Bishnoi, Deshpande Seal Late Win for Rajasthan Royals

Rajasthan Royals held their nerve to secure a dramatic six-run win over Gujarat Titans in IPL 2026, successfully defending 210 in a tense finish. The contest swung repeatedly, but Ravi Bishnoi and Tushar Deshpande ensured RR closed out the game despite a late surge from GT.

RR posted 210 for 6, powered by half-centuries from Yashasvi Jaiswal and Dhruv Jurel, before restricting Gujarat Titans to 204 for 8.

Jaiswal and Jurel power RR to 210

Opting to bat first on a flat surface, Rajasthan Royals committed fully to an aggressive approach and were rewarded with a commanding total.

Yashasvi Jaiswal led the early charge with 55, showcasing his range with confident strokeplay against both pace and bounce. He reached his fifty in 32 balls, striking cleanly even against hard-length deliveries.

Dhruv Jurel then took control in the middle overs, producing a standout innings of 75. He attacked high pace and quality spin alike, including taking on Rashid Khan with calculated aggression. His ability to find boundaries off even well-directed deliveries ensured RR maintained momentum throughout.

Gujarat Titans wobble after strong start

Gujarat Titans looked well on course in the chase, reaching 127 for 2 with Sai Sudharsan anchoring the innings.

Sudharsan scored 73 off 33 balls, keeping pace with RR’s scoring rate while combining technical control with attacking strokeplay. His knock kept GT ahead in the chase before the game shifted dramatically.

Ravi Bishnoi turned the match in RR’s favour with a decisive spell, dismissing Sudharsan with a googly and then removing Washington Sundar shortly after. His figures of 4 for 41 broke the backbone of the Titans’ chase.

Late fightback falls short

Despite losing wickets in clusters, Gujarat Titans remained in contention thanks to a counterattack from Rashid Khan and Kagiso Rabada.

At one stage, the equation was reduced to 15 off 12 balls with three wickets in hand, bringing GT firmly back into the contest. Rabada struck cleanly down the ground, while Rashid looked to find the boundary with his improvisation.

Jofra Archer responded with disciplined execution, targeting Rabada with short deliveries and keeping Rashid under pressure with accurate yorkers. A crucial missed full toss in that over briefly opened a window, but RR quickly regained control.

Deshpande closes out the game

Tushar Deshpande was entrusted with defending 10 runs in the final over and delivered under pressure.

After starting with a wide, he adjusted immediately and produced a sequence of precise yorkers, denying Gujarat any boundary opportunities. With 7 needed off the final two balls, Deshpande finally missed his length, but Rashid Khan could only slice the ball towards point, where Archer completed the catch to seal the match.

The final 12 balls produced no boundaries, highlighting the control RR’s bowlers exerted at the death.

What this means

Rajasthan Royals’ ability to defend a high total under pressure highlights the effectiveness of their bowling unit in closing out tight games. Contributions from both their top order and death bowlers underline a balanced performance.

For Gujarat Titans, the defeat will raise questions about handling pressure moments despite a strong position in the chase, particularly after being well ahead midway through the innings.

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