Rajasthan Royals stunned Punjab Kings at Mullanpur on Tuesday, handing them their first loss of IPL 2026 as RR successfully chased a challenging target of 223. Donovan Ferreira emerged as the difference-maker, striking an unbeaten 52 from just 26 deliveries to guide his side home with four balls remaining. With Shimron Hetmyer missing, Ferreira was pushed higher up the batting order, and he made the most of the chance—especially in the late overs—where he punished PBKS bowlers, including Arshdeep Singh and Lockie Ferguson, as the chase swung decisively in RR’s favour.
After the match, RR shared a video showing Ferreira “apologising” to Bollywood star Salman Khan following his match-winning innings against PBKS. The clip features Ferreira reacting to Salman’s 12-year-old post that referenced PBKS, the franchise co-owned by Preity Zinta. In the video, Ferreira is heard saying, “Sorry bhai, aaj nahi (Sorry brother, not today!)”.
The reference goes back to a 2014 message Salman posted around the time of the team’s Qualifier 1 encounter. In that original post, Salman had famously asked, “Zinta’s team won kya?”—a line that resurfaced whenever PBKS play, particularly because Zinta’s team lost that Qualifier 1 clash to eventual champions KKR. With PBKS once again in the spotlight, Ferreira’s reply added a playful touch to an otherwise intense finish, and it quickly became a talking point for fans.
On the field, the chase demanded composure from the start. With 71 runs required off the final six overs, RR still looked in danger of falling short—until Ferreira and a lively cameo from Shubham Dubey took control. Dubey finished unbeaten on 31 off 12 balls, and together they steered RR to the finish line with four balls to spare. Ferreira’s 26-ball knock formed the backbone of the finishing burst, while Dubey ensured the pressure stayed firmly on PBKS.
Ferreira and Dubey combined for nine fours and five sixes, undoing much of the damage caused earlier by Yuzvendra Chahal. Chahal had produced a strong spell with figures of 3/36 in his four overs, giving PBKS a platform to defend the 223. Yet RR’s pursuit never truly stalled, and the momentum shifted further when Vaibhav Sooryavanshi made a rapid start—smashing 43 off 16 balls. Sooryavanshi’s assault included five sixes, among them a couple of flicked maximums off Arshdeep Singh and Lockie Ferguson, a burst that suggested RR would cruise through the chase.
Ultimately, the result delivered more than just two points for RR. The defeat snapped Punjab Kings’ unbeaten run in IPL 2026 and served as a timely reality check as the tournament moves into its most crucial phase, with every fixture now carrying extra weight for the teams chasing the business end of the season.
