IPL 2026: RR vs RCB Today's Match Highlights: Unmissable video recap, turning points, match analysis, stats and more

The Rajasthan Royals beat the Royal Challengers Bengaluru by six wickets at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati in Match 16 of the 2026 Indian Premier League.

Asked to bat first on a Guwahati wicket which had been under covers due to plenty of rain over the past few days, the defending champions were dealt an early blow as Jofra Archer picked up two wickets in the powerplay, including a first-ball wicket of Phil Salt.

Royals kept picking up wickets, denting RCB’s momentum as they soon found themselves at 94/6 and then 125/7. Captain Rajat Patidar, who held on at the other end through all the chaos, stitched a brilliant 41-run stand with impact player Venkatesh Iyer. Patidar was dismissed for 63, but Venkatesh carried on, getting 21 off the final over as the Royal Challengers finished on 201/8.

In response, the Royals were dented by the fall of Yashasvi Jaiswal for 13, with the returning Josh Hazlewood giving the breakthrough. But Vaibhav Sooryavanshi ensured that the powerplay belonged to the inaugural champions. He scored his second half-century of the season off just 15 balls, as he mercilessly took apart the RCB bowlers.

The Royals finished the powerplay at a whopping 97/1 as Dhruv Jurel joined the party, playing some brilliant textbook shots. Vaibhav fell to Krunal Pandya for 78 off just 26 balls. His wicket brought two more, but despite that, Jurel carried on, remaining unbeaten on 81 off 43 to guide the Royals home with two overs to spare.

Key talking points

1) Royals bowlers deal heavy blows to RCB

The Royals started the game in superb fashion, with Phil Salt being bounced out by a fiery Jofra Archer short ball. Archer picked up the big wicket of Devdutt Padikkal in the powerplay, before Ravi Bishnoi and Brijesh Sharma picked up two wickets apiece, leaving RCB stranded on 94/6. 

2) Rajat Patidar's fighting knock

With all the chaos caused by the Royals, Rajat Patidar still held on the other end, keeping RCB's hopes alive. After finding his team at 125/7, he stitched a brilliant 41-run stand off just 19 balls with Venkatesh Iyer, who was brought in as the impact player. Patidar took on the bowlers, and his platform ensured RCB got to 201/8. He fell for 63, having done enough to pull the innings back after the collapse.

3) Vaibhav goes berserk

The 15-year-old is just going from strength to strength. He set the platform for the Royals' chase, reaching his second half-century of the season, off just 15 balls. He took the attack to the RCB bowlers and was the key in the Royals building a solid platform for the chase with a massive 97-run powerplay. He finished on 78 off just 26 balls.

4) Jurel's yang to the yin 

Amidst Sooryavanshi's carnage, Jurel went on with his usual business, playing traditional cricketing shots. He stayed unbeaten on 81 off just 43 balls and stabilised the innings after the fall of wickets in the middle overs. Even in the 108-run partnership he put on with Sooryavansh, Jurel was calm, calculated and meticulous, ensuring the Royals got over the line.