Rajasthan Royals found themselves staring at a crushing defeat against Gujarat Titans in their crucial IPL 2026 clash at Sawai Mansingh Stadium on Saturday.
Chasing a daunting target of 230, Rajasthan Royals slipped to 151/8 after 16 overs, with Dasun Shanaka and Tushar Deshpande left with a mountain to climb.
The biggest talking point of the innings once again revolved around 15-year-old sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who continued his extraordinary rise in the tournament.
The youngster smashed 36 runs off just 16 balls and became the fastest batter in T20 cricket history to complete 100 sixes. He reached the landmark in only 514 deliveries, adding yet another milestone to his sensational IPL campaign.
Sooryavanshi’s explosive knock included three fours and three sixes, all of which came during the powerplay overs. However, once he departed, Rajasthan’s chase quickly lost momentum.
Stand-in skipper Yashasvi Jaiswal failed to make a substantial impact, while Shimron Hetmyer and Donovan Ferreira also fell cheaply as wickets tumbled at regular intervals.
Gujarat’s bowling attack maintained relentless pressure throughout the innings.
Star spinner Rashid Khan picked up two key wickets in the middle overs, while pace spearhead Kagiso Rabada also claimed two wickets to derail Rajasthan’s chase.
Earlier, Gujarat Titans produced a batting masterclass after being put into bat.
Captain Shubman Gill led from the front with a brilliant 84 off 44 deliveries. Gill briefly worried fans after suffering an injury scare during his innings and requiring on-field treatment, but he continued batting fluently and dominated the Rajasthan attack.
Opening partner Sai Sudharsan once again delivered a composed half-century, helping Gujarat establish a strong platform during the powerplay and middle overs.
In the closing stages, Washington Sundar added the finishing touches with a blistering unbeaten 37 off just 20 balls, powering GT to a commanding 229/4 in 20 overs.
The Titans’ dominant all-round display left Rajasthan Royals struggling badly in what could prove to be a significant result in the IPL 2026 playoff race.