Ferreira's unbeaten 52 guides Rajasthan past Punjab in IPL thriller
Synopsis
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's 43-ball blitz set the tone, but it was Donovan Ferreira's ice-cool 77-run unbeaten stand with Shubham Dubey that broke Punjab's unbeaten streak. At 15, Sooryavanshi became the fastest to 400 IPL runs in a season (238 strike rate), signalling a generational shift in T20 batting. Punjab's Marcus Stoinis (62 off 22) couldn't quite hold the fort despite a 222-run total.
Key Takeaways
Rajasthan Royals defeated Punjab Kings by six wickets in the 40th IPL 2026 match on 28 April in Chandigarh .
Donovan Ferreira (52*) and Shubham Dubey added an unbeaten 77-run partnership off 32 balls to seal the chase.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi , age 15 , smashed 43 off 16 balls with five sixes , reaching 400 IPL runs in 167 balls —fastest in history at a strike rate of 238.09 .
Yashasvi Jaiswal scored 51 off 27 balls ; Yuzvendra Chahal took 3/36 for Punjab.
Marcus Stoinis blazed 62 off 22 balls as Punjab posted 222/4 ; Prabhsimran Singh contributed 59 off 44 .
The loss ended Punjab's unbeaten run in IPL 2026 .
Rajasthan Royals pulled off a thrilling six-wicket chase against Punjab Kings in the 40th match of IPL 2026 at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Chandigarh on Tuesday, 28 April, handing the hosts their first loss of the season. Donovan Ferreira and Shubham Dubey stitched an unbeaten 77-run partnership off just 32 balls to seal the victory, with Ferreira finishing on 52 not out.
Sooryavanshi's explosive start
Rajasthan's chase was ignited by 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who took Punjab's bowlers apart in the powerplay. After Yashasvi Jaiswal gave him the strike, Sooryavanshi smashed 43 off 16 balls with three fours and five sixes, racing to 400 runs in just 167 balls this season—the fastest any player has reached that milestone in IPL history at a strike rate of 238.09. Arshdeep Singh eventually got him out by inducing a slice off a low full toss, caught by Shreyas Iyer. By the end of the fourth over, Rajasthan had already posted 66/1.
Jaiswal takes charge
After Sooryavanshi's departure, Jaiswal took control and struck aggressively against Arshdeep, reaching his fifty off 26 balls with a 27-ball 51. However, Yuzvendra Chahal shifted momentum by dismissing both Jaiswal and Riyan Parag (29), slowing Rajasthan's run flow. Dhruv Jurel contributed 16 off 20 before falling, leaving Rajasthan needing 100 runs in 52 balls at one stage.
Ferreira and Dubey turn the tide
The pair's fearless assault on Punjab's death bowling proved decisive. They targeted the pace bowlers relentlessly, with Arshdeep being hit for three fours in his return spell and Marco Jansen conceding a four and a six. Ferreira and Dubey's clinical finishing ensured no further setbacks and sealed a commanding victory in 19.2 overs.
Stoinis powers Punjab to 222
Punjab Kings set a competitive total of 222/4 after batting first. Prabhsimran Singh anchored the innings with a 59 off 44 balls, while Cooper Connolly (30) added 59 runs in a 33-ball partnership. Shreyas Iyer chipped in with 30. The standout performance came from Marcus Stoinis, who blazed an unbeaten 62 off 22 balls to propel Punjab past 220. Jofra Archer took 1/40, while Yash Punja claimed 2/41.
What's next
The loss marks Punjab's first defeat of IPL 2026, ending their unbeaten run. Rajasthan's aggressive chase and Sooryavanshi's breakout performance underscore the tournament's emerging talent and the unpredictability of T20 cricket in the death overs.
Point of View
But Ferreira's unbeaten partnership with Dubey was the real match-winner—clinical, fearless, and devoid of the recklessness that often haunts young batting attacks in death overs. Punjab's 222 looked commanding until the powerplay, then seemed fragile by the 15th over. The lesson: in IPL 2026, even 220+ totals hinge entirely on bowling death overs tight. Stoinis' 62 off 22 couldn't compensate for leaky seam bowling in the final three overs.
NationPress
1 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Rajasthan Royals chase down Punjab's 222-run target?
Rajasthan chased down 222 in 19.2 overs with a six-wicket victory. A 77-run unbeaten partnership between Donovan Ferreira (52*) and Shubham Dubey in the death overs proved decisive, with both batsmen targeting Punjab's pace bowlers and accumulating runs at over 14 per over during their stand.
What was special about Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's innings?
The 15-year-old Sooryavanshi scored 43 off 16 balls with three fours and five sixes, becoming the fastest player to reach 400 IPL runs in a single season at a strike rate of 238.09. He raced Rajasthan to 66/1 in four overs before Arshdeep Singh induced a slice off a low full toss.
Who were the key contributors for Punjab Kings?
Marcus Stoinis' unbeaten 62 off 22 balls was the standout performance, propelling Punjab to 222/4. Prabhsimran Singh anchored the innings with 59 off 44 balls, while Cooper Connolly (30) and Shreyas Iyer (30) provided support.
What was the significance of this match for Punjab Kings?
This was Punjab's first loss of IPL 2026, ending their unbeaten streak in the tournament. The defeat came despite a competitive total of 222/4, highlighting the challenge of defending totals against explosive batting in the powerplay and death overs.
