Article by Suvankar Roy
Teenage Sensation Shatters Kohli’s Winning Streak
Guwahati Unbelievable! Supernatural! Or perhaps, simply the dawn of a future megastar? Under the overcast skies of Guwahati, IPL 2026 witnessed a spectacle that defies description. On one side stood the towering experience of Virat Kohli and Rajat Patidar; on the other, a 15-year-old boy named Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. In the end, it was Rajasthan Royals who had the last laugh, clinching their fourth consecutive victory and maintaining their dominance at the top of the table.
Patidar’s Resilience and Bengaluru’s Recovery
After losing the toss and being sent in to bat, RCB suffered an immediate body blow. Phil Salt was sent packing for a golden duck by Jofra Archer on the very first ball of the match. However, the atmosphere shifted the moment ‘King’ Kohli stepped onto the crease. With a blistering 32 off just 16 balls, Kohli looked like his vintage, dominant self.
But the joy was short-lived. A sudden collapse saw RCB slip from 46/1 to 76/5—a disastrous loss of four wickets for just 30 runs. With the team teetering on the brink of disaster, skipper Rajat Patidar emerged as the savior. Patidar’s fighting 63 off 41 balls, coupled with a late “tornado” cameo from Impact Sub Venkatesh Iyer, propelled RCB to a daunting total of 201. As Bengaluru headed to the dressing room after plundering 21 runs in the final over, the stadium echoed with one sentiment: “Victory is certain.”
They didn’t realize the “Sun” (Sooryavanshi) had yet to rise.
Tsunami in the Powerplay: The Sooryavanshi Carnage
Chasing 202, Rajasthan unleashed an assault that can only be described as a cricketing blitzkrieg. 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi proved exactly why he is being hailed as the future of Indian cricket. From Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Josh Hazlewood, no RCB bowler was spared.
In a staggering Powerplay performance, Rajasthan racked up 97 runs, with Sooryavanshi accounting for 57 of those in just 18 deliveries. One particular pull shot against Hazlewood left even Virat Kohli looking stunned in the field. By the time his superhuman innings of 78 off 26 balls ended, Rajasthan was already knocking on the door of victory.
Jurel’s Finishing Touch
Despite a mid-innings hiccup where the Royals lost three quick wickets, Dhruv Jurel remained as cool as ice at the other end. Playing a regal, unbeaten knock of 81 from 43 balls, he steered the ship home. Partnering with Ravindra Jadeja, Jurel ensured Rajasthan reached the target with 12 balls to spare, sealing a clinical 6-wicket win.
Brief Scores:
• RCB: 201/8 (Patidar 63, Kohli 32; Bishnoi 2/32)
• RR: 202/4 (Jurel 81*, Sooryavanshi 78; Krunal 2/30)
• Result: Rajasthan Royals won by 6 wickets.
Player of the Match: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi .
Bengaluru’s unstoppable juggernaut finally came to a grinding halt in Guwahati today. Meanwhile, Rajasthan Royals have sent a loud message to the league: they are truly “unbeatable” this season.