Strive to remain in the top four
How fast the IPL's fortunes shift. The top four for the IPL 2026 playoffs were certain not too long ago. Catching up appeared difficult because Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Punjab Kings, Sunrisers Hyderabad, and Rajasthan Royals had set themselves apart from the rest of the group. However, they have caught up and are moving up the table quickly enough to cause anxiety in the current top four.
How fast the IPL's fortunes shift. The top four for the IPL 2026 playoffs were certain not too long ago. Catching up appeared difficult because Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Punjab Kings, Sunrisers Hyderabad, and Rajasthan Royals had set themselves apart from the rest of the group. However, they have caught up and are moving up the table quickly enough to cause anxiety in the current top four.
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| Rashid Khan effectively ended the game in the middle overs |
Fifth-place Gujarat Titans, who are at the top of their game, are among the main challengers. The fast bowling battery has been unrelenting, Washington Sundar and Rashid Khan have rediscovered form, and the top order has remained steady. They will play fourth-place RR, whose season-opening four-in-four feels like a faraway memory.
After ten games, GT and RR have the same record going into this match: six victories and four losses. However, the paths have diverged. RR has dropped three of its previous five games, while GT has won three consecutive. The game is important for both teams, but it is far more important for RR.
When they previously faced the Delhi Capitals on May 1, they were unable to defend 225 points. RR won't play again until May 16, following the GT match on May 9. By then, a lot would have changed in the points table, and if they lose to GT, they might find themselves under pressure to win games for the rest of the tournament.
Both GT's expansion and RR's inconsistent performance have been largely attributed to their bowling. Mohammed Siraj, Kagiso Rabada, and the GT quicks are on fire. Rashid has been able to do well in the middle overs since the two have bowled consistently during the power play in recent games.
The arrival of Jason Holder has also greatly benefited GT. Things might soon go apart for RR if Rabada and Siraj can break the Jai-Soorya partnership early and get into the precarious middle order.
However, RR has relied too much on Jofra Archer. He is the joint second-highest wicket-taker in this phase and has been reliable during the powerplay, but the others have not supported him. Tushar Deshpande, Brijesh Sharma, and Nandre Burger have all blown hot and cold. Ravindra Jadeja has only taken seven wickets in ten games, despite controlling the runs. RR has now let up more than 220 runs in three straight innings, two of which have been in Jaipur, which is concerning.
However, when these two teams faced off earlier in the season, RR prevailed over GT. With three wickets remaining and a target of 15 off 12, GT was unable to cross the finish line despite Archer and Deshpande dominating the next two overs.
GT's victory would move them from five to two in the standings; RR's victory would move them to two, and a significant victory might even propel them to the top.
May 9, 2026, 5:04 PM
News about the team and probable XIIs
Kwena Maphaka or Adam Milne could be brought in to address RR's burger issue. Dasun Shanaka, who has both bowling and batting options, might also take his spot. To increase the batting depth, RR may also decide to reinstate Shimron Hetmyer.
Rajasthan Royals (probable XII): 1 Yashasvi Jaiswal, 2 Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, 3 Dhruv Jurel (wk), 4 Riyan Parag (capt), 5 Donovan Ferreira, 6 Ravindra Jadeja, 7 Shubham Dubey, 8 Jofra Archer, 9 Ravi Bishnoi, 10 Nandre Burger/Dasun Shanaka, 11 Brijesh Sharma, 12 Tushar Deshpande
Nishant Sindhu made his debut for GT in the previous match, and they are unlikely to change a winning combination. Although he was successful in the previous games, Manav Suthar did go for 27 in the one over he bowled against PBKS. R Sai Kishore may have to wait his turn because he adds batting depth.
Gujarat Titans (probable XII): 1 Shubman Gill (capt), 2 Sai Sudharsan, 3 Jos Buttler (wk), 4 Nishant Sindhu, 5 Washington Sundar, 6 Jason Holder, 7 Rahul Tewatia, 8 Rashid Khan, 9 Manav Suthar, 10 Arshad Khan, 11 Kagiso Rabada, 12 Mohammed Siraj
May 9, 2026, 5:30 PM
Is Ashok Sharma going to be the next big thing?
The Gujarat Titans quick bowler, who has bowled some of the fastest deliveries this IPL, discusses how he's realising his aspirations of.
May 9, 2026, 6:06 PM
The Gujarat Titans quick bowler, who has bowled some of the fastest deliveries this IPL, discusses how he's realising his aspirations of.
May 9, 2026, 6:06 PM
RR will don unique pink jerseys.
Tonight is the Rajasthan Royals' #PinkPromise home game. RR has backed this distinctive "women's empowerment" programme for the past three seasons.
May 9, 2026, 6:14 PM
Tonight is the Rajasthan Royals' #PinkPromise home game. RR has backed this distinctive "women's empowerment" programme for the past three seasons.
May 9, 2026, 6:14 PM
Jaiswal will command RR instead of Parag.
The toss and team sheets are just around the corner. But with the floodlights on and players wandering around the field, there's a crucial question that needs to be answered: Will Riyan Parag play tonight? He could potentially lose out.
Before making a spectacular comeback with a 90 off 50 in their most recent game against the Delhi Capitals, form had abandoned him this season. His hitting was starting to pick up some steam, and if he does miss out, the Rajasthan Royals' middle order will be severely disrupted.
