Jurel scores the winning runs
With two overs remaining, he finishes 80 not out off 42 balls as the Royals chase down 202. Jurel's best T20 score to date is this one. Despite a brief flutter, Jadeja and Jurel had calmly observed this house, thus there were ultimately no alarms for them.Apr 10, 2026, 11:36 PM
Apr 10, 2026, 11:23 PM
When Jadeja got a thick inside edge off Krunal Pandya to the fine leg boundary, 1 RR ended a 24-ball boundary drought. With seven overs left, Krunal has single-handedly contributed to bringing the asking rate down to seven per over.
Apr 10, 2026, 11:16 PM
Apr 10, 2026, 10:59 PM
97 is the season's highest powerplay score to date. Royals are definitely on their way. The cost of Abhinandan Singh's two overs is forty.
Apr 10, 2026, 10:52 PM
Jurel continues to march
Dhruv Jurel took 25 balls to reach his second half-century of the year. RR is on course.Apr 10, 2026, 11:23 PM
RCB since the beginning of the ninth
W W 1 1 0 1 1 0 1 W 2 1 2 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 2 0 1 4 1 2 1 0 1When Jadeja got a thick inside edge off Krunal Pandya to the fine leg boundary, 1 RR ended a 24-ball boundary drought. With seven overs left, Krunal has single-handedly contributed to bringing the asking rate down to seven per over.
Apr 10, 2026, 11:16 PM
Though a little late, Krunal strikes?
Shimron Hetmyer gently deflects the ball to short third, seemingly practicing catching, after Sooryavanshi flat-bats him to long-on first. After that, Riyan Parag stops the hat-trick, but RR is well on their way to victory. 132/3 after nine overs. With eleven overs left, the asking rate is less than seven per over.Apr 10, 2026, 10:59 PM
Jurel responds, "I'm in it too"
4 6 4 0 6 497 is the season's highest powerplay score to date. Royals are definitely on their way. The cost of Abhinandan Singh's two overs is forty.
Apr 10, 2026, 10:52 PM
One more evening, one more Sooryavanshi fifty
And he's done it once more, hitting back-to-back sixes off Bhuvneshwar Kumar to reach a 15-ball half-century, matching the record he established against CSK. |
| Can anyone stop Sooryavanshi? |
The first, a cross-batted bludgeon over long-on, is vicious. The second isn't nearly as impressive; he commits to the pull, the ball climbs on him, and he gets a top edge, but it still goes past deep backward square. After settling under it, Phil Salt discovers he's over the ropes.
73/1 in 5 overs for the Royals
Apr 10, 2026, 10:47 PM
Hazlewood vs Sooryavanshi
0 1 4 4 4 6There are no awards for figuring out who is setting boundaries and who is nudging the singles.
Apr 10, 2026, 10:44 PM
The costly beginning of Abhinandan
Sooryavanshi finishes with a Jayasuriya-like whip over square leg for six after plundering 16 in the over. After just three overs, RR is up and running with 37 for 1. It's already evident that Sooryavanshi isn't making any changes. He is using the only strategy he is aware of to defeat them.Apr 10, 2026, 10:41 PM
He goes cross-seam into the pitch after being dismissed for two sixes, and Yashasvi Jaiswal nicks off to Jitesh Sharma behind the stumps. It's interesting to see that five of the six deliveries were one length short.
In two overs, RR 21/1
Apr 10, 2026, 10:34 PM
After a few swishes, he lofts the final ball over cover-point for another boundary to end the over in style.
After the first over, RR 9 for 0
Apr 10, 2026, 10:19 PM
They receive precisely that. In the last over, Venkatesh Iyer rips 20 runs off Sandeep Sharma, finishing with a massive six over long-off.
The game is on as RCB rises to 201.
Apr 10, 2026, 10:02 PM
Apr 10, 2026, 9:54 PM
He has quickly reached 50 off 35 after three overs.
