HIGHLIGHTS Punjab Kings vs Rajasthan Royals IPL 2026 Match 40 - Result, Scorecard

We are back for the chase! The home fans display a beautiful Tifo in the stands, with the faces of the Punjab Kings players and 'Sadda Punjab' written on it. Now, the two explosive openers for Rajasthan Royals - Yashasvi Jaiswal and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi walk out to the middle. The Punjab players have already taken their fielding spots. Arshdeep Singh will start proceedings with the ball. Here we go..

... THE RUN CHASE ...

Looking ahead - On a wicket that has been a touch on the slower side, the Rajasthan Royals have a challenging task ahead of them, and as always, much will depend on their opening pair, who will look to make the most of the Powerplay. Punjab Kings did not bowl well in their last game in Delhi, where they conceded 264 and also had lapses in the field. The home side will be on the hunt for early wickets to test RR's middle order. Stick around for RR's reply.

A quick word with the man of the moment - Marcus Stoinis says that he enjoyed that one. Adds that it has been a different season for him, watching the boys do it all, but it was great to spend some time in the middle and contribute to the team. Mentions that talking about how 210-220 is not enough against them is a compliment for them. Stoinis shares that the pitch is a bit slow, and RR's spinners bowled well, and Archer was good too, but if you can make an impact in a couple of overs, that is game-changing. Says that it is a good score, but they will need to start well with the ball, as this is a high-scoring venue.

Control lost at the death - After removing Connolly, the Rajasthan Royals kept a lid on the scoring rate through the middle phase largely through their spin pairing of Ravindra Jadeja and Yash Punja, with Punja fighting back well after an expensive first over. However, RR could not close out the innings the way they would have liked, and Marcus Stoinis made them pay whenever they missed. He brought up his fifty off just 20 balls and finished unbeaten on 62.

Punjab started strong - Given the pitch had been under covers, there was expected to be some early help for the RR quicks, but they did not quite get it right as a pair. Jofra Archer did test the Punjab openers with his pace and bounce, but his new-ball partner Nandre Burger was all over the place with his lines and lengths. The Punjab openers dined in and scored freely, although Priyansh Arya could not convert his start into a big innings. Prabhsimran Singh then joined hands with Cooper to lay a strong platform for Punjab.

Hulk hurricane in Mullanpur - The Punjab Kings finish with a flourish. 55 runs came off the last 3 overs, and they take the momentum with them into the break. Rajasthan Royals will be disappointed at the finish, as the good work done through the middle phase got undone at the death.

Brijesh Sharma to Marcus Stoinis, FOUR! A boundary to close the innings as PBKS finish with momentum in their camp, posting 222 on the board. Low full toss, around off, Stoinis was up for it as he shuffles across the stumps and flicks this through the square leg region for a boundary.

Brijesh Sharma to Marcus Stoinis, FOUR! There is no escaping the wrath of Stoinis. Full and wide of off, Marcus Stoinis steps back and across and lofts this over the extra cover fielder for yet another boundary. 20 have already come off this over with a ball to spare.

Brijesh Sharma to Marcus Stoinis, SIX! FIFTY FOR STOINIS! A waist height full toss, around off, Marcus Stoinis gets up on his toes and slogs this from the middle of his bat for a huge biggie over square to complete his half-century. What a blinder of a knock this has been by Stoinis. He walked in when the situation wasn't all that good for the home side and is helping them reach a really strong total. Stoinis sends this upstairs for a check on the fairness of the ball. The replay shows that the ball's trajectory is under the waist of Stoinis, and the on-field decision of a fair delivery stays.

Brijesh Sharma to Marcus Stoinis, SIX! MUSCLED AWAY! Low full toss, around middle and off, Marcus Stoinis gets underneath it and uses his bottom hand to muscle this over the fence towards the cow corner region for a massive biggie. The Hulk moves to 48 off 19.

Brijesh Sharma to Marcus Stoinis, FOUR! 200 comes up for PBKS! Full and around the pads, Marcus Stoinis flicks this to the left of short fine leg, and the ball races to the fence in the blink of an eye.

Brijesh Sharma to Marcus Stoinis, Slower one, wide of off, Marcus Stoinis tries to reach for it and swings but misses as the ball keeps low.

Brijesh Sharma to bowl the last over. He has been the most economical bowler for RR so far, giving away just 18 runs in 3 overs. Can he keep PBKS under 210 here?

Jofra Archer to Marcus Stoinis, Dug in short, angled in, on middle. Stoinis pats it wide of cover for a single. 17 runs off the over!

Jofra Archer to Suryansh Shedge, Direct hit! Low full toss and on off, Suryansh Shedge thumps this to the left of Donovan Ferreira at long on and takes the first aggressively. Shedge turns for the second, but Donovan Ferreira is quick to release the ball towards the bowler's end. Stoinis sends Shedge back, and it turns out to be a good decision as Ferreira hits the stumps with the throw. The replay shows that Suryansh just dragged his bat inside the crease.

Jofra Archer to Suryansh Shedge, Low full toss, around the pads, Suryansh Shedge tucks this through the mid-wicket region and hustles back for the second.

