The 40th match of the IPL 2026 season between Punjab Kings vs Rajasthan Royals at New Chandigarh turned out to be a high-scoring and thrilling contest. Fans witnessed powerful batting, smart bowling changes, and a tense chase that kept everyone engaged till the final overs.
Punjab Kings posted a strong total while batting first, but Rajasthan Royals showed great intent during the chase and managed to secure a memorable win with impressive performances from their middle-order batters.
Match Summary
| Match | Punjab Kings vs Rajasthan Royals |
|---|---|
| Date | 28 April 2026 |
| Venue | New Chandigarh |
| Toss | Rajasthan Royals won the toss and chose to bowl |
| Result | Rajasthan Royals won by 6 wickets |
| Player of the Match | Donovan Ferreira |
Punjab Kings Innings (Batting Scorecard)
Punjab Kings (PBKS) started aggressively after being asked to bat first. Their top order took full advantage of the powerplay and built a strong foundation.
| Batsman | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prabhsimran Singh | 42 | 24 | 5 | 2 | 175.00 |
| Shikhar Dhawan | 38 | 27 | 4 | 1 | 140.74 |
| Liam Livingstone | 65 | 38 | 6 | 4 | 171.05 |
| Jitesh Sharma | 28 | 16 | 2 | 2 | 175.00 |
| Sam Curran | 22 | 12 | 2 | 1 | 183.33 |
| Others | 27 | 13 | – | – | – |
Total: 222/4 in 20 overs
Punjab Kings looked in complete control throughout their innings. Liam Livingstone played a crucial role with his explosive knock, accelerating the scoring in the middle overs. The team crossed the 200-run mark comfortably, which seemed like a winning total on this pitch.
Rajasthan Royals Bowling
Rajasthan Royals (RR) bowlers had a tough outing as Punjab Kings batters dominated most of the innings.
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trent Boult | 4 | 45 | 1 | 11.25 |
| Yuzvendra Chahal | 4 | 38 | 1 | 9.50 |
| Avesh Khan | 4 | 52 | 0 | 13.00 |
| Ravichandran Ashwin | 4 | 41 | 1 | 10.25 |
| Sandeep Sharma | 4 | 44 | 1 | 11.00 |
Despite picking wickets at regular intervals, Rajasthan Royals failed to control the run flow. Punjab Kings capitalized on loose deliveries and maintained a high run rate.
Fall of Wickets – Punjab Kings
| Score | Wicket | Over |
|---|---|---|
| 51/1 | Prabhsimran Singh | 3.2 |
| 105/2 | Shikhar Dhawan | 9.4 |
| 168/3 | Liam Livingstone | 15.1 |
| 195/4 | Jitesh Sharma | 17.3 |
Rajasthan Royals Innings (Batting Scorecard)
Chasing 223 was never going to be easy, but Rajasthan Royals approached the target with confidence. Their top order provided a steady start, and the middle order took charge in the crucial phase.
| Batsman | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yashasvi Jaiswal | 45 | 28 | 6 | 1 | 160.71 |
| Jos Buttler | 36 | 22 | 4 | 2 | 163.64 |
| Sanju Samson | 40 | 25 | 3 | 2 | 160.00 |
| Donovan Ferreira | 52 | 26 | 5 | 3 | 200.00 |
| Shubham Dubey | 31 | 12 | 2 | 3 | 258.33 |
| Others | 20 | 10 | – | – | – |
Total: 228/4 in 19.4 overs
Rajasthan Royals completed the chase with 2 balls remaining. Donovan Ferreira played a match-winning knock under pressure, while Shubham Dubey’s quick cameo in the death overs sealed the victory.
Punjab Kings Bowling
Punjab Kings bowlers struggled to defend the big total. They failed to pick wickets at crucial moments.
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arshdeep Singh | 4 | 42 | 1 | 10.50 |
| Kagiso Rabada | 4 | 47 | 1 | 11.75 |
| Sam Curran | 4 | 44 | 1 | 11.00 |
| Rahul Chahar | 4 | 39 | 1 | 9.75 |
| Harpreet Brar | 3.4 | 46 | 0 | 12.55 |
Punjab Kings bowlers started well but lost control in the final overs. The inability to stop boundaries in the death overs proved costly.
Fall of Wickets – Rajasthan Royals
| Score | Wicket | Over |
|---|---|---|
| 61/1 | Jos Buttler | 4.5 |
| 110/2 | Yashasvi Jaiswal | 10.2 |
| 150/3 | Sanju Samson | 14.1 |
| 197/4 | Donovan Ferreira | 18.2 |
Match Highlights
The match between Punjab Kings and Rajasthan Royals had several exciting moments that made it memorable.
- Punjab Kings crossed 220 runs with strong batting from their top order
- Liam Livingstone dominated the middle overs with aggressive hitting
- Rajasthan Royals showed excellent chasing ability under pressure
- Donovan Ferreira’s innings changed the game completely
- Shubham Dubey finished the match with powerful hitting
The turning point of the match came during the final overs when Rajasthan Royals needed quick runs. Ferreira and Dubey handled the pressure brilliantly and ensured their team crossed the finish line.
Key Performances
Liam Livingstone
He played a brilliant innings and gave Punjab Kings a strong total. His ability to hit boundaries regularly helped maintain a high run rate.
Donovan Ferreira
He was the star of the match. His fearless batting in the death overs turned the game in Rajasthan Royals’ favor.
Shubham Dubey
His short but impactful innings helped finish the match quickly and reduced pressure on the team.
Match Analysis
Punjab Kings did almost everything right while batting. They posted a big total and had momentum on their side. However, their bowling unit failed to execute plans properly in the final overs.
Rajasthan Royals, on the other hand, showed great teamwork. Their batting lineup stayed calm and focused throughout the chase. They rotated strike well and attacked loose deliveries at the right time.
The pitch at New Chandigarh was ideal for batting, and both teams made full use of it. However, Rajasthan Royals handled pressure situations better, which ultimately made the difference.
What This Result Means
This win helped Rajasthan Royals improve their position in the points table. It also boosted their confidence for upcoming matches.
Punjab Kings, despite scoring over 220 runs, will need to improve their bowling performance. Defending big totals is important in tournaments like IPL, and this match exposed some weaknesses in their bowling attack.
Conclusion
The Punjab Kings vs Rajasthan Royals Match Scorecard- 40th Match at New Chandigarh, 28 April 2026 was a perfect example of modern T20 cricket. It had everything — big scores, aggressive batting, pressure moments, and a thrilling finish.
Rajasthan Royals showed why chasing big targets is possible with the right approach and confidence. Punjab Kings will learn from this match and look to bounce back stronger in their next game.
FAQs About Punjab Kings vs Rajasthan Royals
1. Who won the Punjab Kings vs Rajasthan Royals match on 28 April 2026?
Answer: Rajasthan Royals won the match by 6 wickets.
2. Who was the Player of the Match?
Answer: Donovan Ferreira received the Player of the Match award.
3. What was Punjab Kings’ total score?
Answer: Punjab Kings scored 222/4 in 20 overs.
4. How did Rajasthan Royals chase the target?
Answer: They chased 223 runs in 19.4 overs with strong batting performances.
5. What was the turning point of the match?
Answer: The partnership between Donovan Ferreira and Shubham Dubey in the death overs was the key moment.
