Shreyas Iyer Praises Rajasthan Royals For High Class Cricket, Ending Punjab Kings' Winning Streak In IPL 2026

Rajasthan Royals secured a six-wicket win over Punjab Kings in IPL 2026 at Mullanpur after Punjab posted 222. Royals chased confidently, with key partnerships sealing the result and highlighting their balance and depth in batting.

Rajasthan Royals halted Punjab Kings' perfect run in the IPL 2026 season, clinching a six-wicket win in the 40th match. The contest took place in Mullanpur on April 28, where Rajasthan Royals successfully chased a daunting target and handed Punjab Kings their first defeat of the tournament.

Punjab Kings batted first and put up 222 runs, setting what appeared to be a strong total in the first innings. Rajasthan Royals responded with a powerful batting display, building key partnerships and reaching the target with six wickets in hand, underlining their depth and composure under pressure.

Rajasthan Royals vs Punjab Kings IPL 2026: high-scoring clash and key details

The scoreboard showed 222 for Punjab Kings, yet Shreyas Iyer later referred to 224 while reflecting on the game. Rajasthan Royals handled the chase with control after an early platform, as the middle order capitalised against Punjab Kings' bowling attack, which struggled to execute plans during the decisive overs.

Punjab Kings, Rajasthan Royals IPL 2026 reactions and tactical plans

After the match, Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer praised the effort from the Rajasthan Royals batters. Iyer stated, "I thought 224 on the board was a brilliant score. Kudos to the batsmen, the way they came up and they went against the bowlers. I think it was an exceptional performance, especially on this wicket, which was a bit tacky and slow. And I think we fell a bit short in our bowling, in terms of execution."

Shreyas Iyer also explained Punjab Kings' bowling approach against Rajasthan Royals in this IPL 2026 fixture, and how plans slipped during the chase. Iyer said, "We had planned to bowl a lot of slower ones, pace off, yorkers. I think we fell a bit short over there. And also, they had tremendous partnership in the middle, especially by Ferreira and Shubham Dubey coming in and scoring those crucial runs at the end," highlighting the turning point.

The defeat to Rajasthan Royals left Punjab Kings still at the top of the IPL 2026 table, but under closer pressure. Punjab Kings now prepare for their next assignment against Gujarat Titans, scheduled as the 46th match at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on May 3, aiming to respond and restore winning form.