Rajasthan Royals Edge Out Gujarat Titans in IPL 2026 Thriller

In a gripping match of IPL 2026, Rajasthan Royals narrowly defeated Gujarat Titans by six runs. Key performances included Ravi Bishnoi's four-wicket haul and Sai Sudharsan's impressive 73 runs. The match saw intense moments, especially in the final over, where RR's Tushar Deshpande held his nerve to secure the win. With this victory, RR tops the points table, while GT faces their second consecutive loss. Read on for a detailed breakdown of the match highlights and player performances.

By Narendra Chaudhary Apr 5, 2026, 00:37 IST

Rajasthan Royals Secure Narrow Victory

In a nail-biting encounter on Saturday, Rajasthan Royals (RR) clinched a dramatic six-run win against Gujarat Titans (GT) in the 9th match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026. Despite a strong performance from GT's Sai Sudharsan and a late push from Rashid Khan and Kagiso Rabada, RR's Ravi Bishnoi emerged as the standout player with a remarkable four-wicket haul.

GT's Chase Falls Just Short

Gujarat Titans, chasing a target of 211 runs, opened with Kumar Kushagra and Sai Sudharsan, the latter showcasing his skills with a solid 73 runs off 44 balls. The duo managed to put together a partnership of 78 runs before Kushagra was dismissed for 18. Sudharsan's wicket soon followed, taken by Bishnoi, who was instrumental in RR's bowling attack.

Jos Buttler contributed 26 runs off 14 balls, but the Titans struggled as wickets fell rapidly. Nandre Burger's impressive bowling (1/29 in 3 overs) added to GT's woes, leaving them at 161/7 in 14.5 overs.

Bishnoi's Impactful Bowling

Ravi Bishnoi was pivotal for RR, claiming four wickets for 41 runs in his four overs. His performance included dismissing key players like Glenn Phillips, Washington Sundar, and Rahul Tewatia, effectively dismantling GT's middle order. Despite a late resistance from Rashid Khan and Rabada, who formed a 43-run partnership, Tushar Deshpande's final over sealed the victory for RR.

Royals' Strong Start with the Bat

Batting first, Rajasthan Royals got off to a flying start, with openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi scoring 32 runs without loss in just three overs. They ended the powerplay at 69/0, showcasing their aggressive batting style.

However, Rashid Khan struck back, dismissing Sooryavanshi for 31 runs off 18 balls. Jaiswal reached his half-century in 32 balls but was soon out for 55 runs, leaving the Royals at a strong position of 97/1 after 10 overs.

The innings continued to build momentum, with Dhruv Jurel's explosive 75 runs off 42 balls, helping RR set a formidable total of 210/6. For GT, Kagiso Rabada took two wickets, while other bowlers contributed with one each.