Rajasthan Royals extended their unbeaten run in IPL 2026, registering a fourth consecutive victory with a commanding chase against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Guwahati. The spotlight belonged to Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, whose breathtaking assault dismantled the opposition early and set the tone for a dominant win.
Chasing 202, RR got off to a mixed start when Josh Hazlewood dismissed Yashasvi Jaiswal cheaply. However, that moment of relief for RCB proved short-lived. Sooryavanshi responded in ruthless fashion, taking control with a stunning display of power hitting. He raced to a half century in just 15 deliveries, equalling the record for the fastest fifty, smashing seven sixes in a fearless innings.
The young batter targeted both pace and swing with equal confidence. Bhuvneshwar Kumar was also punished despite nearly producing a wicket with an early inswinging delivery. By the end of the powerplay, RR had piled on 97 runs, the highest in the tournament so far, leaving RCB already on the back foot.
Alongside him, Dhruv Jurel played an equally impactful knock. Matching his partner’s tempo without unnecessary risks, Jurel produced elegant strokeplay to maintain pressure. His calculated approach ensured RR remained in complete control even after a brief collapse that saw Sooryavanshi depart for a blistering 78 off 26 balls.
RCB found a flicker of hope when Krunal Pandya picked up consecutive wickets, but the damage had already been done. Jurel then anchored the chase brilliantly, finishing unbeaten on 81 from 43 deliveries. His steady partnership with Ravindra Jadeja ensured there were no further hiccups as RR crossed the line comfortably.
Earlier, RCB had posted a challenging total just over 200, with contributions from Virat Kohli and captain Rajat Patidar, who recovered from a slow start to reach a half century. A late cameo from Venkatesh Iyer added valuable runs in the final overs.
Despite the strong total, their bowling unit struggled to contain RR’s aggressive approach. The early onslaught proved decisive, leaving RCB chasing the game from the very beginning.
With this emphatic victory, Rajasthan Royals have firmly established themselves as one of the teams to beat this season, combining fearless batting with composure under pressure.
