Rajasthan Royals are showing their best form at the exact right moment in IPL 2026, sealing a spot in Qualifier 2 following a convincing win over Sunrisers Hyderabad. The franchise’s campaign had a rocky middle phase after a bright start, but they found their rhythm when it mattered most to force their way into the playoffs. A late surge, powered by two key contributors—Vaibhav Sooryavanshi with the bat and Jofra Archer with the ball—did the heavy lifting.
Quick facts
- Rajasthan Royals qualified for Qualifier 2 after beating Sunrisers Hyderabad.
- Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is leading the Orange Cap charts with 680 runs in 15 matches.
- Sooryavanshi averages 45.33 and has a strike rate of 242.85.
- Jofra Archer has 24 wickets and remains in the hunt for the Purple Cap.
- Archer said RR are moving in the right direction but stressed the need for consistency in the business end of the tournament.
- Archer compared RR’s approach to avoiding a mid-season collapse like Punjab Kings’ earlier downturn.
Sooryavanshi has been the engine behind Rajasthan’s batting throughout the season. The 15-year-old has repeatedly delivered aggressive starts, often taking charge early and then absorbing pressure when responsibility grows. With those performances, he currently tops the Orange Cap standings, amassing 680 runs across 15 matches at an average of 45.33. His strike rate of 242.85 underlines how consistently he turns momentum into scoreboard pressure, making RR one of the tournament’s most threatening batting sides.
While Sooryavanshi has provided the spark, Archer has driven the bowling unit with impact in the most important phases. He has taken 24 wickets and is still very much in contention for the Purple Cap. Just as crucial as wicket-taking is the timing of those breakthroughs, and Archer’s ability to strike when matches begin to tilt has been a major factor in Rajasthan’s turnaround.
Those two performances helped Rajasthan edge past Punjab Kings in the playoff race. Punjab Kings had looked well set early on, registering six victories and even managing a draw in their opening seven outings. However, a six-match losing streak changed the trajectory of their campaign, and the collapse created an opening that Rajasthan were quick to exploit.
Archer on momentum and staying consistent
After guiding RR into Qualifier 2, Archer reflected on the team’s trajectory and insisted the squad is heading the right way. He also underlined that reaching the final stages of the tournament requires consistent execution, not just short bursts of brilliance. Archer pointed to Punjab Kings’ earlier downfall, suggesting Rajasthan have avoided a similar spiral at the most critical point of their push for the playoffs.
“Every game at a time,” Archer said. “I think we’re going in the right direction at the right time. We don’t want what happened to Kings XI (Punjab Kings) to happen to us. So I think we’re on the right path—everyone chipping in every game, and that’s the important part.”
Archer was then asked about Sooryavanshi’s role after the teenager’s stunning display against Sunrisers Hyderabad. He praised the way Sooryavanshi’s explosive batting simplifies the task for the bowling group, arguing that early dominance gives RR a bigger buffer to defend. Archer’s point was straightforward: when the batter at the top keeps producing runs, the total becomes harder for opponents to chase.
“It was very exciting, you know. The more runs he scores, the more runs we have to defend,” Archer added. “So, you know, he can go on and get 150. So it’s good for the bowlers when he gets a lot of runs.”
In a lighter moment, Archer was also questioned about whether he bowls to Sooryavanshi during net sessions. He responded with a smile, saying it happens “sometimes,” but he refused to spell out any details about how he plans to challenge the teenager in training. Archer concluded by keeping the strategy under wraps, saying, “I’ll tell you after the IPL.”
