Rajasthan Royals Cruise To Six-Wicket Win Over Royal Challengers Bengaluru In IPL 2026 Thriller

Picture Credit: BCCI

Rajasthan Royals secured a convincing six-wicket victory over Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Match 16 of the IPL 2026 at the Baraspara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati on Friday, thanks to a stunning start from Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and a composed finish by Dhruv Jurel.

Chasing a challenging target of 202, Rajasthan got off to a blistering start as Sooryavanshi dominated from the outset. The young batter smashed 78 runs from just 26 balls, dismantling the RCB bowling attack with fearless stroke play. He attacked both pace and bounce with confidence, racing to a half-century in only 15 deliveries, matching his previous record.

Sooryavanshi’s early aggression set the tone for the chase, with Rajasthan reaching an impressive 97 for 1 in the Power-play, their highest in IPL history. Yashasvi Jaiswal contributed briefly before falling, but the momentum remained firmly with Rajasthan.

Dhruv Jurel then took charge, maintaining the tempo while ensuring stability during the middle overs. He played a measured yet impactful innings, scoring an unbeaten 81 off 43 balls. Even as RCB attempted to regain control through tighter bowling spells, Jurel held his composure and guided the innings forward.

Sooryavanshi’s innings came to an end when Krunal Pandya induced a catch in the deep, and Shimron Hetmyer departed soon after. Jurel found solid support from Ravindra Jadeja, and the pair stitched together a crucial partnership to steady the chase.

Earlier, RCB posted a competitive total of 201 for 8 after being put under early pressure. Jofra Archer struck with the first ball of the innings, dismissing Phil Salt.

Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal responded with a rapid partnership, but Rajasthan’s bowlers quickly turned the tide.

Ravi Bishnoi played a key role by removing Kohli and Krunal Pandya in quick succession, while sharp fielding further dented RCB’s progress.

At 76 for 5, RCB were in trouble before Rajat Patidar and debutant Venkatesh Iyer revived the innings.

Patidar led the recovery with an aggressive half-century, while Iyer added valuable runs towards the end.

Late contributions helped RCB cross the 200-run mark, giving them a fighting total.

Despite a brief slowdown in the middle overs of the chase, Rajasthan never lost control. Jurel’s calm approach ensured there were no late setbacks, and the team reached the target in 18 overs with ease.