Jofra Archer to Marcus Stoinis, Good length, on off, Marcus Stoinis powers this down to long off for one.

Jofra Archer to Marcus Stoinis, SIX! PUMPED DOWN THE GROUND! Archer bowls it full, and on middle and off, Marcus clears his front leg and hammers this up and over the fence towards the sight screen for another massive biggie.

Jofra Archer to Marcus Stoinis, SIX! DISPATCHED! Short-pitched delivery, around off, Marcus Stoinis waits for it on his back foot and pulls this up and over the fence and the fielder towards the deep mid-wicket region for a biggie.

Out goes the PBKS skipper, in comes Suryansh Shedge. Also, Jofra Archer (3-0-23-1) to bowl out now.

Nandre Burger to Shreyas Iyer, OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! Nandre Burger finishes his spell with a wicket. Slower one, on a length, around off, angling away from the batter. Iyer looks to heave it, but the ball is away from his body, and the skipper of PBKS ends up miscuing it off the cue end of his bat. The ball balloons towards the short fine leg region where Yash Punja is already waiting for it, and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi runs to his right from backward square leg to claim it as well. Dhruv Jurel, donning the gloves, calls for it and holds onto it.

Nandre Burger to Marcus Stoinis, Wide yorker, around off, Marcus Stoinis plays this late and slices this with an open bat face to deep third for a single.

Nandre Burger to Marcus Stoinis, Short and wide of off, Marcus Stoinis flat bats this wide of deep extra cover for a brace.

Nandre Burger to Marcus Stoinis, FOUR! It continues to be a poor outing yet again with the ball for Nandre. Full and on middle and leg, Marcus Stoinis waits for it deep inside the crease and looks to repeat the stroke from the previous delivery. The bat turns in his hand at the time of contact and the ball goes off the inner half of his bat through the mid-wicket region for four runs.

Nandre Burger to Marcus Stoinis, SIX! THE HULK GOES BIG! Pitched-up delivery, around middle and off, Marcus Stoinis plants his back foot deep inside the crease, gets right underneath the ball and smashes this deep into the crowd towards the long on region for a massive biggie.

Nandre Burger to Shreyas Iyer, Slower one, back of a length, wide of off and going across the batter. Shreyas Iyer shuffles across and helps this to the right of Yash Punja at backward square leg for a run.

Who bowls now? It will be Nandre Burger. He has conceded 45 runs in his first three overs. Can he finish his spell on a high?

Brijesh Sharma to Shreyas Iyer, Low full toss, on middle and leg, Shreyas Iyer works this through mid-wicket for one.

Brijesh Sharma to Shreyas Iyer, FOUR! First boundary scored off Brijesh in this contest. On a length, around off, Shreyas Iyer stands tall and hammers this through the right of extra cover for a boundary.

Brijesh Sharma to Shreyas Iyer, Wide yorker, around off, pace on. Shreyas Iyer looks to just guide this towards the third man region, but fails to get bat on ball.

Brijesh Sharma to Shreyas Iyer, Bumper, around off, Shreyas Iyer looks to pull this initially but doesn't get into a good position to do so and bails out of the stroke.

Brijesh Sharma to Marcus Stoinis, Good length, around off, Marcus Stoinis punches this to sweeper cover for a single.

Brijesh Sharma to Shreyas Iyer, Back of a length, around off, Iyer slaps this towards long off for one.

STRATEGIC BREAK! A solid middle phase for the Rajasthan Royals. The first 8 overs went for 95 runs, but they pulled things back well, conceding just 65 in the next 8. Jofra Archer and Brijesh Sharma have been effective in the pace department for RR tonight, while Nandre Burger has been expensive. With both spinners bowled out, it will be interesting to see if Riyan Parag uses Burger's fourth over or turns to someone like Dasun Shanaka instead. Brijesh has been brought back. 2-0-11-0 so far for Sharma.

Yash Punja to Marcus Stoinis, SIX! Goes all the way! Yash Punja drops it a bit too short and on middle. Marcus Stoinis sees this as a scoring opportunity and rocks back to heave it. He gets it from the inside half of the bat but hits it in the gap between deep mid-wicket and long on, and the ball lands on the boundary cushions on the full.

Yash Punja to Marcus Stoinis, Slows it up, fullish and on middle, Marcus Stoinis stays deep inside the crease and pushes it back to the bowler.

Yash Punja to Shreyas Iyer, Drags his length back, around off, Shreyas Iyer stays back and punches it to sweeper cover for one.

Yash Punja to Marcus Stoinis, Flatter, full and on middle and leg, Marcus Stoinis goes down for the slog sweep but gets an inside edge towards short fine for another run.

Yash Punja to Shreyas Iyer, Short again and around off, Shreyas Iyer forces it down to long off for a run.

Yash Punja to Marcus Stoinis, A googly, short and turning into leg, Marcus Stoinis pats it to long on for a single.

Ravindra Jadeja to Shreyas Iyer, Flatter, shortish and on middle, Shreyas Iyer flicks it off the back foot through square leg for a couple of runs. 150 UP FOR PBKS!