Here's the update: Yashasvi Jaiswal, the captain of the Rajasthan Royals, will, in fact, go to the toss tonight.
May 9, 2026, 6:46 PM
Jaiswal, the stand-in captain, bowls first and makes three changes for RR.
The Rajasthan Royals choose to bowl against the Gujarat Titans.
Yashasvi Jaiswal made his Rajasthan Royals captain debut in Jaipur while wearing all pink. He filled in for Riyan Parag, who sustained a hamstring injury during RR's most recent match against the Delhi Capitals. With Parag's 90 off 50 in the last game indicating an improvement in form for the captain, who may potentially be sidelined for a few games, the news is devastating for RR.
Particularly in Parag's absence, Shimron Hetmyer joins the team to support the RR batting lineup. Nandre Burger, who has played eleven games for RR this season with an economy rate of 10.33 and an average of 37.33, is also out of the starting lineup. In his second game of the season, Dasun Shanaka, an all-rounder from Sri Lanka, takes his place. Despite RR bowling first, Yash Raj Punja is their third change, keeping out Bishnoi, who is on the Impact Bench. During their chase, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will be their substitute and open.
The Gujarat Titans, on the other hand, mirrored their recent winning run with a more reliable eleven. They only made one change, on the impact bench, and Gill picked Prasidh Krishna as their likely substitute for the second innings at the toss. He will take Manav Suthar's place in the playing twelve if he plays. In the one over he bowled against the Punjab Kings in their most recent match, Suthar was dismissed for 27 runs.
Gujarat Titans are ranked fifth in the standings, while Rajasthan Royals are ranked fourth. Any team that wins will move up to the top two and make it easier for them to qualify for the playoffs.
RR bowling-first XI: Yashasvi Jaiswal (capt), 3 Dhruv Jurel (wk), Shimron Hetmyer, Donovan Ferreira, Ravindra Jadeja, Shubham Dubey, Dasun Shanaka, Jofra Archer, Brijesh Sharma, Tushar Deshpande, Yash Punja
RR bench: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Adam Milne, Ravi Singh, Ravi Bishnoi, Sushant Mishra
GT batting-first XI: Shubman Gill (capt), Sai Sudharsan, Jos Buttler (wk), Nishant Sindhu, Washington Sundar, Jason Holder, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Arshad Khan, Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj
GT bench: Prasidh Krishna, Glenn Phillips, Anuj Rawat, R Sai Kishore, Kumar Kushagra
May 9, 2026, 7:39 PM
In the first over, Archer loses awareness.
This IPL, Jofra Archer's performance against left-handers has been a contentious issue. Even though he has taken the second-most wickets in the powerplay this year, left-handers have somewhat undermined him. He enjoys angling the ball back of a length and away from the left-hander.
Sai Sudharsan slices it away towards deep backwards point first up. This angle isn't very effective against him. The large sails are too high over Sudharsan's helmet when the archer doubles down. In a lengthy over, it is the first of five extras. He oversteps by a significant amount, no-ball after this first wide, which is a marginal judgement; the ball may or may not have touched Gill's pads before sprinting off for five wides.
12 off the first two balls. Whoops.
It flies down the pads when Archer tries to swing it into the stumps again. At 142.9 kph, Archer tries to spear it into his pads, but after bowling another wide (14 off the first two balls), speed is useless.
With a strong swing, he ends the over and creates a half-chance when the ball bounces off Sudharsan's outside edge. It's time to move forward since it falls short of square leg. Jofra Archer breathes steam from his ears and overthrows the last ball of the over as well. Because RR's fielders are unprepared, the hitters slip by for a terrible single.
We are 18 for 0 off an 11-ball opening over after all that drama, people.
May 9, 2026, 7:46 PM
Deshpande becomes fuller after being shorter.
0 1 1 1w 4 0 1
Right now, Sai Sudharsan is masterfully handling the back-of-a-length. Tushar Deshpande, a yorker sorcerer, determines that the best approach to start this over is to knock it in on a hard length. I don't see why Deshpande isn't bowling fuller; aside from all the extras, Archer tried to, and we have good movement available.
Deshpande becomes more receptive to the notion as Sudharsan slaps him past the covers for a four. To finish this over, it goes full, then full again. When he can rely on the wicket, Sudharsan is among the most graceful left-handers around. He appears to be in good touch and is pouncing on top of the bounce, neutralising any swing that has come RR's way.
Deshpande adds another wide, which doesn't assist. After two overs, GT has maintained its composure and is still at 26 for 0.
May 9, 2026, 7:50 PM
In power play, poor lines allowed GT to escape.
0 1w 0 4 0 6 0
"Christmas has come early" is a cliché, particularly when it comes to sports. Brijesh is in for the third over, allowing Archer to cool off close to the boundary, but how else do you package these early lines from RR? He makes a four with a full on the pads after sliding another wide down leg.
Sudharsan is focused. Another slot ball outside off is shuttled over the deep midwicket ropes on the fifth ball of the over. He uses so much force in this shot that he flicks it with his head, bobbing down and then up. He could have been able to uncover this from so close to him if he had played it just beneath his eyes and moved his neck. People, you don't always have to remain still! (If your cricket instructor is observing you shadow bat, disregard this suggestion.)
GT quickly reached 37 for 0 in just three overs.
