Rajasthan Royals produced a sensational late surge to defeat Punjab Kings and end their unbeaten streak in IPL 2026, chasing down a daunting 223-run target with four balls to spare at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh on Tuesday.
The victory was anchored by a remarkable partnership between Shubham Dubey and Donovan Ferreira, who turned the game on its head during the final overs. With 72 runs required from the last six overs, the Royals appeared to be under immense pressure. However, the duo capitalised on the absence of Punjab’s key spinners to launch a stunning counterattack.
Dubey remained unbeaten on 31 off just 12 deliveries, striking three boundaries and two sixes, while Ferreira delivered a match-winning knock of 56 not out from 26 balls, sealing the chase in style with a towering six.
Earlier in the innings, Rajasthan got off to a blazing start, scoring 84 runs in the PowerPlay. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi led the charge with a quickfire 43 off 16 balls, smashing five sixes with ease. Yashasvi Jaiswal complemented him well, scoring 51 and maintaining the aggressive tempo. However, the middle overs saw a slowdown as Punjab bowlers regained control.
Yuzvendra Chahal played a crucial role, dismissing Dhruv Jurel, Jaiswal, and Riyan Parag, while Harpreet Brar kept things tight by conceding just 25 runs in his four overs. At that stage, Punjab looked firmly in command before the late assault shifted momentum dramatically.
Earlier, Punjab Kings had posted an imposing total thanks to a breathtaking innings from Marcus Stoinis. The Australian all-rounder remained unbeaten on 62 off just 22 balls, smashing six sixes and four fours in a display of sheer power hitting. His explosive finish, including 24 runs off the final over, lifted Punjab to a formidable total.
Prabhsimran Singh laid the foundation with a steady half-century, scoring his runs off 35 balls. He was supported by quick contributions from Priyansh Arya and Cooper Connolly, who added valuable runs in the middle overs.
Despite Stoinis’ heroics, Rajasthan’s fearless batting approach and strong finish ensured they secured their sixth win of the season, handing Punjab Kings their first defeat in a high-scoring encounter.