Ravindra Jadeja to Marcus Stoinis, Shorter in length again, outside off, Marcus Stoinis backs away and steers it towards point for one.

Ravindra Jadeja to Marcus Stoinis, Short again and on off, Marcus Stoinis stabs it out to extra cover.

Ravindra Jadeja to Shreyas Iyer, Drags his length back, on middle, Shreyas Iyer tucks it through mid-wicket for another run.

Ravindra Jadeja to Marcus Stoinis, Slows it up, full and on off, Marcus Stoinis drives it to long off for a run.

Ravindra Jadeja to Shreyas Iyer, Shorter in length and on middle, Shreyas Iyer nudges it through mid-wicket for a single.

The 48-run stand has been broken. Marcus Stoinis makes his way out to bat. Ravindra Jadeja to bowl out now.

Yash Punja to Prabhsimran Singh, OUT! CAUGHT! Yash Punja gets a massive wicket for his side. He tosses up the leggie, full and outside off, turning it away as well. Prabhsimran Singh skips down the track to go for the big shot, but this is away from his arc, and he has to reach out for it. He goes through with the shot but only manages a top edge that goes high in the air towards cover, where Riyan Parag settles under it and pouches it safely. End of another great knock from Singh, and PBKS are 144/3.

Yash Punja to Shreyas Iyer, Follows the batter, bowls this quicker and shortish, on leg, Shreyas Iyer stabs it out through extra covers for one.

Yash Punja to Shreyas Iyer, SIX! Skipper joins the party now! Yash Punja bowls this almost at his toes, on middle, turning it a bit. Shreyas Iyer has all the time in the world to rock back and whack it over the deep mid-wicket fence for a biggie.

Yash Punja to Prabhsimran Singh, Dragged back, outside off, Prabhsimran Singh cuts it away through point for another run.

Yash Punja to Shreyas Iyer, Goes short again and on middle, Shreyas Iyer mistimes his pull shot down to long on for a run.

Yash Punja to Prabhsimran Singh, Floated, short and around off, Prabhsimran Singh uses his feet and punches it to long off for a single.

Brijesh Sharma to Prabhsimran Singh, Pitched up and on middle, Prabhsimran Singh stays deep inside the crease and whips it away to deep mid-wicket for one more. Another fine over from Brijesh!

Brijesh Sharma to Shreyas Iyer, Bangs this into the pitch, on off, Shreyas Iyer heaves it to deep mid-wicket for one.

Brijesh Sharma to Prabhsimran Singh, Hits the length hard, on middle, angling in and pace on, Prabhsimran Singh once again slogs it but gets an inside edge through square leg for a run.

Brijesh Sharma to Prabhsimran Singh, Short of a length and outside off, slower again. Prabhsimran Singh uses his feet but has to drag it. It goes off the inner half of the bat through mid-wicket, and Singh comes back for the second run.

Brijesh Sharma to Prabhsimran Singh, Nicely bowled! Back of a length and around off, takes pace off, Prabhsimran Singh goes through the pull very early and misses.

Brijesh Sharma to Prabhsimran Singh, Uppish but safe! Brijesh Sharma bowls a high full toss, on middle. Prabhsimran Singh swings across the line but gets a top edge behind the stumps. Yash Punja is a bit late tracking the ball. He turns around and goes after it from short fine leg but the ball drops out of his reach. Two taken.

Ravindra Jadeja to Prabhsimran Singh, Pushed through on middle and off, Singh tucks this through square leg for a single.

Ravindra Jadeja to Shreyas Iyer, Fired onto the pads, Shreyas Iyer tucks this to deep backward square leg for one.

Ravindra Jadeja to Shreyas Iyer, FOUR BYES! Poor by Jurel. Much slower, around off, Shreyas Iyer leans back and looks to play the square cut but fails to get bat on ball. Jurel doesn't gather this either, and the ball nutmegs him for a boundary towards the sight screen behind the stumps.

Ravindra Jadeja to Prabhsimran Singh, FIFTY FOR SINGH! Full and on off, Prabhsimran Singh milks this in the ample space towards the mid-wicket region and takes a single to bring up his half-century. Fourth fifty of the season for Prabhsimran, and the young right-hander continues to impress.

Ravindra Jadeja to Shreyas Iyer, A tad short, on off, Shreyas Iyer cuts this towards backward point and takes a quick single as the fielder cuts it off.

Ravindra Jadeja to Prabhsimran Singh, Darted into the batter, on middle and leg, Prabhsimran Singh works this to the right of Archer at deep mid-wicket for a single.

Jofra Archer to Prabhsimran Singh, Slower one, into the deck and towards the pads of Singh. Prabh flicks this through square leg for one.

Jofra Archer to Shreyas Iyer, On a length, in the line of the sticks. Shreyas Iyer flicks this down to long on for an easy rotation of strike.

Jofra Archer to Prabhsimran Singh, Good length, around off, Prabhsimran Singh drops this around covers and rotates the strike.

Jofra Archer to Prabhsimran Singh, FOUR! A really good stroke this time for a boundary. Back of a length around off, Prabhsimran Singh shimmies down and away and slaps this over mid off for a boundary more.

