New Delhi: Rajasthan Royals (RR) beat Gujarat Titans (GT) by six runs in a nail-biter at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, in theIndian Premier League
(IPL) 2026 on Saturday, April 05. A four-wicket haul from spinner Ravi Bishnoi, followed by some exceptional death bowling from Jofra Archer and Tushar Deshpande , helped RR defend the total of 210 runs to bag their second win in a row in the tournament.
Deshpande defended 11 runs off the final over against a well-set Rashid Khan and Kagiso Rabada, giving away only 4 runs in the over to clinch a thrilling victory for the Royals. Deshpande conceded a wide and only three singles in the over while dismissing Rashid on the penultimate delivery to steal the show with his last-over heroics.
However, things could have panned out differently in the game if not for Rajasthan Royals wicket-keeper Dhruv Jurel. RR skipper Riyan Parag revealed he originally planned to have Deshpande bowl the 19th over, and Archer bowl the final over, with only 15 to defend off the last 12 balls. It was Jurel who convinced him to change the order.
Jurel asked Parag to let Archer bowl the crucial 19th over and bring Deshpande in the final over. As it turned out, Archer, who is arguably RR’s best pacer, delivered a brilliant 19th over, conceding only 4 runs to save 11 runs for Deshpande to defend in the final over. Deshpande then went on to shine in the 20th over to seal the game for his team.
“I was actually going to switch up the order, so credit to Dhruv Jurel for that. He asked me to go Jofra on the 19th,” Parag said after RR’s thrilling six-run victory at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
“So the plan was, because it was like a three-ball difference, it was 15 off 12. I just wanted to like take a chance, just go fast, as fast as possible, as aggressive as possible. If it comes out, it comes out and it looks really good. If it doesn’t, I’ll just be sad and go again next time,” he added.
RR pacer Archer also confirmed Jurel’s move while speaking after the match. Archer revealed that the initial plan was for him to bowl the final over and Deshpande to bowl the 19th. However, Parag changed his mind at the last moment after Jurel’s suggestion and switched the order, which worked wonders for the Royals, handing them their second win of the season.
