Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: It began with Virat Kohli‘s ‘naagin dance’ and ended with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s breathtaking blitz. The Rajasthan Royals vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru IPL 2026 clash at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati on Friday had entertainment written all over it – both on and off the field.With the toss delayed due to rain and wet outfield, Kohli slipped into his entertainer mode. Amid loud chants from the stands, the RCB star broke into his trademark ‘naagin dance’ during the warm-up, drawing massive cheers. The crowd erupted with chants of “Kohli! Kohli!” as the former India captain soaked in the moment with a smile.But once the game began, it was Rajasthan Royals who danced to victory.Chasing 202, RR were powered by a stunning assault from young sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who hammered 78 off just 26 balls. His fearless strokeplay, combined with Dhruv Jurel’s calm and composed unbeaten 81 off 43 deliveries, guided Rajasthan to a comfortable six-wicket win.The duo stitched a match-defining 108-run stand for the second wicket in just 37 balls, taking the game away from RCB in a flash.Earlier, Royal Challengers Bengaluru had posted 201 for 8 after being put in to bat. Skipper Rajat Patidar led from the front with a fighting 63, while Kohli (32), Romario Shepherd (22) and Venkatesh Iyer (29) made useful contributions.Krunal Pandya tried to spark a comeback with two quick wickets, but Jurel, alongside Ravindra Jadeja (24), ensured there were no late twists, finishing the chase with two overs to spare.For Rajasthan, Jofra Archer, Ravi Bishnoi and Brijesh Sharma picked up two wickets each.Kohli may have won the crowd with his dance moves before the match, but it was Sooryavanshi and Jurel who had the final say, scripting yet another emphatic win for an unbeaten Rajasthan Royals side.RR will next face Sunrisers Hyderabad on April 13, while RCB take on Mumbai Indians on Sunday.