And his confidence in making strokes is one of the factors contributing to this increase. It was evident in the two sixes he smashed off Burger in the fifteenth. The blockbuster was the jump back to whip a short ball intended at his ribs over deep square leg, but a graceful extension of his arms to loft one neatly over long-off set down the marker.
Apr 10, 2026, 9:47 PM
Suyash Sharma was obviously RCB's initial Impact Player plan, but a batting collapse—they're 125 for 7 in 14 overs—makes a reconsideration necessary. They require runs.
Venky joins his MP teammate and close buddy Patidar in the middle after being drafted in as batting insurance. Shepherd top-edged a slog off Jadeja to short fine leg, which is why he is in the middle.
Apr 10, 2026, 9:43 PM
Apr 10, 2026, 9:27 PM
Brijesh Sharma, then, is who?
He's no spring chicken at 27. He was from Udhampur and was determined to advance in J&K. On the advice of his state senior, Vivrant Sharma (who briefly played for Sunrisers Hyderabad), he relocated to Delhi to train at the Unique Sports Club when cricket failed to advance him in his native state.
After that, he relocated east to Bengal, where he became well-known for taking 11 wickets in seven games for Sobisco Smashers Malda at the Bengal Pro T20.
Apr 10, 2026, 9:05 PM
In his first, he botched a slog sweep and almost had Patidar lbw, but the angle saved him. However, if Bishnoi had been informed that he would get Kohli a few balls later, he would have accepted that. It's a jewel, too. Completely tricked and bowled, it was tossed up, exquisitely disguised in the air, gliding in before dropping late as Kohli swung through.
Hetmyer pulls off a stunning shot after Krunal Pandya smacks one flat to long off in his second. Suddenly, the man who lost his spot to Digvesh Rathi at LSG the previous year is making apologies and emerging as one of the early favourites for bowling MVP.
With 73/4 in 8 overs, RCB needs a repair job.
Apr 10, 2026, 9:03 PM
Apr 10, 2026, 8:55 PM
Kohli skilfully carves two of the three boundaries between point and short third, taking advantage of Archer's pace. Even if Kohli could have been a little rushed, the other is dragged to fine leg.
Additionally, Archer has a second wicket after being picked away for the boundary. Padikkal mishandles a flick down towards long leg, where Shimron Hetmyer dives forward and makes a stunning catch.
RCB 45/2 in 3 overs; chaotic scenes in Guwahati.
Apr 10, 2026, 8:52 PM
Kohli unleashes his signature whip over square leg in between, and for good measure, there's an errant flurry of five wides.
After just two overs, RCB is humming at 32 for 1.
Apr 10, 2026, 8:41 PM
The first over is exciting. In addition to taking out Salt, Archer almost got Kohli off the final ball when he nicked a lifter past a diving Jurel. Just before that, Padikkal scored two boundaries: a lovely cut over backward point and a true outside edge past the slips.
W 0 4 4 1 4
Apr 10, 2026, 8:28 PM
Hazlegod has returned
And how!He goes cross-seam into the pitch after being dismissed for two sixes, and Yashasvi Jaiswal nicks off to Jitesh Sharma behind the stumps. It's interesting to see that five of the six deliveries were one length short.
In two overs, RR 21/1
Apr 10, 2026, 10:34 PM
Sooryavanshi quickly
Bhuvneshwar Kumar bends one back in late with a near-yorker as RCB tries to squeeze him for space. For some reason, Sooryavanshi shovels it back past the bowler for four after digging it out with the first delivery.After a few swishes, he lofts the final ball over cover-point for another boundary to end the over in style.
After the first over, RR 9 for 0
Apr 10, 2026, 10:19 PM
Venkatesh makes a 29* cameo
Only 14 were scored in the two overs that followed Patidar's expulsion (17 to 19), meaning that RCB would need a burst to surpass 200.They receive precisely that. In the last over, Venkatesh Iyer rips 20 runs off Sandeep Sharma, finishing with a massive six over long-off.