Jofra Archer to Prabhsimran Singh, FOUR! Archer continues to bowl well without much luck. Short again, around off, Prabhsimran Singh clears his front foot and plants it towards his leg side as he swings at it. Gets an outside edge that flies over the keeper for a boundary behind the stumps.

Jofra Archer to Prabhsimran Singh, Short-pitched delivery, around off, Prabhsimran Singh dabs this to the strong side of Jadeja at backward point. Singh was off for one but was sent back just in time by Iyer.

Ravindra Jadeja to Prabhsimran Singh, Fuller on off, Prabhsimran Singh pushes this down to Donovan Ferreira at long off and takes another single to close the over.

Ravindra Jadeja to Shreyas Iyer, Fired around off, Iyer stands tall and smashes this to wide long off for just one.

Ravindra Jadeja to Shreyas Iyer, Quicker and flatter on off, Shreyas Iyer moves away to his leg side and punches this to the right of sweeper cover for a couple.

Ravindra Jadeja to Prabhsimran Singh, Full and on middle and off, Prabhsimran Singh tucks this to deep square leg for a run.

Ravindra Jadeja to Shreyas Iyer, Full and on off, Iyer comes forward and plays it towards long off for a run.

Ravindra Jadeja to Shreyas Iyer, Floated on off, Shreyas Iyer drives this to covers.

Yash Punja to Prabhsimran Singh, FOUR! That's been hit away to the fence. Fuller around the pads, Prabhsimran Singh shuffles across and sweeps this towards the deep backward square leg region for four. The 100 comes up for PBKS.

Yash Punja to Shreyas Iyer, Quicker one, on middle and leg, Shreyas Iyer works this through square leg for a single.

Yash Punja to Shreyas Iyer, Tossed up, around off, Shreyas Iyer presses onto his front foot and drives this to cover.

Yash Punja to Shreyas Iyer, A confident shout for LBW, but turned down. Googly, first up, on middle and leg, to the skipper of PBKS. Shreyas Iyer rocks deep inside the crease and goes for a flick but misses out and gets rapped on the back pad. A confident appeal by Punja in particular, but the umpire shrugs it down. Yash convinces his skipper to send this upstairs for DRS. Nothing on the UltraEdge as the ball passes the bat. Ball Tracking has the ball missing the leg pole. Iyer stays and RR lose a review.

In walks the captain of the Punjab Kings. Here is Shreyas Iyer.

Yash Punja to Cooper Connolly, OUT! CAUGHT! Yash Punja removes the dangerous-looking Cooper Connolly. Wrong'un, around off, Connolly sinks to a knee and goes through with a lofted stroke. Ends up miscuing this off the cue end towards the long off region. Donovan Ferreira settles himself underneath it and takes it reverse cup over his head to send Cooper Connolly back.

Yash Punja to Prabhsimran Singh, Short of a length, around middle and off, Prabhsimran Singh flicks this through mid-wicket for a single.

Ravindra Jadeja to Cooper Connolly, FOUR! Gets it through! Quicker and shorter, outside off. Cooper Connolly slashes hard at it. It flies off the outer half of the bat but between point and short third for a boundary. 15 runs off the over.

Ravindra Jadeja to Cooper Connolly, SIX! Third one already for Cooper Connolly! Ravindra Jadeja goes back to his shorter length, on middle and off. Connolly picks up the length early, rocks back and smacks it over the long on fence for half a dozen more. That brings up the 50-RUN STAND between these two batters.

Ravindra Jadeja to Prabhsimran Singh, Flighted, full and on off, Prabhsimran Singh drives it to long off for another run.

Ravindra Jadeja to Prabhsimran Singh, Drops it short once more, on middle, Prabhsimran Singh tucks it with soft hands to the vacant mid-wicket region. He calls for two and turns around, as Ravindra Jadeja himself chases the ball. He slides, picks up the ball, gets up and scores a direct hit at the bowler's end, but Cooper has made his ground.

Ravindra Jadeja to Cooper Connolly, Flatter, short again and on leg, Cooper Connolly nudges it to deep mid-wicket for a run.

Ravindra Jadeja to Prabhsimran Singh, Floater, short and on middle, Prabhsimran Singh flicks it off the back foot through square leg for a single.

STRATEGIC BREAK! PBKS are en route to another massive total with the way they have started in this contest. At 80 for 1 after 7 overs and the depth they have got with an in-form Iyer still to unleash, PBKS will be aiming at least 200 plus from here. Rajasthan Royals need to keep chipping in with wickets and the variety, which Yash Punja, Ravindra Jadeja and Dasun Shanaka will bring to the table in the middle phase, will play a key role. Jadeja to bowl after the break.

Yash Punja to Cooper Connolly, Pushed through quicker, slightly fuller, outside off, skids through, Cooper Connolly misses out on his cut.

Yash Punja to Prabhsimran Singh, Dragged back, on middle, Prabhsimran Singh pulls it to deep mid-wicket for one.

Yash Punja to Cooper Connolly, Short again and around off, Cooper Connolly punches it through cover-point for a run.

Yash Punja to Cooper Connolly, SIX! This one is right out of the middle! A half-tracker, begging to be hit. Cooper Connolly opens up his stance and muscles it over the wide long on fence for another biggie.

