IPL 2026: Jaiswal and Teen Sensation Sooryavanshi Propel Rajasthan Royals to Top of Table
GUWAHATI — In a rain-curtailed thriller at the ACA Stadium, the Rajasthan Royals (RR) continued their dominant form in IPL 2026, defeating the Mumbai Indians (MI) by 27 runs.
The match, reduced to 11 overs per side following a two-and-a-half-hour weather delay, saw Rajasthan’s openers put on a clinical display of power-hitting to secure their third consecutive victory.
The Jaiswal-Sooryavanshi Fireworks
Sent in to bat first, Rajasthan didn't waste a second of the shortened three-over powerplay. Yashasvi Jaiswal set the tone immediately, plundering 22 runs off Deepak Chahar’s opening over.
However, the highlight of the innings was the fearless approach of 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. The teenager took on world-class pacer Jasprit Bumrah, whipping him for two massive sixes. The opening duo put on a blistering 80-run stand in record time.
Yashasvi Jaiswal: 77* off 32 balls (10 fours, 4 sixes)
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi: 39 off 14 balls (1 four, 5 sixes)
Despite a late fightback from MI’s Ghazanfar (2/21), RR finished with a mammoth total of 150/3 in their allotted 11 overs.
Mumbai Indians’ Top-Order Collapse
Chasing a daunting target of 151 (requiring over 13 runs per over), Mumbai Indians' chase derailed almost immediately. The RR bowling unit, led by Sandeep Sharma and Jofra Archer, dismantled MI’s star-studded top order:
Suryakumar Yadav: 6 runs
Rohit Sharma: 5 runs (dismissed by Sandeep Sharma for the 6th time in IPL history)
Hardik Pandya: 9 runs
MI slumped to 46/5 by the fifth over. While Sherfane Rutherford provided a late spark with a rapid 25 off 8 balls, a sensational diving catch by Sandeep Sharma ended his cameo and Mumbai's hopes. MI finished their innings at 123/9.
IPL 2026 Points Table & Standings
With this win, Rajasthan Royals have moved to the No. 1 spot on the leaderboard.
| Team | Played | Won | Lost | Points | NRR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rajasthan Royals | 3 | 3 | 0 | 6 | +1.250 |
| Mumbai Indians | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | -0.450 |
The Road to the Finals
The IPL 2026 season is heating up as teams jostle for the top four playoff spots.
Next for MI: Hardik Pandya’s men will look to bounce back against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in their next outing.
The Final Stretch: The tournament is scheduled to conclude in late May 2026. Consistent performers like RR are currently favorites to secure an early "Qualifier 1" spot, which provides two chances to reach the Grand Final.
Player of the Match: Yashasvi Jaiswal (RR)
