Donovan Ferreira's audacious stroke-play handed Punjab Kings the bitter pill of defeat for the first time in this edition of IPL as Rajasthan Royals cantered home by six wicket. 

Chasing a target of 223, Rajasthan Royals needed 71 off the last six overs when Ferreira smashed his way to an unbeaten 52 off 26 balls in company of an unheralded Shubham Dubey (31 not out off 12 balls) to clinch the victory with four balls to spare. Ferreira was brilliant while picking his areas as PBKS troika of Arshdeep Singh (1/68 in 4 overs), Lockie Ferguson (0/57 in 4 overs) and Marco Jansen (0/41 in 3.2 overs) would like to forget this day in a hurry. 

Between Ferreira and Dubey, they hit nine fours and five sixes as they undid all the good work done by Yuzvendra Chahal (3/36 in 4 overs). The manner in which Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (43 off 16 balls) started with a deluge of sixes -- five -- including a couple of flicked maximums off Arshdeep Singh and Lockie Ferguson, it seemed RR would make a meal of the chase.

Punjab Kings lose for the first time as Rajasthan Royals complete a sensational run chase. Chahal brought PBKS back into the game with 3 wickets but Donovan Ferreira and Shubham Dubey just smashed their way to victory. A six-wicket win for RR and this can be crucial to the playoffs race.

Donovan Ferreira and Shubham Dubey are in stunning form! They are taking this PBKS bowling attack apart and they have absolutely no answer. This partnership added 70 runs off just 30 balls and this will be a special win for them.

RR 221/4 (19 overs)

Lockie Ferguson has looked really out of sorts and he has been a weak link for the side. The team needed wickets for him but Ferreira completely took him apart. This is RR's game to lose now.

RR 188/4 (17 overs)

Shubham Dubey is the Impact Sub for RR and along with Donovan Ferreira, he has already added 29 runs in this partnership. These two are crucial in this run chase as they look set and if they do not lose any more wickets, this can be an easy run chase.

RR 179/4 (15.5 overs)

Another wicket for Yuzvendra Chahal and it is Riyan Parag who departs! He tried to go for yet another big shot but is caught in the deep! This is massive in the context of the game!

RR 151/4 (15 overs)

Riyan Parag and Donovan Ferreira are looking in good touch and if RR want to win this game, these two batters will have to play a major role. A couple of boundaries but the required run rate is also creeping up.

RR 137/3 (12.4 overs)

Yuzvendra Chahal strikes and this is a huge wicket in the context of the match. Dhruv Jurel completely miscued the shot off a full-toss from Yuzvendra Chahal and was caught in the deep. He looked dangerous along with Yashasvi Jaiswal but this wicket certainly brings RR back into the game.

RR 105/2 (9.3 overs)

A massively productive powerplay for Rajasthan Royals. In a chase like tonight, they always needed a good start and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi provided it. Yashasvi Jaiswal and Dhruv Jurel are looking in good touch as well and that can make sure that the momentum remains with them.

RR 84/1 (6.1 overs)

Yashasvi Jaiswal is adamant to not let the run rate suffer and he is continuing to play his natural game. A boundary off Lockie Ferguson and this has been a brilliant powerplay for RR. What more can they want?

RR 72/1 (5.5 overs)

Sooryavanshi ended up hitting 5 sixes in his innings but falls just short of his 100th T20 six. A low full-toss from Arshdeep Singh and the youngster completely miscued his shot. It went high up in the air and Shreyas Iyer took the all important catch.

RR 51/1 (3.4 overs)

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is off to a brilliant start! 3 fours and 3 sixes for him and the 15-year-old rushes to 30 off just 10 balls. Arshdeep Singh and Lockie Ferguson are left completely stunned!

RR 32/0 (2 overs)

4, 6, 6, 4, 4 - Marcus Stoinis storm hits IPL 2026 and Punjab Kings have scored 222 in 20 overs! Stoinis with an unbeaten 62 off just 22 deliveries and this has been the perfect end to the innings for the hosts. They had the momentum after Prabhsimran's fifty and this is going to be tough for Rajasthan Royals.

A big wicket as Nandre Burger dismisses Shreyas Iyer. But there is no stopping Marcus Stoinis. Two consecutive sixes off Jofra Archer and it is game on! The Australia all-rounder has looked in stunning form and he will be looking to take the total past 220.

PBKS 198/4 (19 overs)

There were some dot balls in the Brijesh Sharma over but the PBKS batters are now looking to hit big. Nandre Burger into the attack and Marcus Stoinis welcomes him with a six and a four. Continuous attack and PBKS are clearly targeting a total between 200 and 220.

PBKS 174/3 (17.2 overs)

Yash Raj Punja and Ravindra Jadeja both completed their quotas and spin has been quite effective on this surface. Marcus Stoinis and Shreyas Iyer did find some boundaries but the tactic was able to keep PBKS run rate within control and a lot will depend on how they can finish this innings.

PBKS 160/3 (16 overs)

Yash Raj Punja has done it again! Slower delivery from the spinner and Prabhsimran did not connect properly at well. The ball went high up in the air and Riyan Parag had no difficulty in completing the catch.