Yash Punja to Cooper Connolly, SIX! High and all the way! Yash Punja drags his length back, on middle. Cooper Connolly stands tall and swats it down the ground. Looks like it goes off the top edge, and Jofra Archer at long on thinks he is in the game. He runs to his right but only to watch the ball just sail over his head for a biggie.

Yash Punja to Prabhsimran Singh, Floated, full and on leg, Prabhsimran Singh clips it through square leg for a single.

End of the Powerplay! It has been another high-scoring one for PBKS as they are 65/1 after the first 6 overs. Arya once again went off the blocks in a flash, but Archer troubled him throughout and eventually got rid of him in the 3rd over. Prabhsimran Singh is starting to get going, and so is Cooper Connolly. Time for spin as Yash Punja comes into the attack. The way Jadeja and Punja bowl in the middle phase might dictate how big a total PBKS put up.

Nandre Burger to Cooper Connolly, FOUR! Up and over! Nandre Burger sticks to the fuller length and on middle and off. Cooper Connolly makes a bit of room by moving to the leg side. Hits it through the line and sends it well over mid off for a boundary.

Nandre Burger to Prabhsimran Singh, Good fielding! Fullish delivery, on middle, Prabhsimran Singh backs a long way away and hits it through the line, drilling it wide of mid off. Jofra Archer moves to his right and dives to make a fine stop. Keeps it to just one.

Nandre Burger to Prabhsimran Singh, Keeps the length fuller, on middle, attacking the stumps, Prabhsimran Singh knocks it with a straight bat to mid off.

Nandre Burger to Cooper Connolly, Pitched up and on middle, Cooper Connolly eases it to long off for a run.

Nandre Burger to Prabhsimran Singh, Fuller and on middle this time, Prabhsimran Singh drills it to long on for a single.

Nandre Burger to Prabhsimran Singh, SIX! Picked up and how! Nandre Burger serves this fuller but on the pads of the batter. Prabhsimran Singh picks it off cleanly, brings his wrists into play and whips it effortlessly over the deep square leg fence for a biggie.

Brijesh Sharma to Prabhsimran Singh, Right in the blockhole, on middle, Prabhsimran Singh jams it out towards long on for one more. Just 4 runs off Brijesh's first over!

Brijesh Sharma to Cooper Connolly, Pitches it up and on middle, angling in a bit. Cooper Connolly works it off the inner half of his bat onto his pads. The ball deflects towards backward square leg and the batters get one.

Brijesh Sharma to Cooper Connolly, WIDE! Errs in line and serves this full but down the leg side, Cooper Connolly fails to glance it away. Called a wide. That also brings up the 50 for PBKS!

Brijesh Sharma to Cooper Connolly, Short of a length and around middle, gives no pace to the batter. Cooper Connolly looks to pull it away but goes through the shot early. Gets a bottom edge back onto his thigh pad as the ball goes nowhere.

Brijesh Sharma to Cooper Connolly, Pitched up and on middle, angling in, Cooper Connolly drills it firmly but straight to mid off.

Brijesh Sharma to Prabhsimran Singh, Takes pace off, full and on middle and leg, Prabhsimran Singh tucks it to the left of mid-wicket for a single.

Brijesh Sharma to Prabhsimran Singh, Fuller in length and on off, Prabhsimran Singh drives it hard but off the bottom half of the bat as it rolls to mid off.

Nandre Burger to Prabhsimran Singh, Slips in the yorker, on off. Prabhsimran Singh digs it out to mid off and retains the strike with a single. 11 runs off the over.

Nandre Burger to Prabhsimran Singh, FOUR! That sounded so sweet! Burger takes pace off but gets the length wrong. This sits up to be hit, around the waist, Prabhsimran nails the pull shot with authority over mid-wicket for four more.

Nandre Burger to Prabhsimran Singh, FOUR! Thumped! Burger pitches it up, on middle. Singh backs away and clears the front leg. He gets his hands through the line of the ball and flat bats it back past the bowler's left for a four.

Nandre Burger to Prabhsimran Singh, Stays full, following the batter, Prabhsimran Singh moves towards the leg side to force it away. Gets an inside edge and it rolls to short fine leg.

Nandre Burger to Prabhsimran Singh, Fuller and on middle and leg, Prabhsimran Singh makes room to slam it down the ground with a horizontal bat. This hits Singh high on the bat, but he gets enough wood on it to clear mid on. Riyan Parag turns around and hauls it in with a tumble, saving a couple of runs for his side.

Nandre Burger to Prabhsimran Singh, On a good length, on middle and leg. Prabhsimran Singh stabs it down on the leg side.

Change? No, Riyan Parag is sticking with Nandre Burger.

Jofra Archer to Cooper Connolly, Going away, on a back of a length. Cooper Connolly shoulders arms.

Priyansh Arya's luck finally runs out. Cooper Connolly walks out to bat at number 3.

Jofra Archer to Priyansh Arya, OUT! CAUGHT! Jofra Archer finally has his man. Fuller and attacking the stumps. Arya gets his hands out in front and swings through the line. His weight stays on the back foot and gets it right off the bottom part of the blade. It is skied to mid on. Nandre Burger takes a few steps in and bends to take a safe catch around his waist.

