Patna: Rajasthan Royals produced a dominant all-round performance to dismantle Chennai Super Kings by eight wickets, completing a swift chase in just 12.1 overs in their IPL 2026 clash in Guwahati.
The match was defined by a sensational innings from 15-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi, whose explosive half-century off 15 balls powered Rajasthan to their biggest victory in the tournament in terms of balls remaining. Chasing a modest target of 128, the Royals sealed the win with 47 deliveries to spare at Barsapara Stadium.
Suryavanshi’s innings, featuring five sixes and four fours, matched the third-fastest fifty in IPL history. He set the tone from the outset, striking a boundary off Matt Henry and immediately putting Chennai’s bowlers under pressure. A dropped chance early in his innings proved costly, as he capitalised to devastating effect, including an 18-run over that effectively ended the contest.
He brought up his half-century with consecutive sixes off Noor Ahmad, underscoring his dominance. Alongside him, Yashasvi Jaiswal played a measured unbeaten 38, while captain Riyan Parag ensured there were no late stumbles as Rajasthan cruised home.
Earlier, Chennai struggled to build momentum after being put in to bat. In the absence of Mahendra Singh Dhoni—their first such appearance since 2019—the five-time champions looked unsettled and were reduced to 57 for six inside eight overs. Ruturaj Gaikwad’s side failed to recover, eventually posting 127.
Rajasthan’s bowlers exploited helpful conditions on a rain-affected surface. Jofra Archer and Nandre Burger struck early to remove key batters, while Sandeep Sharma tightened the squeeze during the powerplay.
A notable subplot saw Ravindra Jadeja, now representing Rajasthan, make an immediate impact against his former side. He claimed two crucial wickets in his opening over, dismissing Sarfaraz Khan and Shivam Dube to derail Chennai’s middle order. In contrast, Sanju Samson—turning out for Chennai this season—endured a disappointing outing, falling for six.
The defeat marked a historic low for Chennai, who were playing without both Dhoni and former stalwart Suresh Raina for the first time in their IPL history. For Rajasthan, however, the emphatic victory not only underlined their title credentials but also signalled the arrival of a remarkable young talent in Suryavanshi.
