RR vs SRH Eliminator: Rajasthan Royals Knock Out Hyderabad, Set Qualifier 2 Clash With GT

In a high-stakes encounter at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur, Rajasthan Royals delivered a stunning performance to defeat Sunrisers Hyderabad by 47 runs in the IPL 2026 Eliminator. This victory has propelled Rajasthan Royals into the second qualifier, while Sunrisers Hyderabad's journey in the 2026 season has come to an end. The Rajasthan Royals showed immense dominance throughout the match, setting a massive target that proved too much for the Hyderabad side to handle in this do-or-die situation.

The Road to Qualifier 2 Against Gujarat Titans

With this clinical win, Rajasthan Royals have secured their spot in the second qualifier of the tournament. They're now scheduled to face Gujarat Titans in a crucial match that will determine who moves closer to the trophy, while this upcoming clash is set to take place at the same venue, the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, on May 29. Cricket fans can expect the action to begin at 7:30 PM as both teams vie for a place in the final. The momentum is clearly with the Royals after such a comprehensive victory in the Eliminator.

Suryavanshi's Batting Masterclass and Near Century

The match began with Sunrisers Hyderabad captain Pat Cummins winning the toss and electing to field first. However, this decision quickly backfired as Rajasthan Royals' opener Vaibhav Suryavanshi took the Hyderabad bowlers to the cleaners, while suryavanshi played a breathtaking innings, reaching his half-century in just 16 balls. His explosive start included 8 massive sixes in the early stages of his knock. He continued his onslaught, hitting a total of 12 sixes during his stay at the crease. It appeared as though he would break the record for the fastest century in IPL history, but he was eventually dismissed for 97 runs by Prafull Hinge, falling just 3 runs short of a well-deserved hundred.

Support from Dhruv Jurel and Riyan Parag

While Suryavanshi provided the fireworks at the top, Dhruv Jurel maintained the momentum with a fiery half-century of his own. Jurel scored 50 runs off only 21 deliveries, a knock decorated with 3 sixes and 5 boundaries. Captain Riyan Parag also made a significant contribution, scoring 26 runs from 12 balls, which included 2 sixes and 2 fours. Despite these aggressive performances, Rajasthan Royals narrowly missed the 250 run mark, finishing their 20 overs with a formidable total of 243 runs on the board. The Hyderabad bowlers struggled to find answers to the relentless attacking intent shown by the Rajasthan batting lineup.

Jofra Archer Leads the Bowling Attack

Defending a target of 244, Jofra Archer spearheaded the Rajasthan Royals' bowling attack with precision and pace. He struck early, dismissing Abhishek Sharma for 0 on just his second delivery of the match. Although Ishan Kishan tried to revive the Hyderabad innings with a quickfire 33 runs, featuring 3 sixes and 3 fours, Archer proved too good for him as well. Archer also claimed the crucial wicket of Travis Head, who could only manage 17 runs before being bowled. The Hyderabad batting lineup struggled to find stability against the accuracy of the Rajasthan bowlers from the very beginning of the chase.

Middle Order Collapse and Final Result

The pressure continued to mount on Sunrisers Hyderabad as Nandre Burger dismissed Smaran Ravichandran. Yash Raj Punja added to their woes by sending Heinrich Klaasen back to the pavilion for 18 runs. In the middle order, Nitish Kumar Reddy and Salil Arora attempted to entertain the crowd with some aggressive shots, but their efforts were cut short by Ravindra Jadeja. Jadeja dismissed both batsmen, effectively ending any remaining hopes for a Hyderabad comeback. In the end, Sunrisers Hyderabad fell 47 runs short of the target, confirming their exit from IPL 2026 and sending Rajasthan Royals through to the next stage of the competition.