228/4 (19.2)
CR : 11.79
222/4 (20.0)
CR : 11.10
Rajasthan Royals won by 6 wickets 🏆
Player of the Match
Donovan Ferreira
52(26)*
Super Sixes of the Match: Marcus Stoinis (6 Sixes)
Super Fours of the Match: Yashasvi Jaiswal (7 Fours)
Most Dot Balls in the Match: Jofra Archer (10 Dot Balls)
Riyan Parag (Rajasthan Royals Captain): "(What does this win mean to the team?) I think as a team what we discussed at the beginning of the tournament is that we treat this as a normal game. I know everything around it has a lot of value but for us it's a normal game. When we lost last game, we wanted to rectify our mistakes. Same thing again today. We felt that we could've restricted a lot lower but then the batters picked us up. Next game, moving forward, we will review this game and then move forward.
(Are they closer to playing good cricket for 40 overs?) Yes, 100%. I feel we could've bowled a few better overs here and there and batted a few overs better in the middle. I would say around 35 overs than 40. You are never going to get 40 overs but the aspiration is that, you have to play good cricket for 40 overs.
(On the middle order) The concerns were apart from us, from everyone else. Everyone watching, everyone commentating, that was their concerns not ours. We trust our players and their abilities a lot. When the middle orders don't fire, the openers and the others have to pick it up. When the middle order fires, we pick it up. So as a team, we have full trust in the team. All the worries and outside noise are for them not for us.
(Discussions at the halfway mark?) I think the plan was to keep wickets in hand but not to fall way too behind the run rate. The way the openers went, Vaibhav and Jaiswal, I feel it just made our jobs very easier, as usual. The tough part was after the powerplay, keeping the momentum going, keeping up with the asking rate. I think after the powerplay, we got 5, 8-run overs. But we picked up well after that.
(On that partnership between Dubey and Ferreira) Absolutely. The way him (Dubey) and Don batted was absolutely amazing. They took the game away from PBKS. The way they batted was commendable."
(Are they closer to playing good cricket for 40 overs?) Yes, 100%. I feel we could've bowled a few better overs here and there and batted a few overs better in the middle. I would say around 35 overs than 40. You are never going to get 40 overs but the aspiration is that, you have to play good cricket for 40 overs.
(On the middle order) The concerns were apart from us, from everyone else. Everyone watching, everyone commentating, that was their concerns not ours. We trust our players and their abilities a lot. When the middle orders don't fire, the openers and the others have to pick it up. When the middle order fires, we pick it up. So as a team, we have full trust in the team. All the worries and outside noise are for them not for us.
(Discussions at the halfway mark?) I think the plan was to keep wickets in hand but not to fall way too behind the run rate. The way the openers went, Vaibhav and Jaiswal, I feel it just made our jobs very easier, as usual. The tough part was after the powerplay, keeping the momentum going, keeping up with the asking rate. I think after the powerplay, we got 5, 8-run overs. But we picked up well after that.
(On that partnership between Dubey and Ferreira) Absolutely. The way him (Dubey) and Don batted was absolutely amazing. They took the game away from PBKS. The way they batted was commendable."
Player of the Match: Donovan Ferreira
Donovan Ferreira (Player of the Match): [on the innings] "It was a good innings. Just keeping my mind nice and clear just exactly when I was a kid playing with a toy truck. Just taking it ball by ball, just kept on telling the guys, we need to be positive. It's not that hard to get that score but we need to keep showing intent. Let's be calculated and play good cricket shots.
[on how to keep a clear mind under pressure] It is important to really just take it ball-by-ball and not look too far ahead. I just kept reminding myself it's only 12s-10s, you know that's one good over and then the game becomes a lot simpler. Luckily for me, Shubham came in and took a lot of pressure off me, played a really crucial knock over there and I knew if I just stay there, not lose my wicket then I could catch up in one over. Luckily for me, that happened in Lockie's over.
[on the win] You need to win the games, stay in the top 4. It's a long tournament. We just keep reminding ourselves that different guys need to put their hands up. We kind of shrill on our openers which have been really good for us. I am really pleased that I'm hitting the ball well and Shubham came in and did it as well. Jaiswal and Vaibhav always setting it up in the first couple of overs. But it's important for us to step up and win the match for the team."
[on how to keep a clear mind under pressure] It is important to really just take it ball-by-ball and not look too far ahead. I just kept reminding myself it's only 12s-10s, you know that's one good over and then the game becomes a lot simpler. Luckily for me, Shubham came in and took a lot of pressure off me, played a really crucial knock over there and I knew if I just stay there, not lose my wicket then I could catch up in one over. Luckily for me, that happened in Lockie's over.
[on the win] You need to win the games, stay in the top 4. It's a long tournament. We just keep reminding ourselves that different guys need to put their hands up. We kind of shrill on our openers which have been really good for us. I am really pleased that I'm hitting the ball well and Shubham came in and did it as well. Jaiswal and Vaibhav always setting it up in the first couple of overs. But it's important for us to step up and win the match for the team."
Most Losses While Defending 200-Plus Totals in IPL:
8 - Punjab Kings*
7 - Royal Challengers Bengaluru
6 - Chennai Super Kings
5 - Kolkata Knight Riders
8 - Punjab Kings*
7 - Royal Challengers Bengaluru
6 - Chennai Super Kings
5 - Kolkata Knight Riders
Most Wins While Chasing 200-Plus Targets in IPL
10 - Punjab Kings
6 - Mumbai Indians
6 - Rajasthan Royals*
5 - Sunrisers Hyderabad
5 - Royal Challengers Bengaluru
10 - Punjab Kings
6 - Mumbai Indians
6 - Rajasthan Royals*
5 - Sunrisers Hyderabad
5 - Royal Challengers Bengaluru
TRIVIA: 9 200-plus totals have now been successfully chased in IPL 2026 — the same as in 2025.
At last, at last — Punjab Kings have finally tasted defeat this season! It was yet another thrilling run chase, and Mullanpur was silenced by a clinical effort from the Royals. PBKS couldn’t finish their Mullanpur-leg with a win, while Rajasthan Royals register their sixth victory of the season to climb up to 3rd on the table.
Up next, it’s a massive clash as Mumbai Indians host Sunrisers Hyderabad at the iconic Wankhede Stadium tomorrow. For now, this is Pritam Dey signing off on behalf of my co-commentators Akshay Bhide, Ninaad Dixit and Ajay Pal Singh who, along with scorers/analysts Paras Yadav and Manish Bishnoi brought all the updates of this clash. Stay tuned for more cricketing action from around the world. BYE BYE👋
Up next, it’s a massive clash as Mumbai Indians host Sunrisers Hyderabad at the iconic Wankhede Stadium tomorrow. For now, this is Pritam Dey signing off on behalf of my co-commentators Akshay Bhide, Ninaad Dixit and Ajay Pal Singh who, along with scorers/analysts Paras Yadav and Manish Bishnoi brought all the updates of this clash. Stay tuned for more cricketing action from around the world. BYE BYE👋