Friday night at Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati turned into a statement win as Rajasthan Royals dismantled Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s total of 201. The headline-maker was 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who played a starring role in the demolition of the defending champions’ hopes.
For all the talk about batting, the match was tilted well before the chase took shape. RR’s bowlers, led by Jofra Archer and Ravi Bishnoi, struck twice each, and the early help from the weather made life uncomfortable for RCB from the start.
At a glance
- Venue: Barsapara Stadium, Guwahati
- Match: Rajasthan Royals vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru
- RCB posted 201, with Impact Sub Venkatesh Iyer contributing 29* off 15 balls
- RR bowlers: Jofra Archer and Ravi Bishnoi took 2 wickets each
- Sooryavanshi’s key knock: 15-ball fifty (second time this season)
- Sooryavanshi’s dismissal: Krunal Pandya removed him for 26-ball 78
- RR chase highlight: Dhruv Jurel 80* off 43
- Result: RR won comfortably
- Season note: RR are unbeaten in their first four matches; alongside Punjab Kings, they are the only two sides yet to lose
Rain in the lead-up had left the surface bowler-friendly, especially for the faster options. From the opening over, it was evident the pitch offered swing and seam, and RR’s early pressure was felt immediately, with Nandre Burger in particular struggling to settle.
RCB’s batting never truly found its rhythm, even with a world-class operator like Virat Kohli at the top. Kohli tried to force the issue with too many aggressive swings, and while it worked briefly, Ravi Bishnoi struck at the right moment to remove him.
Patidar steadies, then Iyer pushes
Rajat Patidar stood out as the lone steady presence in RCB’s XI. On a difficult wicket, he played cautiously for much of his knock, finishing with 63 off 40 balls, yet ensured he punished any loose delivery that came his way.
Impact Sub Venkatesh Iyer provided the late impetus, remaining unbeaten on 29 from 15 balls as RCB crossed the 200-mark. By then, the pitch had eased compared to the early overs, but even so, it looked increasingly unlikely that RR would be caught—given the batting depth in their lineup, particularly Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sooryavanshi.
The worrying part for RCB was simple: they appeared to be at least 30 runs short of a truly match-winning target. Once the chase began, that gap quickly turned into a reality rather than a theory.
Sooryavanshi ends it with precision
Jaiswal offered little resistance and fell to Josh Hazlewood early on, but the youngster from Bihar—Sooryavanshi—did not. He struck for a fifty off just 15 balls for the second time this season, and it underlined a clear pattern: he knew exactly which balls to attack and which deliveries to leave or defend.
Hazlewood, who was playing his first match of the season, along with Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Abhinandan Singh, all found themselves on the receiving end of a disciplined barrage. Sooryavanshi’s awareness of the game’s tempo meant RCB’s bowlers were always one step behind.
Krunal Pandya finally broke the partnership by removing him for 78 off 26 balls, but by then the match was effectively decided. RCB did manage a short-lived comeback—Krunal and Hazlewood combined to bring Riyan Parag’s dismissal (Parag was caught by Pandya), while the chase momentarily tightened.
Still, RR were never in serious danger. With a run-a-ball required rate, teams rarely unravel in the IPL, and the pitch had become placid enough to make any chase-control mistakes hard to punish.
Jurel closes it out
Dhruv Jurel’s calm presence proved decisive in the final phase. He finished unbeaten on 80 off 43 balls, anchoring the chase and ensuring RR crossed the line with ease.
Forget any brief wobble—this was a comfortable win for Rajasthan Royals, firmly built on their bowling effort. It marked RR’s fourth victory in as many games, and they join Punjab Kings as the only two teams in the season still to taste defeat.