PBKS 145/3 (14.1 overs)

Half-century for Prabhsimran Singh and his brilliant run of form continues. A knock full on impressive boundaries and it will crucial for his side that he stays till the end of the innings and guide them to a huge total.

PBKS 131/2 (12.2 overs)

Jofra Archer back into the attack but Prabhsimran Singh was ready for the challenge. Two boundaries and the threat is completely nullified. This has been a solid knock from the wicket-keeper batter and he has shown amazing temperament till now.

PBKS 118/2 (11 overs)

Big wicket for Punjab Kings and Yash Raj Punja provides the breakthrough. Cooper Connolly did not connect properly at all and was caught in the deep. Out comes Shreyas Iyer and a lot will depend on the Punjab Kings captain.

PBKS 101/2 (9 overs)

The spinner are just not working for RR. 15 runs off the first over from Ravindra Jadeja. Prabhsimran Singh and Cooper Connolly are going steady and a four and six for Connolly means that the run rate is still quite healthy.

PBKS 95/1 (8 overs)

Archer vs Priyansh Arya in IPL 

2 innings 

6 balls

8 runs 

2 dismissals

6,6 - Cooper Connolly welcomed Yash Raj Punja with two huge sixes and Rajasthan Royals are once again in a spot of bother. They found their way back into the match but Prabhsimran Singh took a special liking to Nandre Burger as he slammed a couple of boundaries in the previous over.

PBKS 80/1 (6.5 overs) 

A tidy over from Brijesh Sharma and the run rate has suffered a bit. However, this has already been a good powerplay for them thanks to the start from Priyansh Arya and the steady attack from Prabhsimran Singh.

PBKS 52/1 (5 overs)

Punjab Kings have lost an early wicket but Prabhsimran Singh is not bothered. He continued to play his natural game against Nandre Burger and slammed two boundaries to provide some relief to his side. This is brilliant approach from the in-form batter.

PBKS 48/1 (4 overs)

An outside edge that flew past the keeper, a wasted review, a dropped catch in slips - everything was going in Priyansh Arya's way. However, luck finally ran out for the youngster as he completely miscued a shot off Jofra Archer and Nandre Burger completed an easy catch. Finally some respite for Rajasthan Royals.

PBKS 37/1 (3 overs)

2, 4, 6, 4, 4, 1 - The Priyansh Arya show hits IPL 2026 and this is some amazing level of batting. Nandre Burger had no idea how to counter the attack and Punjab Kings are off to a stunner. This is not looking good for Rajasthan Royals.

PBKS 29/0 (2 overs)

A fiery start for Jofra Archer but Prabhsimran Singh was up to the task. A leg bye for four down the leg side and a confident boundary over point and this is already a confident start for Punjab Kings. 

PBKS 8/0 (1 over)

Jofra Archer to begin proceedings for Rajasthan Royals while Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh will open the batting for Punjab Kings.

Prabhsimran Singh(w), Priyansh Arya, Shreyas Iyer(c), Cooper Connolly, Suryansh Shedge, Nehal Wadhera, Marcus Stoinis, Marco Jansen, Lockie Ferguson, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal

Rajasthan Royals skipper Riyan Parag won the toss and opted to field. An expected decision from the RR skipper but the big news is there will be no Shimron Hetmyer in the playing XI.

Shreyas Iyer and Riyan Parag are out in the middle and it is time for the toss in New Chandigarh.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is just 6 sixes away from 100 sixes in T20 cricket and he has a very good chance of becoming the youngest batter to achieve this feat. The record currently belongs to West Indies legend Kieron Pollard.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel, Riyan Parag, Shimron Hetmyer, Donovan Ferreira, Ravindra Jadeja, Jofra Archer, Nandre Burger, Tushar Deshpande, Brijesh Sharma

It has been a topsy turvy season for India pacer Arshdeep Singh. Although Punjab Kings have not lost a single game till now, his performances have not been consistent. He did bounce back with a few wickets but his side will be looking at him to provide some major breakthroughs early in the game.

Prabhsimran Singh, Priyansh Arya, Cooper Connolly, Shreyas Iyer, Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Xavier Bartlett, Marco Jansen, Vijaykumar Vyshakh, Yuzvendra Chahal

Rajasthan Royals hold a 17-13 advantage over Punjab Kings in head-to-head and at this venue, they have won both the matches. However, since 2022, Royals hold a narrow 4-3 lead.

279 runs in 7 matches at an average of 69.75 and strike rate of  186.00 - Shreyas Iyer has truly led the Punjab Kings side by example. The star India batter may have demoted himself to No. 4 but his numbers have been crucial for his team and he has slowly turned himself in to a bonafide 'chasemaster'.

All eyes on Vaibhav Sooryavanshi once again after the youngster slammed a brilliant 36-ball century in the previous match against Sunrisers Hyderabad. It has been a campaign to remember for the youngster in IPL 2026 and he will be raring to go against the Punjab Kings bowling attack.

Hello and welcome to our live blog of the IPL 2026 clash between Punjab Kings and Rajasthan Royals. Unbeaten so far this season after seven matches, including one washout, PBKS will aim for a win in their final home game at Mullanpur this season. The Shreyas Iyer-led side will play their remaining home games in Dharamsala.