May 9, 2026, 7:53 PM
Archer's unwanted stat alert
11 Stats expert Sampath Bandarupalli has an early scoop for us: 11 balls is both the longest and joint-longest opening over in the IPL. Shamar Joseph's opening over, which lasted ten balls, was the previous longest.
May 9, 2026, 8:02 PM
When Archer comes back for the second over, Gill goes ballistic.
4 0 6 0 4 1
After a delayed return, Jofra Archer uses the new ball to bowl his second over. These balls aren't all that horrible, so you wonder if he questions why he bothered. Perhaps a bit full, searching for traces of swing. Gill, however, shows us that he is not satisfied with only observing from the sidelines by slashing Archer through covers before lofting him over in mid-off. Gill puts another shot over Archer's head because the best things usually happen in threes.
Archer is definitely not in the mood to laugh, so at least this isn't comedy.
Gujarat Titans are 67 for 0 after just five overs, and Gill is suddenly 22 off 11.
May 9, 2026, 8:12 PM
Gill chugs along following the power play.
Shubman Gill is one of the best accumulators in T20 cricket. The problem with making a mistake in your lines to him early is that. I don't mean this negatively; he has demonstrated that he can maintain a strike rate of 200 even when he goes large, particularly on flat tracks.
After the powerplay, Yash Raj Punja does a holding job in the seventh-over lull with a rather harmless over of legbreaks. Gill, meanwhile, has already raced through this innings with little danger. Even after the field has stretched out, he is confident that he can maintain the pace with a low-risk sweep, clearing short fine leg on the fifth ball of the over.
Gill is on 39 off 19 after seven overs, while GT is on 92 for 0 despite a comparatively quiet set of six deliveries.
May 9, 2026, 8:17 PM
2019 India vibes from Sudharsan-Gill
This GT batting order resembles India's ODI squad from around 2019. A world-class top three that is nearly always successful at the same time. After just thirty deliveries, Sai Sudharsan reaches his fifty, and he's done. How at ease he will be taking significant chances against the spinners is the crucial question. He should start smashing them even faster now, according to modern T20 reasoning. However, GT's batting wealth rapidly declines—at least in terms of form—beyond Buttler at No. 3, much like the 2019 India squad.
Gill and Sudharsan continue to play within their means. In any case, they've done well to get back into the running this season. In the chase, let's see if their top three are simply too strong for RR's top seven.
Still, a long way to go. From now on, Sudharsan is undoubtedly aiming for a much greater knock.
After nine overs, RR was 108 for 0, motoring away at 12 runs per over. Shubman Gill is around fifty years old. After taking a run off the last delivery, Gill receives therapy for a twitch in his feet.
May 9, 2026, 8:26 PM
GT openers compete to set an IPL record.
To demonstrate how successful these two openers are, Sampath Bandarupalli has another incredible statistic. In the IPL, Sai and Gill share a ninth-century stand, only surpassed by Kohli and ABD's ten-wicket stand
May 9, 2026, 8:30 PM
Jos Buttler's return home
Do you recall Jos Buttler wearing a Rajasthan Royals t-shirt? This mob from Jaipur definitely does. Before switching to GT last season, he played for RR for seven years in a row. Buttler walks out and leathers a wristy drive off his second delivery after Sudharsan has holed out to long-on off Yash Raj Punja.
Even though his running is slowed down by a recurring leg problem, Gill chooses to press the pedal as well. The GT hitters may have concluded that there isn't enough turn on this surface to cause them any trouble. Gill leathers another drive past the covers after sprinting down the field.
Hetmyer drops Gill as well, close to deep midwicket. Really quite the dolly. They are 136 for 1 after 12 overs, but GT won't care.
May 9, 2026, 8:34 PM
Shubman Gill is uncomfortable following an injury to his left foot.
At the end of the ninth over, Shubman Gill twitched something in his left foot. He staggered to the other end after going for a run, suggesting that he may have suffered a lower leg injury. The physiotherapist arrived to apply some magic spray. Gill has continued to play, although he has considerably slowed down when facing the spinners. For now, he keeps going. But how long he stays out there is still up in the air.
May 9, 2026, 8:35 PM
How did Buttler regain his form?
Most people agree that Buttler may have run out of rope while wearing an England jersey after his terrible performance at the most recent T20 World Cup. However, Buttler is more than just riding his luck here after narrowly avoiding a run-out opportunity off Punja. He is undoubtedly aiming for his shots here since he is aware that a foundation has been established. Watch this video as we analyse Buttler's transformation.
At the end of the thirteenth over, GT had reached 150 for just one wicket.
May 9, 2026, 8:39 PM
Buttler is hit by 13
Well, that was short-lived.
Buttler covers an improperly timed lofted drive. Near deep long-off, sliced to Ferreira. This was driven by Jadeja at an absolutely absurd 107.2 kph. delivered the ball quickly onto Buttler's bat and was rewarded.
With a swagger, he celebrates by pretending to stuff something into his pocket. Here, he has undoubtedly taken a significant wicket. RR is currently 150 for two.
May 9, 2026, 8:51 PM
As the death overs start, Archer hits his yorkers.
1w 6 1 2 1 1 1
Washington Sundar is adept at using creativity. He attempts a reverse scoop but fails. When he feels the need to accelerate the game, he makes these shots, either to throw a bowler off his line or to get it over deep fine leg because it is vacant. Most of the time, though, Sundar can simply do what he did against Archer, who comes back for his third over in the sixteenth.