The game is on as RCB rises to 201.
Apr 10, 2026, 10:02 PM
The fireworks of Patidar
1 1 6 0 6 0 1 4 2 0 4 0 1 6 6 1 0 2Apr 10, 2026, 9:54 PM
#RaPa to save RCB
With wickets tumbling all around him, he was on 20 off 22.He has quickly reached 50 off 35 after three overs.
And his confidence in making strokes is one of the factors contributing to this increase. It was evident in the two sixes he smashed off Burger in the fifteenth. The blockbuster was the jump back to whip a short ball intended at his ribs over deep square leg, but a graceful extension of his arms to loft one neatly over long-off set down the marker.
Apr 10, 2026, 9:47 PM
RCB's Impact Player is activated
On his RCB debut, Venkatesh Iyer enters a full-blown crisis. Devdutt Padikkal has been replaced by him.Suyash Sharma was obviously RCB's initial Impact Player plan, but a batting collapse—they're 125 for 7 in 14 overs—makes a reconsideration necessary. They require runs.
Venky joins his MP teammate and close buddy Patidar in the middle after being drafted in as batting insurance. Shepherd top-edged a slog off Jadeja to short fine leg, which is why he is in the middle.
Apr 10, 2026, 9:43 PM
Time for Romario
Romario Shepherd lofts Bishnoi cleanly over long-off in the 12th over, marking the first six of RCB's innings. Amazingly, it's off the first ball he encounters.Apr 10, 2026, 9:27 PM
RCB is still collapsing
In his first, he catches Jitesh Sharma leg before wicket with a delivery that skids low, and in his second, he has Tim David hurl a slower-length ball down long-on's throat. The RCB is in serious trouble. 11 overs and 94/6.Brijesh Sharma, then, is who?
He's no spring chicken at 27. He was from Udhampur and was determined to advance in J&K. On the advice of his state senior, Vivrant Sharma (who briefly played for Sunrisers Hyderabad), he relocated to Delhi to train at the Unique Sports Club when cricket failed to advance him in his native state.
After that, he relocated east to Bengal, where he became well-known for taking 11 wickets in seven games for Sobisco Smashers Malda at the Bengal Pro T20.
Apr 10, 2026, 9:05 PM
RCB is in peril after Bishnoi's double
Two massive strikes in two overs.In his first, he botched a slog sweep and almost had Patidar lbw, but the angle saved him. However, if Bishnoi had been informed that he would get Kohli a few balls later, he would have accepted that. It's a jewel, too. Completely tricked and bowled, it was tossed up, exquisitely disguised in the air, gliding in before dropping late as Kohli swung through.
Hetmyer pulls off a stunning shot after Krunal Pandya smacks one flat to long off in his second. Suddenly, the man who lost his spot to Digvesh Rathi at LSG the previous year is making apologies and emerging as one of the early favourites for bowling MVP.
With 73/4 in 8 overs, RCB needs a repair job.
Apr 10, 2026, 9:03 PM
Kohli makes fun of Sandeep
Prior to this match, Sandeep Sharma had dismissed Kohli seven times in eighteen innings. During this time, Kohli struck Sandeep for 132 runs at a 150 strike rate. It seemed inevitable that the two would engage in another new-ball duel during the powerplay, and Kohli has decisively won the opening exchange by hitting him for two commanding boundaries, one hammered sumptuously through extra cover and the other lofted imperiously over mid-off.Apr 10, 2026, 8:55 PM
After Kohli's burst, Archer retaliates
4 0 4 4 1 WKohli skilfully carves two of the three boundaries between point and short third, taking advantage of Archer's pace. Even if Kohli could have been a little rushed, the other is dragged to fine leg.
Additionally, Archer has a second wicket after being picked away for the boundary. Padikkal mishandles a flick down towards long leg, where Shimron Hetmyer dives forward and makes a stunning catch.
