Rajasthan Royals vs Mumbai Indians, 13th Match, Indian Premier League 2026 - CommentaryRR vs MI, 13th Match, Indian Premier League 2026 - Commentary

There was a long delay due to rain, and for a moment it felt like the weather might have the final say for the second day running. Credit to the groundstaff for getting things ready in time. And when game began, the storm arrived in a different form - Jaiswal and Sooryavanshi. The duo unleashed a barrage of boundaries, their 80-run stand in just 5 overs laying the foundation for Rajasthan Royals’ third win on the trot. For Mumbai Indians, it’s been a familiar slow start. They did break their opening-game drought, but it’s now back-to-back defeats. That said, with the experience and depth in their squad, they have the tools to turn things around. That’s all from this game. Up next, Delhi Capitals take on Gujarat Titans. Until next time, goodbye and stay safe..

Yashasvi Jaiswal | Player of the Match: I think I had something in my mind because only three over of powerplay. So I was thinking, how can I take down the overs or who I can take down. So I was planning the minute I saw Chahar Bhai is coming I thought I can take him on and then Bumrah Bhai came in. So I was thinking, okay, maybe Vaibhav can take on Bumrah. Then I will try to pick someone else. So I just keep thinking who can I go after and what shots I can play. So I was, I was just quite into the game. (Is it easy to switch between the three formats?) It's not easy, but I'm trying my best every single time when I go into my preparation. I feel like what I can do, how I can improve and make sure that I'm developing different shots. So all the time I try to play different shots and try to understand what shots in what wickets. So it always helped me when I prepare well. (Do you plan that you're going to play a certain way?) I just try to understand the situation and I think of what I can do for my team and how I can play for my team. So I'm trying to change my game all the time and if I know, okay, this is required, if I understand this shot is required at the moment. So I'll go for it and I'll try to... I try to put my team first and I will try and play according to how my team needs. (Conversations with Vaibhav?) The way he has been playing, it's tremendous. He's working so hard as well. So I also get motivated. Okay, I also need to develop some different shots. And all the time we have these discussions like, how can we go? And if he's taking on someone, I'll just keep giving him positive message that you can go after him and whatever, just play freely and khel bindaas, something like that (smiles). (So do you play the Bade Bhaiya?) I don't think so. He's amazing and he understands the game very well. He's quite capable to do it himself. He's enjoying his game and he's playing unbelievably well.

Riyan Parag | RR captain: "(Winning three out of three) Feels great. The way the boys have showed up every game, it's something I can't really ask any more of, but kudos to them. (How are you viewing the team?) I've always known this team to be a really strong team. Even when we had the auction, I knew we were a really strong team because we have a strong core group and that they're very young as well. Everyone outside didn't really believe in us, but then hopefully we can turn things around and keep on performing like this. (On the batting and bowling opening pair) Jofra's messaging is just go out there and bowl as fast as you can, Nandre as well. On their own days, they're quick, lethal and they're in so much control. So I think someone who bowls 145-150 to be in such control is just crazy. And, Vaibhav and Jaiswal, I don't really have any words to express. (Where do they stand among the opening combos in this IPL?) Number one. First of all, they've got age on their side, the talent they possess. Vaibhav, I think he's just incredible. It's not one-way slogging. If you saw him in Ahmedabad, he assessed the conditions and went for it. Jaiswal, he's been doing it for 3-4 years now. So I feel both of their skills combined with the maturity they have at such a young age, I feel the best going on right now."

MI inns
Media box end: 65/3 (5 overs, 13 RPO)
Pavilion end: 58/6 (6 overs, 9.66 RPO)

Overall match stats
Media box end: 165/5 at 15 RPO
Pavilion end: 108/7 at 9.81 RPO

MI in away games since IPL 2023
Matches: 25
Won: 9
Lost: 16
Win%: 36% (Worst among all teams)

This is the third time RR have started their IPL season with three or more consecutive wins; they’d started with five straight wins in 2015 and four on the bounce in 2024.

Ravi Bishnoi (translated from Hindi): (On wearing the purple cap) It feels really good, though such moments don’t come very often because the cap keeps rotating in the early stages of the tournament. Compared to last year, the main difference for me personally is my length. From your perspective, you might have a better idea of the game, but from my side, that’s what I feel (working on lengths). Cricket has become a batter’s game. Like I said earlier, the wickets are so good, the bats are so good, Kookaburra ball, everything is stacked against the bowlers. So bowlers have to survive by trying different variations, mixing things up to create some difficulty. As a captain, Riyan Parag is there. Dhruv Jurel has played with me for a long time with whom I've played under-19 cricket. Both of them are in a similar age group to me, so our bonding is really good. The boys understand each other well. When you’re with players of the same age group, it’s easier to express what you’re feeling compared to going to someone 5–10 years senior. (On winning three out of three) Yes, touch wood, everything has been going well so far. Whatever we planned in the last team and bowlers’ meetings, we’ve been able to execute. Winning 3 out of 3 obviously creates a great atmosphere. The key is to maintain it and keep playing good cricket. If your execution is good, as a bowler and as a batter, the game becomes easier at times.

Hardik Pandya | MI captain: "(Bowling in the powerplay) I think we didn't execute the deliveries which we were supposed to and they played well. Our bowlers need to take the responsibility. As a bowling group, we were not at all up to the mark and they played tremendous cricket. (Needed a better batting approach?) I would not put this game on the batting. This was definitely the bowling unit which had to take responsibility. It's T20 cricket, it's about always bowling those right couple of balls. And if you see 27, that means we are talking about five good balls and five less sixes. So if we would have executed the right balls, yeah, we would have been in the game. But as I said, their openers kind of enforced couple of overs, threw us out of the game. Then throughout we were catching up and yeah, we fell short. (On Vaibhav Sooryavanshi) It's quite fascinating to see a 17 or a 16-year-old boy and playing the way he played. At the same point of time, discussing so much about him in the preparation leading up to the game. So yeah, amazing to see the way he bats, the kind of fearlessness he has, the kind of shots he has. I wish him absolute good luck in the future. (On the next game vs RCB) Just learn from the mistakes. The morning will come tomorrow, the sun will rise. So yeah, just learn from our mistakes and prepare well for the next game."

00:29 Local Time, 18:59 GMT: A thumping win for Rajasthan Royals. The odds seemed against them when Hardik Pandya won the toss and chose to bowl. It was a shortened game, the pitch had been under covers for a long time, and there was expected assistance for the bowlers - but that didn’t matter to Yashasvi Jaiswal and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. The duo came out all guns blazing, setting the tone with a rapid opening stand that powered Rajasthan to 150 in just 11 overs. Mumbai Indians never got their chase going. Rickelton and SKY fell inside the first two overs, and Rohit followed soon after, leaving them in deep trouble. There was a brief spark through Rutherford and Naman Dhir, who found a few boundaries, but the equation was always steep. They eventually fell 27 runs short. Credit to the Royals bowlers as well, Archer and Burger were better than their counterparts with the new ball, and Ravi Bishnoi did his bit in the middle overs. Stay tuned for the post-match wrap..

Arjun: "Maximum players in this MI side have won multiple IPL titles. Maximum players in this MI side are regularly playing for India. Maybe, they have lost the thirst or desperation to win an IPL title?"

Jofra Archer to Trent Boult, THATS OUT!! Run Out!!

Rajasthan Royals are penalised for slow over-rate. An extra fielder should be brought inside the ring. It won't matter much as Mumbai Indians need 35 runs. Archer to bowl..

Maestro Manohar: "Eventually, the powerplay turned out to be the difference."