Sundar simply lifts him off the ground and maintains the position on a lofted drive. Simple as you like. Archer has frequently bowled too full or too wide at the same moment. This time, it is not the same. However, as he demonstrates in the second half of this over, he is still a good bowler. He hits one to Gill exactly in the blockhole, followed by an even better one to Sundar. And lastly, one more to Gill.
May 9, 2026, 8:51 PM
As the death overs start, Archer hits his yorkers.
1w 6 1 2 1 1 1
Washington Sundar is adept at using creativity. He attempts a reverse scoop but fails. When he feels the need to accelerate the game, he makes these shots, either to throw a bowler off his line or to get it over deep fine leg because it is vacant. Most of the time, though, Sundar can simply do what he did against Archer, who comes back for his third over in the sixteenth.
Sundar simply lifts him off the ground and maintains the position on a lofted drive. Simple as you like. Archer has frequently bowled too full or too wide at the same moment. This time, it is not the same. However, as he demonstrates in the second half of this over, he is still a good bowler. He hits one to Gill exactly in the blockhole, followed by an even better one to Sundar. And lastly, one more to Gill.
stays in the middle of 140 clicks the entire time.
That's Archer for you. 0 for 46 from his three overs, and on a pancake-flat pitch, how he bowls his fourth over could still make all the difference for RR. After 16 overs, GT was 179 for 2.
May 9, 2026, 8:57 PM
Gill leaves for 84
In the final overs, Gill will not be present. or remove his helmet to score another century in the IPL.
Nevertheless, this is yet another significant blow to GT. Particularly since Sudharsan and Buttler fell in quick succession, he has kept the innings together. In an attempt to put this one behind him, he leaves for 84 off 44. However, the delivery is on the stumps, near the blockhole, and only takes a slight edge down to the fine leg.
What is your interpretation of this Gill innings? On the one hand, you have to give him credit for his impressive appearance at the crease and the number of runs he scored there. However, he significantly slowed down, particularly after a possible injury to his left foot. He may argue that it was a necessary risk given their lacklustre middle order, but GT's score is undoubtedly 15–20 behind due to the post-powerplay slowdown.
Halfway through the 17th over, GT are 185 for 3 in either scenario.
May 9, 2026, 9:04 PM
Deshpande devises the strategy against Holder
4 1 1w 1 0 0 1
A bowler's worst nightmare is Jason Holder. Because how are you going to bowl to him at all? Like everyone else, Tushar Deshpande enjoys his yorkers as much as our summertime ice cream. Holder is so tall that he can simply sit deep in his crease and drive it through the covers like it's just another Saturday shift. He bangs one in right near the wide marker.
Deshpande responds rationally, saying, "Get it right on the stumps." The ultimate utility player in a finisher's shoes, Holder digs it out and reaches the other end.
However, Sundar turns over the strike by digging out another yorker. But guess what? When Deshpande gets it right on the stumps, he's simply too good. Holder returns another flawless toe-crusher to the keeper. You can reach anywhere in the crease, but when it's going to take out your feet or stumps, there's not much you can do.
Deshpande started with the standard strategy, which is to keep it full and wide. He concluded with the Deshpande strategy, which is to repeatedly spear it into the stumps once you're proficient enough. In the 18th over, he concedes just eight runs. GT 204 for three.
May 9, 2026, 9:17 PM
The Great Slowdown or something similar
What an odd beginning, and undoubtedly an odd conclusion. In order to give up just four runs and dismiss Holder with a slower ball, Brijesh Sharma gave the 19th over his all by going full, attacking the stumps, and keeping it away. With a score of 208 for 4, GT appeared as though they might not even reach the 220-run threshold.
When Tushar Deshpande returned to finish the innings, he lost all of his lines. Rahul Tewatia was in the thick of things, slicing through the pitch to hit consecutive sixes. GT somehow huffed and puffed to... checks notes... 229 for 4. Enough on this pitch? The full tosses and erring lines helped GT rack up 21 runs from this last over.
"We could have had a bigger partnership", is what Sai Sudharsan says in the mid-match interview about his 118-run partnership with Gill, to the broadcasters, by the way!
May 9, 2026, 9:18 PM
GT's highest total outside of Ahmedabad
Outside of Ahmedabad, the Gujarat Titans scored their highest IPL total of 229. Additionally, it is their fourth-highest tournament total.
May 9, 2026, 8:57 PM
Gill leaves for 84
In the final overs, Gill will not be present. or remove his helmet to score another century in the IPL.
Nevertheless, this is yet another significant blow to GT. Particularly since Sudharsan and Buttler fell in quick succession, he has kept the innings together. In an attempt to put this one behind him, he leaves for 84 off 44. However, the delivery is on the stumps, near the blockhole, and only takes a slight edge down to the fine leg.
What is your interpretation of this Gill innings? On the one hand, you have to give him credit for his impressive appearance at the crease and the number of runs he scored there. However, he significantly slowed down, particularly after a possible injury to his left foot. He may argue that it was a necessary risk given their lacklustre middle order, but GT's score is undoubtedly 15–20 behind due to the post-powerplay slowdown.
Halfway through the 17th over, GT are 185 for 3 in either scenario.