RCB 45/2 in 3 overs; chaotic scenes in Guwahati.
Apr 10, 2026, 8:52 PM
Burger's bad luck
Kohli has already received two terrific jaffas from Nandre Burger. He might have had him twice on a different night. While the second sneaks past the inside edge and swings violently, avoiding even a full-length dive from Jurel to flee for four byes, the first pulls him into a push and zips past the outside edge.Kohli unleashes his signature whip over square leg in between, and for good measure, there's an errant flurry of five wides.
After just two overs, RCB is humming at 32 for 1.
Apr 10, 2026, 8:41 PM
Salt vs Archer
RCB's powerplay enforcer can only be defeated by a violent, howling bouncer. Before Phil Salt can even get out of the way, the ball goes off his glove and loops sweetly to Dhruv Jurel, who makes a straightforward catch behind the stumps. There isn't much Salt could have done; sometimes all you need to do is take off your hat and appreciate an outstanding performance.The first over is exciting. In addition to taking out Salt, Archer almost got Kohli off the final ball when he nicked a lifter past a diving Jurel. Just before that, Padikkal scored two boundaries: a lovely cut over backward point and a true outside edge past the slips.
W 0 4 4 1 4
Apr 10, 2026, 8:28 PM
Update:
We'll begin at 8:40 p.m. if there isn't any more rain.Apr 10, 2026, 7:56 PM
As the toss was almost over, large drops of rain started to fall again, and the ground crew quickly put the covers back on. For the record, in Guwahati's final IPL 2026 match between two unaltered teams, Rajasthan Royals chose to bowl first against RCB after Riyan Parag won the toss.
One of the reasons Parag made this choice was because of rain and wetness on what should have been a dry surface. In their bowl-first XI, the Royals substituted fellow-seamer Brijesh Sharma for Tushar Deshpande, with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi expected to be the Impact Player.
Josh Hazlewood's return to RCB was confirmed by Rajat Patidar after he recovered quickly and received fitness clearance from Cricket Australia. Jacob Duffy, who did incredibly well in the last two games, will therefore have to make room.
"We want to play smart cricket, and we've been clinical since the tournament began. "I hope we continue to evaluate and adjust," Parag remarked. "We need to perform; all three games are over. We'll lose two points if we don't."
After two fantastic home victories at the Chinnaswamy to start the season, this is RCB's first road game. They won all seven of their "away" games last year to go to the final, where they defeated Punjab Kings to win the championship for the first time.
Rajasthan Royals (Playing XI): Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Riyan Parag (capt), Shimron Hetmyer, Donovan Ferreira, Ravindra Jadeja, Jofra Archer, Nandre Burger, Sandeep Sharma, Ravi Bishnoi, Brijesh Sharma
Impact subs: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Ravi Singh, Shubham Dubey, Tushar Deshpande
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (Playing XI): Virat Kohli, Philip Salt, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar (capt), Jitesh Sharma (wk), Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Abhinandan Singh, Josh Hazlewood
Impact Subs: Suyash Sharma, Jacob Bethell, Rasikh Salam Dar, Kanishk Chouhan, Venkatesh Iyer
Apr 10, 2026, 7:41 PM
Apr 10, 2026, 7:37 PM
Apr 10, 2026, 7:35 PM
Apr 10, 2026, 7:10 PM
Apr 10, 2026, 6:50 PM
Apr 10, 2026, 6:46 PM
Apr 10, 2026, 6:13 PM
Apr 10, 2026, 5:44 PM
Apr 10, 2026, 5:06 PM
Guwahati is experiencing rain
The center has bad news: Guwahati is experiencing a lot of rain. The Rajasthan Royals vs. Mumbai Indians match was cut to 11 overs each side earlier this week. Let's hope for the best.
