In match nine of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, Rajasthan Royals (RR) defended their total to win by six runs against Gujarat Titans (GT) at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
Choosing to bat first, the Royals’ top order built a solid foundation. Yashasvi Jaiswal (55) and 15-year-old wonder Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (31) destroyed the bowlers in the powerplay, taking the score to 69/0 in six overs. Batting first, the duo were a little more careful. Rashid Khan snapped the partnership by ousting Sooryavanshi, but Jaiswal continued cleanly to reach fifty. A minor hiccup was followed with wickets in consecutive overs, as well as a costly failed review against Shimron Hetmyer (18), which resulted in an 18-run leak. However, Dhruv Jurel (75) was the driving force behind the momentum change. While the middle order struggled briefly, Jurel delivered the innings of the night. The wicket-keeper batter slammed five sixes in his innings at a strike rate of 178.57. His late-innings aggressiveness, along with a quickfire knock from Hetmyer, pushed the Royals to a threatening 210/6.
While missing their skipper, Shubman Gill, due to a muscular spasm, GT leaned significantly on Sai Sudharsan (73), who performed an outstanding anchor role. Despite his brilliance, the middle-order batters like Jos Buttler and Glenn Phillips disintegrated under Ravi Bishnoi‘s spin web, leaving GT on 161/7. However, stand-in captain Rashid Khan (24) and Kagiso Rabada (23*) put on a remarkable 43-run stand. They dragged the equation down to the final ball, but the hill was too steep to ascend, resulting in 204/8.
Defending 210 was a difficult challenge on the Ahmedabad surface, but Bishnoi turned the game around. Entering as the impact player, the leg-spinner ripped through the GT middle order with a spectacular spell of 4/41, winning him Player of the Match and the Purple Cap as well. While the game became uncomfortably close in the closing overs, Parag made the bold decision of giving Deshpande the last over with 11 to defend, and it proved to be a masterstroke. Deshpande delivered his yorkers flawlessly, never giving Rashid or Rabada the opportunity to break free and take the game away. The emotions surrounding Rashid’s fall and the finish of the game demonstrated how much this victory meant for RR.
GT’s bowling team struggled against the RR openers but came back in the final overs. Rabada was the highlight of the bowlers, taking 2/42 and giving much-needed breakthroughs when Jaiswal was set. Young Ashok Sharma made headlines by bowling 154.2 kmph, the fastest ball of the season thus far, while also dismissing Hetmyer. However, costly spells from Mohammed Siraj (1/48) and Prasidh Krishna (1/43) enabled the Royals to break the 200-run barrier, which proved to be the difference.
With this win, RR move to the top of the IPL 2026 points table.
Scorecard:
Rajasthan Royals: 210/6, Overs 20, Dhruv Jurel 75, Kagiso Rabada 2/42
Delhi Capitals: 204/8, Overs 20, Sai Sudharsan 73, Ravi Bishnoi 4/41