May 9, 2026, 9:04 PM
Deshpande devises the strategy against Holder
4 1 1w 1 0 0 1
A bowler's worst nightmare is Jason Holder. Because how are you going to bowl to him at all? Like everyone else, Tushar Deshpande enjoys his yorkers as much as our summertime ice cream. Holder is so tall that he can simply sit deep in his crease and drive it through the covers like it's just another Saturday shift. He bangs one in right near the wide marker.
Deshpande responds rationally, saying, "Get it right on the stumps." The ultimate utility player in a finisher's shoes, Holder digs it out and reaches the other end.
However, Sundar turns over the strike by digging out another yorker. But guess what? When Deshpande gets it right on the stumps, he's simply too good. Holder returns another flawless toe-crusher to the keeper. You can reach anywhere in the crease, but when it's going to take out your feet or stumps, there's not much you can do.
Deshpande started with the standard strategy, which is to keep it full and wide. He concluded with the Deshpande strategy, which is to repeatedly spear it into the stumps once you're proficient enough. In the 18th over, he concedes just eight runs. GT 204 for three.
May 9, 2026, 9:17 PM
The Great Slowdown or something similar
What an odd beginning, and undoubtedly an odd conclusion. In order to give up just four runs and dismiss Holder with a slower ball, Brijesh Sharma gave the 19th over his all by going full, attacking the stumps, and keeping it away. With a score of 208 for 4, GT appeared as though they might not even reach the 220-run threshold.
When Tushar Deshpande returned to finish the innings, he lost all of his lines. Rahul Tewatia was in the thick of things, slicing through the pitch to hit consecutive sixes. GT somehow huffed and puffed to... checks notes... 229 for 4. Enough on this pitch? The full tosses and erring lines helped GT rack up 21 runs from this last over.
"We could have had a bigger partnership", is what Sai Sudharsan says in the mid-match interview about his 118-run partnership with Gill, to the broadcasters, by the way!
May 9, 2026, 9:18 PM
GT's highest total outside of Ahmedabad
Outside of Ahmedabad, the Gujarat Titans scored their highest IPL total of 229. Additionally, it is their fourth-highest tournament total.
Furthermore, of course...
In the Gujarat Titans innings, there were 19 extras. Will that have an impact?
May 9, 2026, 9:25 PM
A slowdown across generations?
Shiva Jayaraman, our stats wizard, has definitely taken notice. After doing the math, he believes that GT's deceleration was legendary:
The Gujarat Titans' openers added just 36 runs in the 29 balls following the powerplay until Sai Sudharsan was removed, following their joint-highest IPL powerplay score of 82. After the first six overs, their partnership was scoring 13.67 runs per over, but by the end, it had slowed to "just" 10.89 runs per over.
Their partnership scoring rate to Powerplay scoring rate ratio (10.89/13.67) is the second lowest of any opening stand that has survived the first six overs while batting first. Theirs was the 265th IPL stand to do so. The partnership between Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal against Punjab Kings in Sharjah in 2021 was the only one to experience a greater deceleration (measured by the ratio between the partnership scoring rate and the Powerplay scoring rate).
That time, the opening pair for Royal Challengers Bengaluru scored 55 runs at a rate of 9.17 runs per over in the first six overs. However, by the time Kohli was dismissed in the tenth over, the partnership had slowed to just 7.03 runs per over. Although RCB didn't lose the match as a result of that slowdown, those were different IPL times with no Impact Subs or Vaibhav Sooryavanshis to deal with. Will the Titans pay for it?
May 9, 2026, 9:37 PM
Sooryavanshi hits Siraj for a six off the first ball.
Even though Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is only 15 years old, he poses a philosophical question for today's T20 fans: when does it cease to astound you when you witness unprecedented brilliance repeatedly?
Unlike most batters, Sooryavanshi gets a ball exactly in his slot. The bowler in his path was Siraj. Sooryavanshi drags this from outside off to over long-on and blasts it across the line, almost like a helicopter shot. We can't help but look at each other and remark, "There, he's done it again," because he has made this a habit.
How much more of him we might see tonight is a mystery to me. Sooryavanshi has pulled it back into his boots after Siraj yorked him. He is being treated for a long time while lying on the ground. Jamieson's yorking wicket from RR's last game served as inspiration for Siraj.
Three balls into the match, RR 7 for 0. I'm now prepared to continue.
May 9, 2026, 9:41 PM
Dissecting Rabada's T20 transformation
16 0 2 0 1w 1
Running awkwardly between wickets, Sooryavanshi struggled in the second half of that over. RR still gets an 11. From the other end, this is Rabada. Take a look at our experts' in-depth analysis of his bowling.
May 9, 2026, 9:43 PM
More records are broken by Sooryavanshi. He does, of course.
Sooryavanshi has gone undefeated with an 11-ball 24. Rabada hit consecutive sixes. Rajasthan is well on their way in this chase, having reached 26 for 0 after two overs.
A few statistics from Sampath Bandarupalli that have a Sooryavanshi flavour:
In men's Twenty20 cricket, 29 Sooryavanshi has hit 100 sixes in the fewest innings.
Concurrently:
In men's Twenty20 cricket, 514 Sooryavanshi has hit 100 sixes with the fewest balls.
May 9, 2026, 9:49 PM
Siraj triumphs over Sooryavanshi.
4 0 4 4 W
Siraj casually spreads his arms. Then he roars. It's more like that.