Jofra Archer to Priyansh Arya, FOUR! A snorter by Jofra Archer and it has been tipped over by Yashasvi Jaiswal. A tough chance, but a chance nonetheless. You have got to feel for Jofra Archer. Archer digs it in short and gets it to climb onto the batter. Arya cannot drop his wrists quickly and leaves his bat hanging to keep it out. The ball takes the outside edge and flies to first slip. Jaiswal leaps and sticks out both hands over his head. The ball clips his fingertips and goes behind for a four.

Jofra Archer to Priyansh Arya, Strangled down leg? Dhruv Jurel thinks so, but he gets no support from anyone else. Wide not given and the umpire thinks it has gone off the pad. Sprayed down leg, on a length. Arya fails to lay any bat on the tickle. Oh, wait, Priyansh has reviewed the call of wide. The UltraEdge confirms that the ball grazed the pads before going behind to the keeper. PBKS burn an early review.

Jofra Archer to Priyansh Arya, A well-directed short ball, over off. Arya rises with the bounce and fends it off.

Jofra Archer to Priyansh Arya, FOUR! Edged, but there is no slip. Jofra Archer did not seem to know that there was no slip and turned around to Riyan Parag, asking - 'Where is the slip, mate?' On a hard length, across off. Priyansh Arya gets his hands high to fend it down. The ball leaves him with the angle and flies past the keeper, Dhruv Jurel, who flings himself to his left but to no avail.

Nandre Burger to Priyansh Arya, Drags the length back a bit, on off. Arya punches it to cover-point, where the fielder moves to his right but can't make the stop. He lets it through and the batters cross for one.

Nandre Burger to Priyansh Arya, FOUR! Edged away! Fuller in length, in the channel on off. Priyansh goes hard on the drive and an outside edge is found. He gets away with it as there is no one at slip and the ball flies past short third's right. 20 runs off the over with a ball to go.

Nandre Burger to Priyansh Arya, FOUR! Arya will feast on those all night. Burger hurls it on a back of a length, outside off. Arya stands tall on top of the bounce by getting on his toes and just checks the lofted hit over point for four more.

Nandre Burger to Priyansh Arya, SIX! Class written all over it. Skidding onto the bat nicely, on a good length, just outside the off stump. Stand and deliver stuff from Arya. He holds his shape and presents a high elbow. Lofts it inside out over cover for half a dozen.

Nandre Burger to Priyansh Arya, FOUR! Gets it away! Fractionally short at waist height, angling in, on middle. Priyansh waits back and gets on top of the bounce to play the short-arm jab. The bat turns in his hand but he gets it through the vacant mid-wicket region for a four.

Nandre Burger to Priyansh Arya, Arya is off the mark. Burger begins with a short ball, over middle. Priyansh takes it on with the pull but does not quite get hold of it. He clears the in-field square of the wicket on the leg side and picks up a couple of runs.

There is definitely some movement on offer on this wicket. Nandre Burger to share the new ball.

Jofra Archer to Prabhsimran Singh, Missed out! Too straight from Archer, on a short of a length. Singh glances it off the pads but picks out the man at short fine leg. A couple of meters to the either side and it would have been a boundary.

Jofra Archer to Prabhsimran Singh, Oh, that could have trickled back onto the stumps on another day. Pitched up by Jofra, curving back into the right-hander. Prabhsimran Singh moves towards the leg side and has a big heave across the line. He is beaten on the inside edge and the ball catches him on the crouched back thigh before dribbling past the leg stump.

Jofra Archer to Prabhsimran Singh, Good comeback. Jagging back in sharply, on a back of a length, on middle. Prabhsimran hangs back to deal with it. He is beaten on the inside edge and wears it high on the back pad.

Jofra Archer to Prabhsimran Singh, FOUR LEG BYES! Overcorrection from Archer. Jofra looks to tighten his line and bowls it slightly fuller than the previous ball. The line starts a bit too straight and it swings back into the pads. Singh misses out on the tickle but the ball clips his pads and races fine of short fine leg.

Jofra Archer to Prabhsimran Singh, FOUR! Flayed away! Prabhsimran Singh and the Punjab Kings are underway. Archer bangs it into the strip but offers width on off. Prabhsimran backs away and hangs deep in the crease. He reaches out and slaps it over cover-point for the first boundary of the game.

Jofra Archer to Prabhsimran Singh, Archer steams in from over the wicket and gets the ball to jag back in off a nagging length. Prabhsimran Singh stays on the back foot and defends it right under his eyes.

All in readiness! The two umpires walk out to the middle now. A huge roar from the crowd as they see the two destructive Punjab Kings openers - Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya make their way out. We can see the Rajasthan Royals players in a huddle before they spread out and take their respective field positions. There is no doubt in who will be taking the new ball, it will be Jofra Archer. Let's play...

Impact sub options for RR - Ravi Bishnoi, Ravi Singh, Tushar Deshpande, Shubham Dubey and Shimron Hetmyer.