Apr 10, 2026, 4:49 PM
Rajasthan Royals (likely XII): 1 Yashasvi Jaiswal, 2 Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, 3 Dhruv Jurel (wk), 4 Riyan Parag (capt), 5 Shimron Hetmyer, 6 Donovan Ferreira, 7 Ravindra Jadeja, 8 Jofra Archer, 9 Sandeep Sharma, 10 Nandre Burger, 11 Tushar Deshpande, 12 Ravi Bishnoi
Hazlewood is still a long way from being a starter because he is still recovering to full health. RCB's only other choice is whether to stick with Abhinandan Singh, which appears likely. However, Rasikh Dar and Mangesh Yadav are two good choices if they decide to make a change.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (likely XII): 1 Virat Kohli, 2 Phil Salt, 3 Devdutt Padikkal, 4 Rajat Patidar (capt), 5 Tim David, 6 Jitesh Sharma (wk), 7 Romario Shepherd, 8 Krunal Pandya, 9 Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 10 Jacob Duffy, 11 Abhinandan Singh, 12 Suyash Sharma
Apr 10, 2026, 4:24 PM
Devdutt Padikkal has equalled Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's box office attraction with a high-tempo appearance and pure strokeplay at No. 3. Rajat Patidar's incredible six-hitting has mimicked the authority of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Dhruv Jurel at the top, while Jacob Duffy's unrelenting hard lengths have echoed Nandre Burger's pace and late swing. And that's not even include Virat Kohli, a constant force at the top whose changing style has now continued for a third consecutive season.
Anticipating the major confrontation
Rajasthan Royals choose to bowl against Bengaluru's Royal ChallengersAs the toss was almost over, large drops of rain started to fall again, and the ground crew quickly put the covers back on. For the record, in Guwahati's final IPL 2026 match between two unaltered teams, Rajasthan Royals chose to bowl first against RCB after Riyan Parag won the toss.
One of the reasons Parag made this choice was because of rain and wetness on what should have been a dry surface. In their bowl-first XI, the Royals substituted fellow-seamer Brijesh Sharma for Tushar Deshpande, with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi expected to be the Impact Player.
Josh Hazlewood's return to RCB was confirmed by Rajat Patidar after he recovered quickly and received fitness clearance from Cricket Australia. Jacob Duffy, who did incredibly well in the last two games, will therefore have to make room.
"We want to play smart cricket, and we've been clinical since the tournament began. "I hope we continue to evaluate and adjust," Parag remarked. "We need to perform; all three games are over. We'll lose two points if we don't."
After two fantastic home victories at the Chinnaswamy to start the season, this is RCB's first road game. They won all seven of their "away" games last year to go to the final, where they defeated Punjab Kings to win the championship for the first time.
Rajasthan Royals (Playing XI): Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Riyan Parag (capt), Shimron Hetmyer, Donovan Ferreira, Ravindra Jadeja, Jofra Archer, Nandre Burger, Sandeep Sharma, Ravi Bishnoi, Brijesh Sharma
Impact subs: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Ravi Singh, Shubham Dubey, Tushar Deshpande
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (Playing XI): Virat Kohli, Philip Salt, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar (capt), Jitesh Sharma (wk), Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Abhinandan Singh, Josh Hazlewood
Impact Subs: Suyash Sharma, Jacob Bethell, Rasikh Salam Dar, Kanishk Chouhan, Venkatesh Iyer
Apr 10, 2026, 7:41 PM
Better news for RCB
Josh Hazlewood is getting warmed up. Whether he will start tonight is still up in the air. The indications are encouraging. We were informed earlier that he would be accessible starting in the middle of April. If he starts, we'll know in fifteen minutes.Apr 10, 2026, 7:37 PM
In additional reading
This is Jitesh Sharma talking to Ashish Pant about how working with Dinesh Karthik and changing his mindset improved his batting.Apr 10, 2026, 7:35 PM
Determined start time
The covers are starting to fall off. The Super Sopper is doing out its duties. Both teams' players have begun to warm up. There is some indication that the start time is 8.15 p.m. and the toss is at 8 p.m. entire game.Apr 10, 2026, 7:10 PM
