Yesterday’s KKR vs LSG clash was pure magic—the best match of IPL 2026 so far, hands down. I called DC vs GT the top one before, but I stand corrected! LSG looked totally out of it early, with Sunil Narine bamboozling them with the ball. Then young Mukul Choudhary stole the show, smashing a match-winning 57* off 27 balls and winning the match out of absolutely nowhere. Those massive sixes, especially that last lofted extra-cover drive, executed in his own unique style—pure class. What a magnificent knock, well done Mukul!
Now, on to today’s game — it’s The YOAT vs The King in Guwahati as Royal Challengers Bengaluru take on Rajasthan Royals in Match 16 of the 2026 edition of the Indian Premier League. Let’s take a look at everything you need to know ahead of this Royal Clash.
Expected Playing 11:
RR:
- Yashasvi Jaiswal
- Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
- Riyan Parag (C)
- Dhruv Jurel (WK)
- Shimron Hetmyer
- Ravindra Jadeja
- Donnovan Ferreira
- Jofra Archer
- Ravi Bishnoi
- Sandeep Sharma
- Tushar Deshpande
Impact Player- Nandre Burger
RCB:
- Virat Kohli
- Phil Salt
- Devdutt Padikkal
- Rajat Patidar (C)
- Jitesh Sharma (WK)
- Tim David
- Romario Shephard
- Krunal Pandya
- Bhuvneshwar Kumar
- Abhinandan Singh
- Jacob Duffy
Impact Player- Suyash Sharma
Josh Hazlewood still isn’t fully match-fit, so he’ll likely skip the game against Rajasthan Royals.
Head to Head:
| Matches- | 34 |
| RR Won- | 14 |
| RCB Won- | 17 |
| No Result- | 3 |
Pitch and Weather Conditions:
True pitch, even bounce, and conducive for strokeplay. It’s the same surface on which RR walloped 150 in their 11-overs shootout against Mumbai Indians on Tuesday. The mantra will pretty much be the same for the batters: plant the foot forward, flay the ball fearlessly. The weather forecast seems a lot better too.
-ESPN CricInfo
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s IPL 2026 Rampage:
This kid has amazed each and every one of us over the past year. From smashing a six off his very first ball in the Tata IPL, to a record-breaking century last season, to even taking on Jasprit Bumrah and sending him for two sixes — reminding us that even the best can be taken on. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has done it all. He’s dominated weak attacks, dismantled experienced ones, and played with a fearlessness that’s rare at any level, let alone at 15. Striking at 248.98 and averaging 40.67, his numbers are simply unreal. The big question now — can anyone stop him?
It’ll be fascinating to see if Royal Challengers Bengaluru suffer the same fate as others, especially given their not-so-strong bowling attack, something Rajasthan Royals will definitely look to exploit. So, who comes out on top — the unstoppable Sooryavanshi, or Virat Kohli’s RCB?
Virat Kohli VS Sandeep Sharma:
Sandeep Sharma is one of the most underrated bowlers in the IPL. He’s among the very few who’ve consistently challenged India’s “big three” — Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and MS Dhoni. While he may not have dominated Dhoni in the same way, he’s delivered in clutch moments against CSK, even winning games for RR. Against Rohit, he’s dismissed him six times in the IPL, and against Kohli, he’s picked up his wicket seven times in 18 innings, conceding just 132 runs at a strike rate of around 150 — impressive numbers against a player of that calibre.
All of this sets up a fascinating battle for tomorrow — Virat Kohli vs Sandeep Sharma.
Prediction:
This feels like one of the most evenly matched contests in this year’s Tata IPL—both RCB and RR remain unbeaten, dominating every opponent so far. RCB’s batting has been phenomenal, while RR’s has been outright destructive. RR’s bowlers have been sharp and clinical, but RCB’s attack lacks bite without the injured Josh Hazlewood, giving RR’s batsmen a clear edge to exploit.
That said, RCB’s lineup offers perfect variety—from orthodox stroke-makers to raw power-hitters—with real depth throughout. It’s a true toss-up, making it tough to call a winner.
If you want to catch Guwahati’s final IPL game of the season, featuring Virat Kohli’s Royal Challengers Bengaluru taking on Ravindra Jadeja’’s Rajasthan Royals, then tune in on JioHotstar at 7:30 PM IST.
Until next time!
Thank you.
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