Royal Challengers Bengaluru captain Rajat Patidar pointed to Rajasthan Royals’ batting surge in the opening phase as the key swing factor in their Indian Premier League 2026 meeting on Friday. Rajasthan Royals went on to beat RCB by six wickets, with RR’s batters—most notably Vaibhav Sooryavanshi—taking control early and building a chase that looked comfortable by the time the innings gathered momentum.
How the match unfolded
- Rajasthan Royals chased a target of 202 and got their run chase moving aggressively from the start.
- Vaibhav Sooryavanshi provided the biggest burst, blasting 78 runs off just 26 balls.
- Dhruv Jurel remained unbeaten on 81, helping RR finish the chase without losing the initiative at the back end.
- Sooryavanshi and Jurel put together a 108-run stand, laying the foundation for a dominant chase.
- Ravindra Jadeja contributed an unbeaten 24 as Rajasthan Royals reached the required total in 18 overs.
Rajasthan’s early momentum stood out: RR were 97/1 after six overs, with Sooryavanshi and the rest of the top order repeatedly taking the RCB bowlers to task during the powerplay. The RR captaincy influence showed up in how they kept the tempo high, ensuring Bengaluru struggled to settle into a consistent rhythm.
Speaking after the match, Patidar credited the Royals’ batting—particularly the impact of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in the powerplay—for the difference between the two sides. He said that the way their batters, especially Vaibhav, played in the first phase made a “huge difference.”
Patidar also looked at RCB’s innings and stressed that even after a shaky beginning, the defending champions managed to climb to 201/8 in their 20 overs. He noted that the early wickets and the manner of the start were tough for his team, but the final score offered a positive sign. Patidar added that there were valuable lessons to take from the defeat.
RCB’s innings: recovery after a tough start
In Guwahati, RCB reached 201/8 after recovering from a poor start against Rajasthan Royals. The innings began under pressure, with RCB slumping to 62/4 before later moving to 94/6. Jofra Archer struck early, while Virat Kohli provided a brief start before the next phase of the innings needed stabilising.
Rajat Patidar then played the anchor role, scoring 63 off 40 balls to help RCB rebuild. Venkatesh Iyer’s finishing flourish came at the right time as he remained unbeaten on 29 off 15 deliveries, pushing Bengaluru past the 200-run mark.
Result and standings impact
Despite RCB’s late push to 201/8, Rajasthan Royals overhauled the target and won by six wickets, extending their unbeaten sequence to four consecutive victories. The result also handed Bengaluru their first defeat of the season.
