Rajasthan Royals crush PBKS and KKR's hopes to claim last spot in IPL 2026 Playoffs

Match overview

Rajasthan Royals survived a major scare in their last league stage game on May 24 to scrape past Mumbai Indians (MI) and book the only spot available for the IPL 2026 playoffs. Rajasthan's 30-run win over Mumbai Indians (MI) has knocked Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Punjab Kings (PBKS) from the race to the playoffs.

Rajasthan Royals' overseas signing Jofra Archer was the hero for them at the Wankhede. Archer played a quick-fire cameo, scoring 32 off just 15 balls with the help of a boundary and three sixes. He batted at a strike rate of 213.33 and ensured Rajasthan crossed the 200-run mark and posted 205.

He then dismissed Rohit Sharma, Naman Dhir and Hardik Pandya to claim a three-wicket haul, while giving away just 17 runs at 4.25 runs per over.

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Hardik's wicket in the 16th over effectively sealed the game for Royals as Archer did him with a well-directed bumper. In the end, it was a little too much for Suryakumar Yadav, who perished while trying to execute a pull off Nandre Burger in the 18th over and was caught and bowled.

MI could only manage 175 in the end for the loss of nine wickets. They finish ninth on the points table with four wins and 10 losses in 14 matches.

Earlier in the day, Rajasthan lost the toss in the do-or-die fixture and were asked to bat first. Several of their batters got starts, but none of them managed to even convert it into a fifty.

Yashasvi Jaiswal (27 off 17), Dhruv Jurel (38 off 26), Riyan Parag (14 off 8), Dasun Shanaka (29 off 15) and Donovan Ferreira (18 off 15) got their eyes in and then got out, which meant Archer had to step up with the willow in hand.

Ravindra Jadeja also played a useful cameo of 19* off 11 balls lower down the order. Deepak Chahar (2/43) and Shardul Thakur (2/41) were the standout performers for Mumbai.

In reply, Mumbai were put under pressure right from the outset, and they were reeling at 38/4 in 5.1 overs before Will Jacks and Suryakumar Yadav added 63 runs for the fifth wicket. Jacks galloped for his 33 off just 18 balls before he fell to Yash Raj Punja in the 12th over.

Hardik and Suryakumar then added 48 for the sixth wicket and looked like pulling the game from Royals' grasp, but Archer shattered the partnership and put an end to MI's hopes.

Top run-scorer of the match

Top wicket-taker of the match

Player of the Match

Jofra Archer

Archer proved his worth as an overseas pick yet again. He was unstoppable with the bat in hand as he leaned into Mumbai's bowling and then backed it up with a superb bowling spell, accounting for three big wickets that shifted the momentum into Rajasthan's favour.

Turning Point

Archer's knock was the turning point in the first innings. Rajasthan never really looked like posting 200 on the board, but Archer's cameo guided them past that mark. It was Archer again who made the difference in the second innings. His wicket of Hardik Pandya turned the game on its head.

What the captains said

Winning Team Captain, Riyan Parag (RR)

Feels good when things go to plan. We've won but a lot of things we need to do better. I wanted the set batter to play longer, we needed runs. We can't have two batters go at a run a ball. That's why we sent Jadeja, we wanted a quick 20 from him, which he provided. I've taken a lot of brave calls this season, that's how I like to lead. I thought only Archer could get Hardik, and that's what he did. I always go with instincts over numbers in real-time decisions. I don't praise Punja and Brijesh too much but the way Brijesh has been bowling and Punja - his journey from a net bowler to now - has been exceptional. I was definitely not fit, wasn't supposed to play today or the next game. Will definitely play next game. Jofra's strong as a rock. Jaddu's strong, he's a warrior. We should've qualified way earlier. We're picking slack.

Losing Team Captain, Hardik Pandya (MI)

We gave away 10-15 too many. It was chaseable, we lost too many early wickets. Wicket played similar both innings, you had to hold your shape and hit good cricketing shots to get value. Last five overs/death is always difficult. If you can stop one/two boundaries, you can keep teams 12-15 runs short. Conceding 73 in the last five cost us too. Body's fine. I bat, bowl, field and slip. It's fair to have a game where I just batted and enjoyed myself.