Ahmedabad, April 5: In a nail-biting encounter of IPL 2026, Rajasthan Royals (RR) triumphed over Gujarat Titans (GT) by just 6 runs at the Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium on Saturday. Chasing a daunting target of 211 runs set by RR, GT managed to score 204 runs, losing 8 wickets in the process. This marks the second consecutive victory for Rajasthan Royals this season.
Gujarat Titans had a strong start in their chase, with Kumar Kushagra and Sai Sudharsan putting up a solid partnership of 78 runs for the first wicket in just 7.6 overs. Kushagra scored 18 runs, while Sudharsan was in excellent form, scoring a powerful 73 runs off 44 balls, including 9 fours and 3 sixes. However, Jos Buttler could not capitalize on a good start, getting out for 26 runs off 14 balls. Glenn Phillips managed only 3 runs before being dismissed, and Washington Sundar scored just 4 runs. Rahul Tewatia and Shahrukh Khan contributed 12 and 11 runs respectively.
In the final overs, Rashid Khan and Kagiso Rabada put up a quick partnership of 43 runs off 30 balls, but it was not enough to secure a win for GT. Rashid scored 24 runs off 16 balls, while Rabada remained unbeaten with 23 runs off 16 balls. The last two overs saw impressive bowling from Jofra Archer and Tushar Deshpande. Ravi Bishnoi was the standout bowler for Rajasthan Royals, claiming 4 wickets for 41 runs in his 4 overs, while Nandre Burger and Tushar Deshpande took one wicket each.
Earlier, Rajasthan Royals won the toss and opted to bat first. They had a strong start, with Yashasvi Jaiswal and Vaibhav Surya putting together a partnership of 70 runs for the first wicket in 6.2 overs. Vaibhav scored 31 runs off 18 balls, hitting 5 fours and a six, while Yashasvi contributed a solid 55 runs off 36 balls.
Dhruv Jurel, batting at number three, showcased his form with an outstanding innings of 75 runs off 42 balls, including 5 fours and 5 sixes. He formed a crucial partnership of 56 runs with Yashasvi. Shimron Hetmyer added 18 runs off 8 balls, but captain Riyan Parag struggled, scoring only 8 runs. Ravindra Jadeja remained not out with 7 runs as Rajasthan Royals finished their innings at 210 runs for the loss of 6 wickets. Kagiso Rabada was the top bowler for Gujarat Titans, taking 2 wickets.
This victory marks Rajasthan Royals’ second consecutive win, while Gujarat Titans face their second straight defeat this season.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.