IPL 2026: Ferreira-Dubey stand hands Punjab Kings first defeat

New Chandigarh: Donovan Ferreira and Shubham Dubey forged an unbeaten 77-run partnership off 32 balls to steer Rajasthan Royals to a thrilling six-wicket win over Punjab Kings in the 40th IPL match at Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday, inflicting PBKS's first loss of the season.

The chase hinged on the duo's late flourish after 14 overs, when the required rate topped 12. Exploiting the pace attack post-spinners, they dismantled Arshdeep Singh—three fours in his return spell—and Marco Jansen with a four and six. Poised and powerful, Ferreira (52 not out) and Dubey sealed the 223-run pursuit in 19.2 overs.

Rajasthan's innings ignited with 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's blistering start. Handed strike by Yashasvi Jaiswal, he countered Arshdeep Singh's opening yorkers with 6-4-4, then hammered Lockie Ferguson and Jansen for three fours and five sixes en route to 43 off 16 balls. Caught off a low full toss by Shreyas Iyer, Sooryavanshi hit 400 IPL runs in just 167 balls at a strike rate of 238.09—the fastest ever. RR raced to 66/1 after four overs.

Jaiswal (51 off 27) accelerated post-dismissal, but Yuzvendra Chahal (3-36) struck back, removing him, Riyan Parag (29), and Dhruv Jurel (16) as RR scored just 25 runs in four overs. Harpreet Brar conceded only 25 in his spell, leaving RR needing 100 off 52 balls.

Earlier, PBKS posted 222/4. Jofra Archer removed Priyansh Arya (29), but Prabhsimran Singh (59 off 44) steadied with Cooper Connolly (30) in a 59-run stand off 33 balls. Shreyas Iyer added 30, before Marcus Stoinis's unbeaten 62 off 22 balls propelled them past 220.

Brief scores: Punjab Kings 222/4 in 20 overs (Marcus Stoinis 62*, Prabhsimran Singh 59; Yash Thakur 2-41, Jofra Archer 1-40) lost to Rajasthan Royals 228/4 in 19.2 overs (Donovan Ferreira 52*, Yashasvi Jaiswal 51; Yuzvendra Chahal 3-36, Arshdeep Singh 1-68) by six wickets.

(Inputs from IANS)