The 40th match of the 2026 Indian Premier League between the Punjab Kings (PBKS) and the Rajasthan Royals (RR) at the New Chandigarh Stadium was an absolute
run-fest that tested the nerves of every bowler on the pitch.
Batting first, the Punjab Kings put on a fireworks display to post a daunting target of 223. The innings was anchored by a solid 59 from Prabhsimran Singh, but it was Marcus Stoinis who completely demoralized the RR bowling attack in the death overs. Stoinis smashed a brutal, unbeaten 62 off just 22 balls featuring six towering sixes to propel PBKS to 222.
However, the Rajasthan Royals walked out for the chase with zero hesitation. 15-year-old batting prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi set the tone instantly, blasting 43 off just 16 balls and hitting two audacious helicopter sixes. Alongside him, the ever-reliable Yashasvi Jaiswal played a beautifully paced, aggressive knock of 51 off 27 balls. Their searing powerplay blitz gave RR the perfect launchpad, allowing the middle order to navigate the monumental target with ease and secure a historic victory.
Rajasthan Royals Join Elite Company
By chasing down the massive target of 223, the Rajasthan Royals didn't just earn two crucial points on the IPL 2026 points table; they etched their names into the franchise record books.
This victory marked the 6th time in IPL history that the Rajasthan Royals have successfully chased down a target of 200 or more. With this milestone, they have officially tied with the five-time champions, Mumbai Indians (MI), for the second-most successful 200+ chases in the tournament's history.
Interestingly, the team sitting comfortably at the very top of this list is the team they just defeated: the Punjab Kings.
Most Times Successfully Chasing 200+ in IPL:
- 10 - Punjab Kings (PBKS)
- 6 - Mumbai Indians (MI)
- 6 - Rajasthan Royals (RR)*
- 5 - Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)
- 5 - Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)
As IPL 2026 continues to heavily favor the batters already witnessing nine successful 200+ chases in just 40 matches, the Rajasthan Royals have proven they have the exact firepower needed to go all the way. Watch out, Punjab Kings; your all-time record of 10 might just be under threat!
