Rajasthan Royals (RR) cruised past Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) by 7 wickets in the 64th match of IPL 2026 at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. After being invited to bat first, LSG posted a huge total of 220/5 in 20 overs.
Mitchell Marsh and Josh Inglis gave LSG a flying start and added a blazing 109 runs for the first wicket in just 8.2 overs. Josh Inglis scored a quick 60 off 29 balls, while Mitchell Marsh made 96 off 57 balls and stayed at the crease until the second-last ball of the innings. Rishabh Pant also contributed a useful 35 runs in the death overs. Yash Punja (2/35 in 4 overs) was the most successful bowler for Rajasthan Royals, while Jofra Archer also took one wicket.
While chasing, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi gave RR a flying start and added 75 runs in 6.3 overs. Sooryavanshi started slowly but exploded as the match progressed and scored 93 runs off just 38 balls. He also added a quickfire 105-run partnership for the second wicket with Dhruv Jurel before being dismissed by Mohsin Khan in the 14th over.
Dhruv Jurel and Donovan Ferreira then finished the job and sealed the victory with five balls to spare. Jurel remained unbeaten on 53 off 38 balls, while Ferreira scored 16 runs.Mohsin Khan (1/31 in 4 overs) was the most successful bowler for LSG, while Akash Singh also took one wicket.
With this win, Rajasthan Royals moved to fourth position with 14 points in the table and need to win their last match against Mumbai Indians to qualify for the playoffs.
Sooryavanshi overcomes slow start, then explodes
RR’s chase did not begin at full throttle from Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. At one stage, he was on just 11 off 12 balls, unusually quiet by his standards. However, his opening partner and stand-in captain Yashasvi Jaiswal took charge during the powerplay and kept RR ahead of the required rate.
Once settled, Sooryavanshi shifted gears dramatically. In the ninth over, he targeted left-arm seamer Akash Singh, smashing him for two sixes and three fours in a single over. From there, he returned to his aggressive rhythm, regularly clearing the boundary.
He eventually fell for a blistering 93 off just 38 balls in the 14th over. By then, he had taken his season six-hitting tally in IPL 2026 to 53, second only to Chris Gayle’s record 2012 season when Sooryavanshi was just one year old. Dhruv Jurel then guided the finishing phase calmly, sharing a steady partnership with Donnovan Ferreira to complete the chase.
Marsh and Inglis give LSG a flying start
Earlier, LSG’s openers Mitchell Marsh and Josh Inglis tore into the RR bowling attack. Despite Jofra Archer’s pace and bounce, the pair dominated from the beginning.
Marsh immediately attacked Archer in the first over, stepping out and hitting a boundary and a six over cover. Inglis played more stylishly, using angles behind square and scooping Archer for a boundary over fine leg.
LSG reached 83 without loss in the powerplay, one of their strongest starts this season. On the other hand, RR once again failed to pick up a wicket in the powerplay, continuing a worrying trend for the fourth straight game.
Punja changes the momentum
Wrist spinner Yash Raj Punja played a key role in slowing LSG down. He bowled the first boundary-less over of the innings and later dismissed Nicholas Pooran for 16, giving away just seven runs in the 13th over. Earlier, he had broken the dangerous opening stand by removing Inglis, who had scored a quick 60 off 29 balls, with a well-disguised wrong’un.
Punja finished with impressive figures of 4 overs for 35 runs and 2 wickets, showing why RR promoted him from a net bowler role into the main squad after last season.
Marsh slows down, Royals strike late
Marsh brought up a rapid half-century off 25 balls but struggled to maintain momentum later, scoring only 43 runs from his final 32 deliveries. RR’s slower bowling attack, led by Punja, Sandeep Sharma, and Dasun Shanaka, successfully reduced the scoring rate.
Reflecting on the tough phase, Marsh admitted, "To be honest, felt like torture out there," and also felt he may have missed opportunities to score more boundaries.
In the final over of the innings, Jofra Archer made a strong impact by dismissing Marsh, Rishabh Pant, and Ayush Badoni, conceding only five runs.
Jaiswal and Sooryavanshi set up the chase
RR responded aggressively in the powerplay. However, it was Jaiswal who dominated early rather than Sooryavanshi. He scored 39 of RR’s 71 runs in the first six overs, attacking anything wide and setting a strong foundation.
He began the chase with intent, smashing four boundaries in a 23-run opening over against Akash Singh.
Sooryavanshi takes control before late dismissal
By the end of the powerplay, Sooryavanshi had reached 25 off 16 balls, a controlled start for him before he accelerated. Displaying impressive maturity for his age, he adapted to the pitch conditions and punished loose deliveries. He reached his fifty in just 23 balls, including a reverse sweep, and looked set for a century before Mohsin Khan ended his innings.
He finished with an extraordinary strike rate of nearly 245 and even overtook Marsh to claim the Orange Cap during his innings. Sooryavanshi also punished both Prince Yadav and Mayank Yadav with consecutive sixes, showing fearless hitting even against international-level pace.
Although he was dismissed while attempting his 11th six, his innings had already put RR firmly in control. Jurel then steadied the chase, while Ferreira ensured a composed finish to seal the victory.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has now become a key factor in Rajasthan Royals’ wins. In matches where Sooryavanshi has scored runs, Rajasthan Royals have won. In other matches, they have struggled despite strong performances from other teammates.
Once again, Rajasthan Royals produced a stunning run chase to defeat Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), overhauling a massive target of 221 and climbing to fourth place on the points table. Even without key names like Riyan Parag and Ravindra Jadeja, RR showed depth and composure. With one league match left against Mumbai Indians, a win would almost guarantee their playoff qualification regardless of other results. Stay tuned with JUSZNEWS for regular updates!