Rajasthan Royals (Playing XI) - Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Riyan Parag (C), Donovan Ferreira, Ravindra Jadeja, Dasun Shanaka (On RR debut) (In for Shimron Hetmyer), Jofra Archer, Nandre Burger, Brijesh Sharma and Yash Punja (In for Ravi Bishnoi).

Impact sub options for PBKS - Vishnu Vinod, Xavier Bartlett, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Harpreet Brar and Musheer Khan.

Punjab Kings (Playing XI) - Prabhsimran Singh (WK), Priyansh Arya, Cooper Connolly, Shreyas Iyer (C), Suryansh Shedge (In for Shashank Singh), Nehal Wadhera, Marcus Stoinis, Marco Jansen, Lockie Ferguson (In for Xavier Bartlett), Arshdeep Singh and Yuzvendra Chahal.

The skipper of the Punjab Kings - Shreyas Iyer says that they would have bowled first as well, given that the pitch has been under covers for the past couple of days. Iyer informs that Suryansh Shedge and Lockie Ferguson come into the side. Shreyas mentions that while individuals have personal goals, the collective focus remains on maintaining winning momentum. Iyer concludes by offering the team's collective condolences to teammate Azmatullah Omarzai and his family for their loss.

The captain of the Rajasthan Royals - Riyan Parag says that it looks like a pretty good wicket. Adds that there was a bit of rain around as well, maybe some moisture on it, and they want to extract it. Parag informs that Shimron Hetmyer sits out, and Dasun Shanaka replaces him. Takes a couple of seconds to remember the second change and says that Ravi Bishnoi is out with Yash Punja coming in for him. Riyan shares that it is very hard to practice for the small moments. Opines that you just have to hold your nerves under pressure and test your character.

TOSS - Time for the flip of the coin. Shreyas Iyer and Riyan Parag are present in the centre. Shreyas gives it a flick. Riyan calls it correctly. Rajasthan Royals opt to BOWL first.

A quick chat with the spin wizard - Yuzvendra Chahal says the belief was always there that they could chase 265. He admits that conditions have been favouring the batters, but they, as bowlers, welcome that challenge, as it pushes them to improve. Chahal shares that he always looks to attack with the ball and values the freedom given by the captain and management to express himself. Above all, he stresses a team-first approach as the main thing.

How are the visitors feeling? Donovan Ferreira calls New Chandigarh an amazing venue and says the pitch looks good based on the earlier games played here. Believes that RR have been playing good cricket. When asked about his thoughts on Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Donovan smiles and says that at Vaibhav’s age, he was still playing with toy trucks, while Vaibhav is hitting sixes all over the park. Ferreira says that batting at number six helps him understand how the wicket is behaving by the time he comes in, and it is up to the openers to assess the conditions early. When asked about his learnings from the IPL, Donovan replies that he has learnt to be more explosive in his approach. He stresses the importance of backing himself and believes it is about taking the brave option.

PITCH REPORT - Deep Dasgupta is pitchside. He says that this is a fairly bigger ground than the rest. Adds that the square boundaries are 70 and 64 meters, while the straight hit is 74 meters. Danny Morrison joins him and says that there was a bit of rain around, but there is a good covering of grass on the surface. He reckons that both sides have quality pacers who will be able to swing or seam the ball on this wicket early on. Dasgupta shares that this surface is more like the 219 wicket, you can see the sheen, and the ball will skid onto the bat nicely. Ends by saying that you will want to bowl first to figure out what the par score is on this pitch.

Tactical outlook - The defining narrative of this contest lies in the battle between the explosive PBKS batting unit and the lethal RR bowling attack. With the likes of Jofra and Burger with sheer pace early on and Bishnoi strangling teams in the middle, RR do seem to have the perfect antidote to Punjab's aggressive style. Ultimately, the side that holds its nerve better will clinch the victory. Stay tuned for toss and team news.

Fielding woes - In a match of such high quality, the difference could ultimately come down to who holds onto their chances. Rajasthan Royals will be wary of their sluggish fielding, which has already cost them dearly this season. Punjab Kings haven't been perfect either, having dropped a lot of catches, with Shashank Singh being a notable culprit. Against elite opposition, a single mistake in the field can be the catalyst for defeat, making ground fielding and catching a top priority for both sides tonight.

The brilliance and the burden - While Rajasthan Royals remain a top-tier side, their campaign has been defined by a heavy reliance on their superstar top three. When the trio of Jaiswal, Sooryavanshi, and Jurel clicks, RR looks like one of the most dangerous batting units in the IPL. However, the cracks become visible when they fail to fire. The middle order has struggled to provide the same impetus, resulting in the team falling a few runs short. Against a PBKS side that scores relentlessly, the RR top order must not only start well but also bat deep.

Riding the wave of a historic chase - The Punjab Kings currently sit comfortably at the top of the points table, exuding a level of confidence that has rarely been seen in their franchise history. Much of this self-belief stems from their recent historic run-chase, where they hunted down a mammoth target with such clinical ease that it sent shockwaves through the competition. Their opening pair of Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya has been operating at peak efficiency, ensuring that no total feels out of reach when they are in pursuit. This invincible aura makes them a terrifying prospect for any opponent, as they seem to find a different hero in every match.

