Rajasthan Royals pulled off a sensational heist to chase down a mammoth 223, defeating Punjab Kings by 6 wickets in IPL 2026 Match 40 at Chandigarh on April 28, 2026. Despite a brutal 62* from Marcus Stoinis, RR’s power-hitters ensured the target was overhauled with 4 balls to spare.
Marcus Stoinis (62* off 22) and Prabhsimran Singh (59 off 44) set the stage for a massive total, but RR’s ultra-aggressive approach in the powerplay (84/1) proved decisive. Donovan Ferreira (52* off 26) and Shubham Dubey (31* off 12) provided the finishing touches in a high-octane chase.
Match Summary
| Details | Info |
|---|---|
| PBKS Score | 222/4 (20 overs) |
| RR Score | 228/4 (19.2 overs) |
| Result | RR won by 6 wickets (4 balls remaining) |
| Venue | New Chandigarh |
| Date | April 28, 2026 (Night Match) |
| Best Batter (PBKS) | Marcus Stoinis – 62* off 22 balls |
| Best Batter (RR) | Donovan Ferreira – 52* off 26 balls |
| Best Bowler (RR) | Yash Raj Punja – 2/41 in 4 overs |
| Best Bowler (PBKS) | Yuzvendra Chahal – 3/36 in 4 overs |
| Player of the Match | Donovan Ferreira |
PBKS Innings: 222/4 in 20 Overs
Punjab Kings started steadily but exploded in the back half of the innings. Prabhsimran Singh anchored the top order with a solid 59, supported by useful cameos from Priyansh Arya (29) and Cooper Connolly (30).
However, the real momentum shift came from Marcus Stoinis, who went on a rampage, smashing 62* at a strike rate of 281.81. Alongside Suryansh Shedge (32* off 21), Stoinis propelled PBKS to a daunting 222. Ravindra Jadeja was the pick of the RR bowlers, keeping things tight with 0/32 when others were going for over 10 an over.
PBKS Top Performers with the Bat
| Batter | Runs | Balls | 4s/6s | SR |
| Marcus Stoinis | 62* | 22 | 3 / 6 | 281.81 |
| Prabhsimran Singh | 59 | 44 | 6 / 1 | 134.09 |
| Suryansh Shedge | 32* | 21 | 0 / 1 | 152.38 |
RR Bowling: Figures
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
| Ravindra Jadeja | 4 | 32 | 0 | 8.00 |
| Yash Raj Punja | 4 | 41 | 2 | 10.25 |
| Jofra Archer | 4 | 40 | 1 | 10.00 |
Fall of Wickets: 1-37 (Arya, 2.5), 2-96 (Connolly, 8.2), 3-144 (Prabhsimran, 13.6), 4-181 (Iyer, 17.6)
RR Chase: 228/4 in 19.2 Overs
Rajasthan Royals didn’t just chase; they attacked. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi played a “blink-and-you-miss-it” knock of 43 off just 16 balls, helping RR reach 50 in only 3.1 overs. Yashasvi Jaiswal maintained the pressure with a classy 51.
PBKS fought back through Yuzvendra Chahal, who took 3/36 to leave RR at 151/4. However, Donovan Ferreira and Impact Player Shubham Dubey dismantled the death bowling. Their unbeaten 5th-wicket stand produced 77 runs in lightning time, with Ferreira reaching his fifty off 26 balls to seal the game.
RR Top Performers with the Bat
| Batter | Runs | Balls | 4s/6s | SR |
| Donovan Ferreira | 52* | 26 | 6 / 3 | 200.00 |
| Yashasvi Jaiswal | 51 | 27 | 7 / 1 | 188.88 |
| Vaibhav Sooryavanshi | 43 | 16 | 3 / 5 | 268.75 |
PBKS Bowling: Figures
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
| Harpreet Brar | 4 | 25 | 0 | 6.25 |
| Yuzvendra Chahal | 4 | 36 | 3 | 9.00 |
| Arshdeep Singh | 4 | 68 | 1 | 17.00 |
Fall of Wickets: 1-51 (Sooryavanshi, 3.2), 2-105 (Jurel, 9.4), 3-123 (Jaiswal, 11.2), 4-151 (Parag, 13.6)
Key Highlights
- RR’s Turbo Powerplay: RR blazed to 84/1 in the first 6 overs. This 14-run-per-over start neutralized the scoreboard pressure of chasing 223.
- Stoinis’ Finisher Masterclass: Coming in late, Stoinis hit 6 sixes in a 22-ball blitz, scoring at a strike rate of 281 to post what looked like a winning total.
- The Donovan-Dubey Duo: Needing 72 off the final 6 overs, Ferreira and Dubey made it look easy, finishing the game with nearly an over to spare.
- Harpreet Brar’s Lone Stand: In a match where the average economy was over 11, Harpreet Brar was incredible, conceding just 25 runs in his 4 overs (Econ: 6.25).
- Impact Player Success: Both teams utilized the rule effectively, but RR’s Shubham Dubey (31* off 12) was the match-winner alongside Ferreira.
