Royal Challengers Bengaluru suffered a nightmare start against Rajasthan Royals in their IPL 2026 clash at the Barsapara Stadium, Guwahati, with Phil Salt dismissed for a golden duck on the very first ball. Rajasthan struck instantly, setting the tone for what turned out to be a fiery opening spell from Jofra Archer.
The match itself faced an initial delay due to drizzle and a wet outfield, pushing the start time from 7:30 PM to 8:40 PM. However, once play began, the conditions seemed tailor-made for fast bowling. Archer wasted no time in exploiting them, delivering a stunning opening ball that combined pace, bounce, and movement.
Phil Salt, despite his familiarity with Archer, was caught completely off guard. The ball climbed sharply after pitching, forcing a mistimed response that resulted in a top edge. Wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel stayed alert behind the stumps and completed a simple catch, giving Rajasthan Royals the perfect start.
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It was a classic fast bowler’s dismissal — a delivery that had everything. Archer hit the deck hard, extracted extra bounce, and generated late movement into the batter. Salt had little time to react, and his attempted adjustment only led to his downfall. It was a statement moment early in the innings and a massive blow for RCB.
That’s Jofra Archer special pic.twitter.com/0jE8nw0Xpd
— Nickk Knight (@KnightNick34590) April 10, 2026
Archer wasn’t done yet. He soon removed Devdutt Padikkal, who had looked in sublime touch during his brief stay at the crease. The left-hander started aggressively, scoring 14 runs off just 7 balls, including three crisp boundaries. Padikkal appeared set to counterattack, finding gaps with ease and putting pressure back on the bowlers.
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However, Archer once again had the final say. On the last ball of the third over, he delivered a sharp back-of-the-length ball from around the wicket, targeting the leg side. Padikkal attempted to whip it away but mistimed the shot, resulting in a top edge. The ball flew towards deep backward square leg, where Shimron Hetmyer nearly spilled the chance but managed to hold on under pressure.
With two early wickets, Archer dismantled RCB’s top order and gave Rajasthan Royals complete control in the powerplay, showcasing why he remains one of the most dangerous fast bowlers in T20 cricket.