An unstoppable force vs a lethal object - Hello, and welcome to everyone tuning in. Anticipation has reached a fever pitch as Match 40 of IPL 2026 brings together two of the tournament's most formidable units at New Chandigarh. The Punjab Kings arrive as an indomitable force, still carrying their perfect record deep into the season. However, they face their steepest challenge yet in the Rajasthan Royals, a deadly side equipped with a bowling arsenal specifically designed to dismantle high-flying lineups. Can RR finally crack the Punjab code and hand the league leaders their first setback?

... MATCH DAY ...

Kings on a roll - Riding a wave of confidence and rewriting record books along the way, Punjab Kings step into Match 40 of the Indian Premier League 2026 for a high-stakes clash at the New PCA Stadium, where they face a Rajasthan Royals side searching for answers. Punjab are the only unbeaten team in the competition and are coming off a historic high, chasing down 265 against Delhi Capitals, the highest successful chase in T20 history. It also underlines their reputation as the best chasing side in the league, with a record 11 successful 200-plus run chases, meaning no total is ever truly safe against them. Depth untouched - At the heart of Punjab's dominance is their fearless batting unit. Prabhsimran Singh has been their standout performer with 287 runs, smashing three half-centuries in his last four games, while Priyansh Arya has been relentless at the top with a staggering strike rate of 249.01, making them one of the most dangerous opening pairs this season. Cooper Connolly has slotted perfectly into number three, adding stability, while Shreyas Iyer has elevated his game to another level, scoring four fifties - all in chases, showing his growing mastery in pressure situations. What makes Punjab even more dangerous is that their middle order hasn't fully been tested yet. Nehal Wadhera has chipped in with handy cameos, while the presence of Marcus Stoinis and Shashank Singh as finishers provides serious firepower, with Shashank also contributing crucial wickets with the ball. Add Marco Jansen's all-round abilities, and this is a unit that looks complete on paper and in execution. A complete bowling unit - Their bowling has quietly backed up the batting brilliance. Arshdeep Singh is finding his rhythm at the right time, while Xavier Bartlett and Vijaykumar Vyshak have provided solid support. Yuzvendra Chahal continues to lead the spin attack with control and experience, and with Connolly capable of chipping in, Punjab have multiple options at their disposal. If there's one slight concern, it's been their fielding in the last couple of games, with a few dropped chances creeping in. It hasn't cost them yet, but it's something they'll want to clean up as the tournament enters a crucial phase. Royals' rise and recent fall - Rajasthan Royals began their campaign in dominant fashion with four straight wins but have since lost three of their last four games, exposing cracks that were previously hidden. Despite the dip, they remain a dangerous side, capable of turning things around quickly, especially with the kind of talent they possess. Teenage sensation - The biggest positive for Rajasthan has been the sensational rise of 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who has taken the league by storm with 357 runs in eight games. His blistering 37-ball 103 in the last outing not only showcased his immense talent but also saw him become the youngest player to 1000 T20 runs and the fastest to get there in terms of balls faced. Alongside him, Yashasvi Jaiswal has been inconsistent but still effective, averaging 42.50. However, Rajasthan's problem lies in their overdependence on this opening pair. Once they are separated, the innings tends to lose momentum. Middle order woes continues - Promoting Dhruv Jurel has paid dividends, with three fifties to his name this season, but beyond him, the middle order has struggled to make an impact. Riyan Parag and Shimron Hetmyer haven't even crossed triple digits this season, highlighting their struggles, while Donovan Ferreira has shown glimpses of promise without fully capitalising. Ravindra Jadeja's presence adds experience and balance, contributing with both bat and ball, but there's a sense that he hasn't been utilised to his full potential. Rajasthan's inability to finish innings strongly has been a recurring issue, costing them in tight games. Strength in bowling - Their bowling attack, though, remains one of the best in the competition. Jofra Archer has led from the front with 13 wickets and a knack for striking with the very first ball, setting the tone early. Nandre Burger has been equally effective with the new ball, while Brijesh Sharma has taken up the responsibility in the middle and death overs. Ravi Bishnoi, with 11 wickets, has been their key spinner. Yet, despite this strong attack, their failure to defend 228 in the last game will linger in their minds, raising questions about execution under pressure. Conditions and the stakes - The surface at Mullanpur has generally offered good bounce and carry, making it a venue where batters can trust the pitch and play their shots, often resulting in high-scoring contests. However, there is enough assistance for pacers early on, making the Powerplay phase crucial for both sides. Team form (Last 5 completed matches, recent first) - PBKS - WWWWW | RR - LWLLW. Momentum vs redemption - Rajasthan hold a 17-13 edge in the overall head-to-head, but the recent record stands evenly at 3-3, reflecting how closely contested this rivalry has been. Punjab will look to extend their unbeaten run and tighten their grip at the top, while Rajasthan are desperate to halt their slide and rediscover their early-season form. One team is playing fearless cricket with everything going right, the other is searching for answers despite flashes of brilliance, setting the stage for a contest where momentum meets desperation, and where one performance could shift the narrative yet again.