Salman Khan, Riyan Parag & Harpreet Brar in frame. Credits-AP/AFP/X
As fans were preparing for the IPL 2026 clash between Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Delhi Capitals (DC), it was panned around the battle between the 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and this generation's most lethal bowler Mitchell Starc.
Although the fans weren't treated with the Sooryavanshi-Starc battle, the RR vs DC turned out to be a gripping yet edge-of-the-seat affair.
For DC, Starc and Kyle Jamieson demolished RR's gung-ho openers inside the first two overs, but then Riyan Parag delivered under pressure and scored a well-nurtured 90.
The RR captain, who has been under a lot of scrutiny both on & off the field, ensured the Royals end the innings on 225-6. However, Parag's efforts weren't enough as the gun Rajasthan bowlers failed to fire. As a result, DC chased down the target of 226 runs in the last over.
As Delhi thrashed the Rajasthan hopes, the Punjab Kings joined the conversation to take a mickey of the losing team from the RR vs DC match.
Why PBKS got involved after RR's loss?
Before the RR vs DC clash, the Riyan Parag-led team bashed the high-flying Punjab Kings in Mullanpur. As the one-time champions handed them a sorrowful loss, it was the first defeat of the season for PBKS.
Also Read: Riyan Parag Reacts To BCCI Punishment For Vaping, Injury Update
After beating Punjab, Rajasthan didn't let it pass as an ordinary day at the office; instead, it posted a string of social media posts trolling the Kings, using the famous Salman Khan meme.
Although social media tussle has been the flavour of the season, Punjab's left-arm spinner Harpreet Brar amusingly issued a warning for the RR social team.
What PBKS vs RR went down?
Earlier in the week, Rajasthan put on a Royal show in New Chandigarh against the table-toppers. Although the RR bowlers were hit for plenty with PBKS posting 222/4 on the board, it didn't pose any challenge for their batters.
The gung-ho opening pair, especially Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, gave them a breathtaking start, before Riyan Parag and Yashasvi Jaiswal kept them the mometum going. However, it needed a special finish from Donovan Ferreira and Shubham Dubey, and they provided it.
After recieving a beating, Punjab's Harpreet Brar challenged RR and asked them to be prepared for the day PBKS defeat them. However, the two teams won't be meeting each other at least in the league stage of the IPL 2026.
Can RR qualify for the playoffs?
Despite losing to DC in Jaipur on Friday, RR remain fourth on the IPL points table with six wins and four losses. The qualification scenario for the playoffs is still in their hands, as they would need at least two more wins in four games to get through.
Having said that, the Riyan Parag-led side should not just aim for the qualification, but also look at a top-two finish. Considering PBKS already have 13 points after eight matches, they will certainly be the top contender for the summit finish, leaving the second slot open for SRH, RCB and RR.
Also Read: Rajasthan Royals Break Silence On Kyle Jamieson's Aggressive Send-Off For Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
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