Three fours in four balls have just been hit to him. Nothing has worked, even though he has gone wide and full. He thus follows the long-standing practice of irate fast bowlers, which is to bang it in really quickly and short. Even the boy wonder is unable to time this perfectly because it rushes onto him, even though Sooryavanshi is the kind of batter who can take on this with a hoick. To square leg, the ball flies out.
There won't be daily centuries for Sooryavanshi. However, he gets going quickly and leaves like he did today, leaving the Rajasthan Royals 38 for 1 at the end of three overs with a 16-ball 36.
May 9, 2026, 9:53 PM
When facing the Big vAIBAV, are yorkers the best option?
Nagraj Gollapudi has been reflecting. He gives us this crucial realisation:
Sooryavanshi has already encountered five yorkers this season, including Mo Siraj's yorker-length delivery today. In RR's most recent game against the Delhi Capitals in Delhi, he hit one for a four, but the other three were dots, including Kyle Jamieson's exact yorker.
In the Gujarat Titans innings, there were 19 extras. Will that have an impact?
May 9, 2026, 9:25 PM
A slowdown across generations?
Shiva Jayaraman, our stats wizard, has definitely taken notice. After doing the math, he believes that GT's deceleration was legendary:
The Gujarat Titans' openers added just 36 runs in the 29 balls following the powerplay until Sai Sudharsan was removed, following their joint-highest IPL powerplay score of 82. After the first six overs, their partnership was scoring 13.67 runs per over, but by the end, it had slowed to "just" 10.89 runs per over.
Their partnership scoring rate to Powerplay scoring rate ratio (10.89/13.67) is the second lowest of any opening stand that has survived the first six overs while batting first. Theirs was the 265th IPL stand to do so. The partnership between Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal against Punjab Kings in Sharjah in 2021 was the only one to experience a greater deceleration (measured by the ratio between the partnership scoring rate and the Powerplay scoring rate).
That time, the opening pair for Royal Challengers Bengaluru scored 55 runs at a rate of 9.17 runs per over in the first six overs. However, by the time Kohli was dismissed in the tenth over, the partnership had slowed to just 7.03 runs per over. Although RCB didn't lose the match as a result of that slowdown, those were different IPL times with no Impact Subs or Vaibhav Sooryavanshis to deal with. Will the Titans pay for it?
May 9, 2026, 9:37 PM
Sooryavanshi hits Siraj for a six off the first ball.
Even though Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is only 15 years old, he poses a philosophical question for today's T20 fans: when does it cease to astound you when you witness unprecedented brilliance repeatedly?
Unlike most batters, Sooryavanshi gets a ball exactly in his slot. The bowler in his path was Siraj. Sooryavanshi drags this from outside off to over long-on and blasts it across the line, almost like a helicopter shot. We can't help but look at each other and remark, "There, he's done it again," because he has made this a habit.
How much more of him we might see tonight is a mystery to me. Sooryavanshi has pulled it back into his boots after Siraj yorked him. He is being treated for a long time while lying on the ground. Jamieson's yorking wicket from RR's last game served as inspiration for Siraj.
Three balls into the match, RR 7 for 0. I'm now prepared to continue.
May 9, 2026, 9:41 PM
Dissecting Rabada's T20 transformation
16 0 2 0 1w 1
Running awkwardly between wickets, Sooryavanshi struggled in the second half of that over. RR still gets an 11. From the other end, this is Rabada. Take a look at our experts' in-depth analysis of his bowling.
May 9, 2026, 9:43 PM
More records are broken by Sooryavanshi. He does, of course.
Sooryavanshi has gone undefeated with an 11-ball 24. Rabada hit consecutive sixes. Rajasthan is well on their way in this chase, having reached 26 for 0 after two overs.
A few statistics from Sampath Bandarupalli that have a Sooryavanshi flavour:
In men's Twenty20 cricket, 29 Sooryavanshi has hit 100 sixes in the fewest innings.
Concurrently:
In men's Twenty20 cricket, 514 Sooryavanshi has hit 100 sixes with the fewest balls.
May 9, 2026, 9:49 PM
Siraj triumphs over Sooryavanshi.
4 0 4 4 W
Siraj casually spreads his arms. Then he roars. It's more like that.
Three fours in four balls have just been hit to him. Nothing has worked, even though he has gone wide and full. He thus follows the long-standing practice of irate fast bowlers, which is to bang it in really quickly and short. Even the boy wonder is unable to time this perfectly because it rushes onto him, even though Sooryavanshi is the kind of batter who can take on this with a hoick. To square leg, the ball flies out.
There won't be daily centuries for Sooryavanshi. However, he gets going quickly and leaves like he did today, leaving the Rajasthan Royals 38 for 1 at the end of three overs with a 16-ball 36.
May 9, 2026, 9:53 PM
When facing the Big vAIBAV, are yorkers the best option?
Nagraj Gollapudi has been reflecting. He gives us this crucial realisation:
Sooryavanshi has already encountered five yorkers this season, including Mo Siraj's yorker-length delivery today. In RR's most recent game against the Delhi Capitals in Delhi, he hit one for a four, but the other three were dots, including Kyle Jamieson's exact yorker.
According to fast bowlers, bowling the yorker with a new ball is difficult because, if done incorrectly, the ball may swing excessively. Nevertheless, you get the impression that the yorker is still a crucial tool against Sooryanvanshi, who likewise has a strong backlift.