The battle that made the wait worthwhile
We finally saw it after waiting for almost a year and wondering if it would happen at all for almost three more hours. And the wait was well worth it. On a wet night in Guwahati, Karthik Krishnaswamy engaged in a supernatural duel.Apr 10, 2026, 6:50 PM
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's creation
If you missed it previously, this month I visited Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's hometown to learn more about the origins of his incredible ascent. I discovered some amazing tales from people who had known him since he was six or seven years old. Additionally, Zubin Bharucha, his tutor, explains the subtleties of his approach and what makes it unique. Although it's a lengthy read, I'd like to know what about the 15-year-old caught your attention.Apr 10, 2026, 6:46 PM
It's raining again
The covers are the same. We anticipate a delay. Only the square has been covered thus far, but the pitter-patter is rather consistent. It's only a matter of time until more covers are added. It appears that this evening will be frustrating. How do forecasts change? The weather for today was clear from early afternoon last night. And yet here we are, anticipating delays.Apr 10, 2026, 6:13 PM
Pitch and conditions
Pitch is true, bounce is uniform, and strokeplay is encouraged. In their 11-over shootout against the Mumbai Indians (MI) on Tuesday, RR crushed 150 on the same surface. For batters, the mantra will essentially be the same: place the foot forward, flay the ball boldly. Around start time, the weather forecast also appears to be much better.Apr 10, 2026, 5:44 PM
Rain ceases, and the blankets begin to fall off
Good news, everyone. It's stopped raining. All other coverings have been taken off, but the center strip is still covered. A Super Sopper is operating.Apr 10, 2026, 5:06 PM
Guwahati is experiencing rain
The center has bad news: Guwahati is experiencing a lot of rain. The Rajasthan Royals vs. Mumbai Indians match was cut to 11 overs each side earlier this week. Let's hope for the best.
Apr 10, 2026, 4:49 PM
News about the team?
There are no injury concerns in RR's camp, so they are probably going to stay the same.Rajasthan Royals (likely XII): 1 Yashasvi Jaiswal, 2 Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, 3 Dhruv Jurel (wk), 4 Riyan Parag (capt), 5 Shimron Hetmyer, 6 Donovan Ferreira, 7 Ravindra Jadeja, 8 Jofra Archer, 9 Sandeep Sharma, 10 Nandre Burger, 11 Tushar Deshpande, 12 Ravi Bishnoi
Hazlewood is still a long way from being a starter because he is still recovering to full health. RCB's only other choice is whether to stick with Abhinandan Singh, which appears likely. However, Rasikh Dar and Mangesh Yadav are two good choices if they decide to make a change.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (likely XII): 1 Virat Kohli, 2 Phil Salt, 3 Devdutt Padikkal, 4 Rajat Patidar (capt), 5 Tim David, 6 Jitesh Sharma (wk), 7 Romario Shepherd, 8 Krunal Pandya, 9 Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 10 Jacob Duffy, 11 Abhinandan Singh, 12 Suyash Sharma
Apr 10, 2026, 4:24 PM
A match between two undefeated teams
The buzz surrounding Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the days preceding IPL 2026 focused on ownership, valuations, and their much-discussed owner transfers. But in a matter of weeks, attention has turned to these two teams' on-field exploits and the excitement they have generated. Their winning streak appears to be nearly coincidental.Devdutt Padikkal has equalled Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's box office attraction with a high-tempo appearance and pure strokeplay at No. 3. Rajat Patidar's incredible six-hitting has mimicked the authority of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Dhruv Jurel at the top, while Jacob Duffy's unrelenting hard lengths have echoed Nandre Burger's pace and late swing. And that's not even include Virat Kohli, a constant force at the top whose changing style has now continued for a third consecutive season.
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