Rajasthan Royals continued their unbeaten run in IPL 2026 with a commanding 6-wicket victory over Royal Challengers Bengaluru in a high-octane clash at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati on April 10.
RR won the toss and elected to bowl first on a batsman-friendly pitch known for its short boundaries and lightning-fast outfield, which typically favours chasing sides, especially with dew playing a role in the evening.RCB posted a competitive 201/8 in 20 overs.
Captain Rajat Patidar anchored the innings with a well-crafted 63 off 40 balls, including 4 fours and 4 sixes. Venkatesh Iyer provided a late flourish, remaining unbeaten on 29 off 15. However, RCB's top order faltered early: Philip Salt departed for a golden duck, Devdutt Padikkal
scored 14, and Virat Kohli made 32 off just 16 balls before falling to Ravi Bishnoi. Lower-order contributions from Romario Shepherd (22) and Tim David (13) helped push the total past 200, but the innings lacked momentum at crucial stages.RR's bowlers shared the spoils effectively.
Jofra Archer and Ravi Bishnoi each claimed 2 wickets, while debutant or fringe pacer Brijesh Sharma also picked up 2. Sandeep Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja chipped in with one each. The pitch offered early assistance to pacers, but spinners found grip as the game progressed.
In the chase, RR unleashed fireworks from the outset, racing to the target of 202 in just 18 overs at a run rate of 11.22. The star of the show was 15-year-old sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who blasted a breathtaking 78 off 26 balls, smashing 8 fours and 7 sixes at a staggering strike rate of 300. His explosive knock, alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal's quick 13, set a blistering platform.
Dhruv Jurel then played a mature unbeaten knock of 81 off 43 balls (8 fours, 3 sixes), steadying the ship after the dismissals of Sooryavanshi and Shimron Hetmyer (0) in quick succession. Riyan Parag contributed a brief 3 before Ravindra Jadeja remained not out on 24 off 25, guiding RR home comfortably with 12 balls to spare.For RCB, Josh Hazlewood and Krunal Pandya took 2 wickets each, but their bowlers struggled to contain RR's aggressive batting on the true surface. The powerplay saw RR plunder 97 runs, underlining the venue's batting-friendly nature.
This victory strengthens RR's position at the top of the table, showcasing their depth and explosive firepower. RCB, despite a fighting total, suffered their first defeat of the season, highlighting areas for improvement in death bowling and middle-order stability.
RR vs RCB Award Winners List
Super Striker of the Match: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (RR) - SR: 300
Most Fours in the Match: Dhruv Jurel (RR) - 8 Fours
Most Sixes in the Match: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (RR) - 7 Sixes
TATA IPL Green Dot Balls: Bhuvneshwar Kumar (RCB) - 8 dot balls
Player of the Match: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (RR) - 78 off 26 balls
