Rajasthan Royals handed Punjab Kings their inaugural loss in IPL 2026 with a convincing 6-wicket win in the 40th match at New Chandigarh. Skipper Shreyas Iyer didn’t mince words, attributing the defeat squarely to subpar bowling.
Batting first, PBKS racked up 222/4. Opener Prabhsimran Singh’s 59 (44 balls, 6×4, 1×6) provided solidity, but Marcus Stoinis stole the show with an explosive unbeaten 62 (22 balls, 4×4, 6×6). Iyer (30) and Priyansh Arya (29) chipped in to set a daunting target on a tricky surface.
RR’s chase was clinical. Yashasvi Jaiswal’s 51 (27 balls) gave early momentum, Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s 43 (16) accelerated, Donovan Ferreira’s 52 (26) was destructive, and Shubham Dubey’s unbeaten 31 (12) ensured victory. Their 77-run stand off 32 balls turned the game.
Iyer said, ‘We put up 222, exceptional on this pitch. But our bowling fell short. T20 is about execution—today it evaded us. Fatigue isn’t an excuse; this loss is a lesson. We’ll park it and focus forward, ignoring the what-ifs.’
This result shakes up the points table, reminding PBKS of the need for bowling bite amid batting fireworks. Royals’ depth shone through in a match that captivated fans with its run feast.
