a win for PBKS.
With this victory, RR moved up to third place on the points table.
Priyansh Arya’s Aggressive Start
Priyansh Arya started aggressively in the powerplay. He came into the match with a strike rate of over 260. He attacked early and hit bold shots against Nandre Burger.
He played fearless strokes, including a six over covers and another over backward point. RR quickly reached 29 for no loss in just two overs.
Archer Strikes Back
At the other end, Jofra Archer bowled with pace and bounce. He troubled Arya with sharp deliveries.
Arya got a lifeline early but soon mistimed a fast delivery and got out. Prabhsimran Singh also struggled to find rhythm, although PBKS still managed 65 runs in the powerplay.
RR Control Middle Overs
Cooper Connolly played a quick knock of 30 off 14 balls but got out to a googly from Yash Raj Punja.
Prabhsimran reached his half-century off 35 balls. However, RR bowlers controlled the middle overs well. Spinners Punja and Ravindra Jadeja slowed down the scoring.
Between overs 7 and 16, PBKS scored 95 runs and lost key wickets.
Stoinis Powers Late Surge
Stoinis stepped up in the death overs. He attacked Archer and hit two sixes in the 19th over. He then smashed fast bowler Brijesh Sharma for 24 runs in the final over. PBKS added 62 runs in the last four overs and crossed the 220 mark.
RR Openers Give Flying Start
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi gave RR a rapid start. He scored 43 runs off just 16 balls. He attacked Arshdeep Singh early and hit multiple boundaries. He continued his aggressive approach against Lockie Ferguson as well. RR crossed 50 runs in just 19 balls.
However, Arshdeep dismissed Sooryavanshi when he mistimed a shot.
Jaiswal Leads the Chase
Yashasvi Jaiswal initially played cautiously. After Sooryavanshi’s dismissal, he took charge. He attacked Arshdeep and helped RR reach 66 for 1 in four overs. He later completed his fifty in 26 balls.
However, he got out soon after, hitting a catch to long-off.
Chahal Brings PBKS Back
PBKS tried to fight back through spin. Harpreet Brar bowled tightly and gave away just 25 runs in four overs. Chahal removed Dhruv Jurel with a full toss. He then dismissed Jaiswal and Riyan Parag. At that stage, RR needed 72 runs off 36 balls.
Ferreira and Dubey Finish in Style
After the spinners finished their overs, PBKS relied on fast bowlers. However, they leaked too many runs. Dubey attacked Marco Jansen and scored quick boundaries. Ferguson also conceded heavily in the death overs. Ferreira then took control. He hit the winning runs with a six over long-on. He also completed his second IPL fifty.
RR secured an important win and two points. Meanwhile, PBKS fast bowlers conceded 166 runs in just 68 balls, continuing their struggles this season.
Rajasthan Royals defeated Punjab Kings in a high-scoring match in New Chandigarh. The game saw huge totals, with 222 playing 228. Donovan Ferreira and Shubham Dubey played key roles in the chase. They added 77 runs in just 32 balls for the fifth wicket. Their partnership turned a difficult chase into an easy win. RR completed the chase with four balls remaining and handed Punjab Kings their first loss of IPL 2026. Stay tuned with JUSZNEWS for regular updates!