Deepak Chahar produced the key breakthrough as Mumbai Indians edged their way through a tense encounter against Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2026 at the Wankhede Stadium. Chahar struck at a crucial moment to remove Rajasthan’s in-form batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, triggering celebrations around the ground as MI moved closer to a season-defining win in the final league game.
Key takeaways
- Deepak Chahar claimed the match’s biggest wicket by dismissing Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for a low-scoring dismissal.
- Sooryavanshi tried to launch a lofted shot, but only managed a leading edge to Naman Dheer at deep point.
- Mumbai Indians won the toss and chose to bowl first in their last league match of the season.
- Jasprit Bumrah was rested, with Chahar brought into the playing XI.
- Rajasthan Royals made three changes, including the return of Riyan Parag, Nandre Burger and Ravindra Jadeja.
Chahar’s breakthrough turns the tide
Chahar provided MI with the breakthrough they were searching for, striking as Rajasthan Royals’ plans appeared to hinge on a big start from Sooryavanshi. The batter was expected to attack in an all-important clash, but the opener failed to make the impact he was billed for.
Chahar bowled a fuller-length delivery that sat in the batter’s hitting zone. Sooryavanshi went for a lofted attempt, yet the execution didn’t carry—he was caught out via a leading edge. Naman Dheer charged in quickly and completed a sharp catch at deep point, sending Sooryavanshi back after the dismissal sparked immediate reaction from the Wankhede crowd.
The atmosphere around the venue turned electric following the wicket. MI skipper Hardik Pandya celebrated wildly, then walked over to hug Chahar, with both players sharing the moment as the breakthrough settled the contest in Mumbai’s favour.
Toss, team news and captain’s views
MI won the toss and opted to bowl first in this must-win final league fixture for Rajasthan Royals. The decision raised eyebrows for some, but Hardik Pandya explained that conditions across the day were a major factor in their thinking. Speaking at the toss, Pandya noted that when the match is played in the afternoon, the pitch tends to improve as time goes on, making it harder to bat early.
He added that the wicket looked suitable for cricket, but with the ball and the surface offering something extra under lights later in the evening. Pandya also acknowledged the challenge of a tough campaign, saying the team’s focus was on putting its best foot forward in the final stretch.
Rajasthan, meanwhile, required a win to secure the fourth playoff spot. With Punjab Kings only one point ahead, captain Riyan Parag underlined the urgency of the situation and insisted the side would give everything in a contest that could potentially be their last of the season. Parag also expressed that the squad would rather control its own destiny rather than rely on results elsewhere.
Playing XIs
Rajasthan Royals: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Riyan Parag (c), Donovan Ferreira, Shubham Dubey, Dasun Shanaka, Jofra Atcher, Nandre Burger, Yash Raj Punja, Brijesh Sharma
Impact substitutes: Ravindra Jadeja, Sushant Mishra, Aman Rao Perala, Ravi Bishnoi, Tushar Deshpande
Mumbai Indians: Ryan Rickelton (wk), Naman Dheer, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Will Jacks, Corbin Bosch, Deepak Chahar, Shardul Thakur, AM Ghazanfar, Raghu Sharma
Impact substitutes: Rohit Sharma, Mayank Rawat, Robin Minz, Krish Bhagat, Trent Boult
