Rajasthan Royals book their place in the IPL 2026 season’s second qualifier game on Friday with a 47-run win over Sunrisers Hyderabad. Once Nandre Burger dismissed Shivang Kumar, there were huge celebrations in the RR camp while the SRH camp was left in despair. Team owner Kavya Maran, in particular, was seen teary-eyed as her team was dumped out of the tournament.

That didn’t stop the young lady from walking towards Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and shaking his hands. The moment of camaraderie showed what the league stands for and the values of sportsmanship and spirit that it preaches. Sooryavanshi had earlier in the day flayed Hyderabad bowlers to all parts of the ground and scored 97 runs from just 29 balls.

The youngster hit a dozen sixes during his knock, taking his season’s tally to 65, which is six more than what Chris Gayle had managed during the 2012 season. TheRoyals managed to score a mammoth 243 on the board and bowled out their opposition for 196 in the final over. Riyan Parag and his side next play the Gujarat Titans at the same venue in the second qualifier.

Tom Moody praises Jofra Archer for his IPL 2026 performances

Former Australian cricketer Tom Moody had huge words of praise for English seamer Jofra Archerwho took three wickets during the SRH vs RR game. The 31-year-old dismissed Abhishek Sharma and followed it up with the scalps of Ishan Kishan and Travis Head.

Speaking on ESPN Cricinfo’s Time-out show, Moody said, “One has to admire Archer’s performances, an elite fast bowler who is bowling over 150 kph and doing what he was asked to do. He wasn’t defensive at all and came out attacking the opponents, and one cannot ask for anything more. That’s what he was being paid for, and the player delivered.”

Meanwhile, former India batter Ambati Rayudu during the same program chimed in and said Hyderabad batters were found wanting on a pitch that posed a challenge. The 40-year-old said, “Unlike the pitch in Hyderabad, this was skidding, there was a lot of pace off the wicket as well as more bounce. This is why SRH didn’t adjust well, and their main batters got done.”