May 9, 2026, 10:05 PM
Jurel takes 22 from Siraj over
6 4 0 6 0 6
Karthik Krishnaswamy, understandably, questioned whether Dhruv Jurel's sluggish powerplay knocks were the ideal way to bat in 2026 following Rajasthan's most recent game.
I'm not sure where Jurel has been reading this past week, but when you watch him take on Siraj and hit him for 6,4, dot, 6, dot, 6, you'll think you've prayed for moments like these. He's removed 22 from a monster. He has latched onto the full ones, ridden the bounce on the short ones, and made Siraj's mediocre balls appear destined to sail over the ropes.
Rajasthan is 62 for 2 after 5, while he is on 22 off 7. They're keeping up with this pursuit. In the previous over, Jaiswal left. Simply put, his IPL captaincy debut hasn't gone well. We'll see if Jurel can compensate for his absence.
May 9, 2026, 10:10 PM
Hetmyer collapses, but GT continues to attack throughout the powerplay
4 0 2 W 6 4
A cutter takes Hetmyer's life. Sudharsan stated at the mid-innings break that although the pitch may be flat, it is not without its trappings, namely slower ones and cutters. Hetmyer's swing across the line was disrupted by this one, which undoubtedly lodged in the pitch. He must walk back after depositing this edge to Holder at mid-on.
May 9, 2026, 10:13 PM
Sai Kishore, Impact Sub, has an impact
1 1 1 0 4 1
No, Sai Kishore has only eight runs off the first over, which is a momentum-changing over rather than a wicket. even if the fifth delivery was a boundary.
The fact that Sai has been brought in is intriguing. Prasidh Krishna will slot in, according to Gill during the toss, but the ground has been more spin-friendly than anticipated. Here, he holds up one end.
May 9, 2026, 10:20 PM
In one over, Rashid Khan takes two.
0 1 W 4 W 0
Rashid Khan has torn the heart out of this match in just five balls. RR believed they were essentially maintaining the required rate.
However, Jurel, who was having a great day, is first set aside by Rashid. He then bowls Donovan Ferreira a drag-down. After that thrilling conclusion versus DC in the last game, this in-form hitter with a spin weakness appears to be improving. However, you know what? Rashid is Rashid; he rattles the stumps again and spins it away.
Even with players like Rashid, it is uncommon to appear to have the ball on a string during a Twenty20 match. To keep your economy rate low, you spend most of your time spearing it in quickly and at the stumps. However, like a wizard, he has begun his spell here in Jaipur.
Next up, RR takes just two runs off Washington Sundar's over while in recovery mode. After nine overs, they are 93 for 5 and in serious trouble.
May 9, 2026, 10:27 PM
KG and Mo Siraj established a powerplay record.
Mohammed Siraj and Kagiso Rabada are the first new ball combo to bowl through powerplay unchanged in four straight IPL games, which Sampath Bandarupalli highlights as a result of GT's powerplay preparations this year. Both Deepak Chahar and Harbhajan Singh for CSK in 2019 and Manpreet Gony and Albie Morkel for CSK in 2008 accomplished it in three consecutive games.
May 9, 2026, 10:39 PM
Rashid Khan, welcome back.
0 2 6 W 2 4
After a two-year journey, he continues to play in leagues all over the world. He was just having trouble spearing it in like he used to after having back surgery. He was a premium spinner and continued to take wickets, but he was slightly less successful and more likely to be hit for huge ones when he looped them up but missed his distances.
In this competition, and particularly tonight, Rashid Khan has resembled his former self. For the first time, he has stated off-field that he feels better after recovering from his back injury. Based on this data, it appears like Rashid is returning in an avatar that is similar to his former self. This is his third wicket of the evening. He just spears this one onto a fuller-than-good length and rattles the stumps past Shubham Dubey's batswing after being smacked for six on the previous ball. It was the third bowl of the evening.
Rashid ends his third on 3 for 25, RR 123 for 6 after 12 overs, but Dasun Shanaka takes the chance of a slog sweep, which pays off on the last delivery of the over.
May 9, 2026, 10:46 PM
RR is on the ropes, as Rashid has his fourth wicket.
1 lb 1 0 6 W 1
There, Jadeja was plump. Rashid gets his last wicket of the evening thanks to his magic. His final score is 4 for 36.
Rashid's spell in the middle overs alone destroyed Rajasthan, who hobbled to 137 for 7 at the conclusion of 14 overs. In one way or another, this chase must be coming to a conclusion soon.
May 9, 2026, 11:07 PM
GT is in second place thanks to Gill, Sudharsan's fifties, and Rashid's four-for.
What a commanding victory the Gujarat Titans had. As the IPL draws to a close, they are serious competitors. I'll give you a preview of the report that will be sent to you:
Rajasthan Royals were holding up with Gujarat Titans, twenty-eight overs into the Jaipur match. Eight overs into their chase of 230, they were 86 for 3. Dhruv Jurel seems to have banished his slow-batting demons. He was prepared to go larger and was on 24 off 9. Rashid Khan then pegged back his stumps by spinning one past Jurel's slog. His first of four wickets was this one.
Rashid's spell of 4 for 36 was the difference between RR and GT on a night when both teams were using spin chokeholds. GT shot up to second place in the points table with 14 points at the end of it all. They maintained their late-season surge in this IPL with their fourth straight victory.
