Match overview
Rajasthan Royals chased down 202 in Guwahati to beat Royal Challengers Bangalore by 6 wickets on 10 April 2026. The result turned on a remarkable powerplay: Rajasthan reached 97/1 after six overs, more than double Barsapara Cricket Stadium's average powerplay score of 47 across 25 IPL matches. RCB's 201/8 was a competitive total, sitting 13 runs above the venue's average first-innings score of 188, but Rajasthan's batting depth made it look inadequate. V Suryavanshi took the Player of the Match award and was the central figure in a chase that was effectively decided before the halfway point.
RCB's innings had its own strong phases. They put on 61/3 in the powerplay and 62/1 in the death overs, but a difficult middle period of 78/4 between overs seven and fifteen complicated the final total. Rajasthan's middle overs told a different story: 80/3 in that phase still left only 25 runs needed from the death, and they completed that without losing a wicket.
The win ends RCB's five-match winning run in 2026. The head-to-head record across 34 meetings now reads 17 wins for Royal Challengers Bangalore and 16 for Rajasthan Royals.
Venue and conditions
Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati has hosted 25 IPL fixtures, producing an average first-innings score of 188 and an average second-innings total of 164. The gap between those two numbers reflects a surface that tends to favour the team batting first: chasing sides have won only 46% of matches here.
The powerplay is traditionally where first-innings teams build their advantage. The venue's average of 47 powerplay runs is modest by IPL standards, which makes Rajasthan's 97/1 across their six opening overs all the more extraordinary. Teams batting first have generally relied on consolidation through the middle and a strong death phase: the venue's average death-overs score of 39 is consistent with what RCB managed (62/1), but it wasn't the platform that decided this match.
Captains have chosen to field first in 73% of matches at Barsapara, and Rajasthan followed that convention after winning the toss. On this occasion, the decision was fully vindicated, though the historical data suggests it is far from a guaranteed route to victory.
How to watch
IPL matches are broadcast live in the UK on Sky Sports Cricket. Streaming is available through Sky Go for existing subscribers and via a NOW TV day pass for those without a full Sky subscription. Given the time difference with India, evening fixtures in Guwahati typically start around 14:30 UK time for afternoon matches and approximately 19:30 UK time for evening kick-offs. Check Sky Sports listings for confirmed UK broadcast times on a match-by-match basis.
Recent form
Both sides came into this fixture in strong condition. Royal Challengers Bangalore had won five consecutive matches, including victories over Chennai Super Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad in the 2026 season, as well as three wins in the 2025 campaign against Punjab Kings and Lucknow Super Giants. The five-match streak made them arguably the form side in the competition heading to Guwahati.
Rajasthan Royals were only marginally behind. They had won four of their last five matches, with victories over Mumbai Indians, Gujarat Titans and Chennai Super Kings all coming in 2026, and their sole defeat in that sequence coming against Punjab Kings in 2025. Two sides in this kind of form meeting on a ground that has now hosted a 202-run successful chase suggests the competition's middle phase is shaping up to be closely contested. Both teams will look to build on this run; their next fixtures will be worth watching for signs of which side recovers or consolidates first.