May 9, 2026, 10:05 PM
Jurel takes 22 from Siraj over
6 4 0 6 0 6
Karthik Krishnaswamy, understandably, questioned whether Dhruv Jurel's sluggish powerplay knocks were the ideal way to bat in 2026 following Rajasthan's most recent game.
I'm not sure where Jurel has been reading this past week, but when you watch him take on Siraj and hit him for 6,4, dot, 6, dot, 6, you'll think you've prayed for moments like these. He's removed 22 from a monster. He has latched onto the full ones, ridden the bounce on the short ones, and made Siraj's mediocre balls appear destined to sail over the ropes.
Rajasthan is 62 for 2 after 5, while he is on 22 off 7. They're keeping up with this pursuit. In the previous over, Jaiswal left. Simply put, his IPL captaincy debut hasn't gone well. We'll see if Jurel can compensate for his absence.
May 9, 2026, 10:10 PM
Hetmyer collapses, but GT continues to attack throughout the powerplay
4 0 2 W 6 4
A cutter takes Hetmyer's life. Sudharsan stated at the mid-innings break that although the pitch may be flat, it is not without its trappings, namely slower ones and cutters. Hetmyer's swing across the line was disrupted by this one, which undoubtedly lodged in the pitch. He must walk back after depositing this edge to Holder at mid-on.
May 9, 2026, 10:13 PM
Sai Kishore, Impact Sub, has an impact
1 1 1 0 4 1
No, Sai Kishore has only eight runs off the first over, which is a momentum-changing over rather than a wicket. even if the fifth delivery was a boundary.
The fact that Sai has been brought in is intriguing. Prasidh Krishna will slot in, according to Gill during the toss, but the ground has been more spin-friendly than anticipated. Here, he holds up one end.
May 9, 2026, 10:20 PM
In one over, Rashid Khan takes two.
0 1 W 4 W 0
Rashid Khan has torn the heart out of this match in just five balls. RR believed they were essentially maintaining the required rate.
However, Jurel, who was having a great day, is first set aside by Rashid. He then bowls Donovan Ferreira a drag-down. After that thrilling conclusion versus DC in the last game, this in-form hitter with a spin weakness appears to be improving. However, you know what? Rashid is Rashid; he rattles the stumps again and spins it away.
Even with players like Rashid, it is uncommon to appear to have the ball on a string during a Twenty20 match. To keep your economy rate low, you spend most of your time spearing it in quickly and at the stumps. However, like a wizard, he has begun his spell here in Jaipur.
Next up, RR takes just two runs off Washington Sundar's over while in recovery mode. After nine overs, they are 93 for 5 and in serious trouble.
May 9, 2026, 10:27 PM
KG and Mo Siraj established a powerplay record.
Mohammed Siraj and Kagiso Rabada are the first new ball combo to bowl through powerplay unchanged in four straight IPL games, which Sampath Bandarupalli highlights as a result of GT's powerplay preparations this year. Both Deepak Chahar and Harbhajan Singh for CSK in 2019 and Manpreet Gony and Albie Morkel for CSK in 2008 accomplished it in three consecutive games.
May 9, 2026, 10:39 PM
Rashid Khan, welcome back.
0 2 6 W 2 4
After a two-year journey, he continues to play in leagues all over the world. He was just having trouble spearing it in like he used to after having back surgery. He was a premium spinner and continued to take wickets, but he was slightly less successful and more likely to be hit for huge ones when he looped them up but missed his distances.
In this competition, and particularly tonight, Rashid Khan has resembled his former self. For the first time, he has stated off-field that he feels better after recovering from his back injury. Based on this data, it appears like Rashid is returning in an avatar that is similar to his former self. This is his third wicket of the evening. He just spears this one onto a fuller-than-good length and rattles the stumps past Shubham Dubey's batswing after being smacked for six on the previous ball. It was the third bowl of the evening.
Rashid ends his third on 3 for 25, RR 123 for 6 after 12 overs, but Dasun Shanaka takes the chance of a slog sweep, which pays off on the last delivery of the over.
May 9, 2026, 10:46 PM
RR is on the ropes, as Rashid has his fourth wicket.
1 lb 1 0 6 W 1
There, Jadeja was plump. Rashid gets his last wicket of the evening thanks to his magic. His final score is 4 for 36.
Rashid's spell in the middle overs alone destroyed Rajasthan, who hobbled to 137 for 7 at the conclusion of 14 overs. In one way or another, this chase must be coming to a conclusion soon.
May 9, 2026, 11:07 PM
GT is in second place thanks to Gill, Sudharsan's fifties, and Rashid's four-for.
What a commanding victory the Gujarat Titans had. As the IPL draws to a close, they are serious competitors. I'll give you a preview of the report that will be sent to you:
Rajasthan Royals were holding up with Gujarat Titans, twenty-eight overs into the Jaipur match. Eight overs into their chase of 230, they were 86 for 3. Dhruv Jurel seems to have banished his slow-batting demons. He was prepared to go larger and was on 24 off 9. Rashid Khan then pegged back his stumps by spinning one past Jurel's slog. His first of four wickets was this one.
Rashid's spell of 4 for 36 was the difference between RR and GT on a night when both teams were using spin chokeholds. GT shot up to second place in the points table with 14 points at the end of it all. They maintained their late-season surge in this IPL with their fourth straight victory.
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