Shubham Dubey shines in tough batting role as RR end PBKS' unbeaten run in 2026

Shubham Dubey delivered a crucial unbeaten 31 off 12 balls to help Rajasthan Royals end Punjab Kings' unbeaten streak in IPL 2026.

Dubey delivers under pressure Shubham Dubey faced a daunting challenge in his second match of the season, tasked with batting at number six against Punjab Kings while key players like Ravindra Jadeja and Dasun Shanaka followed him in the lineup. With Rajasthan Royals needing 72 runs from 36 deliveries, he rose to the occasion, smashing an unbeaten 31 off just 12 balls while adding 77 runs in 32 deliveries alongside Donovan Ferreira. Kumar Sangakkara, the team's head coach, praised Dubey’s composure, calling him 'exceptionally skilful' while avoiding individual spotlight. ## RR coach highlights team strength After guiding Rajasthan Royals to their first defeat of the season, Kumar Sangakkara, the head coach and director of cricket, emphasized the collective quality of his squad. 'I know the focus is a lot on Vaibhav [Sooryavanshi], and I know why, because he's an incredible player, amazing to watch. But at the same time, when I look at my side and I run through my batters, there's Vaibhav, Dhruv [Jurel], Yash [Yashasvi Jaiswal], Riyan [Parag], Donovan Ferreira, Dubey, Jadeja, and Shanaka today - they're all top players,' he remarked. Sangakkara credited Dubey’s ability to step up in a high-pressure role, calling it 'one of the hardest things to do' due to the uncertainty of playing time. ## Ferreira and Dubey lead late charge Donovan Ferreira delivered a match-winning performance, while Shubham Dubey played the role of the impact batter to perfection. Sangakkara highlighted Ferreira’s excellence and Riyan Parag’s quick 29 off 16 balls as key moments that shifted momentum back to Rajasthan. 'So it was a collective effort,' he added, underscoring how multiple players contributed to the victory. ## Dubey's rise from smaller leagues Shubham Dubey’s journey to prominence began in India’s smaller domestic tournaments, where his standout performances at the Bapuna Cup in Vidarbha first caught attention. A strong showing in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2023-24, where he amassed 221 runs at an average of 73.66 and a strike rate of 187.28, cemented his reputation as a reliable batter. Rajasthan Royals acquired him for INR 5.8 crore ahead of IPL 2024 but released him after he scored just 33 runs in four matches, despite a strike rate of 173.68. ## IPL 2025 and 2026 resurgence Rajasthan Royals re-signed Dubey for INR 80 lakh before IPL 2025, where he featured in six matches, tallying 106 runs at a strike rate of 160.60. His form continued into IPL 2026, starting with an unbeaten 19 off 11 balls against Lucknow Super Giants, followed by his match-defining innings against Punjab Kings. His ability to perform in short bursts has solidified his role as a finisher for the franchise. ## Experts praise Dubey’s game awareness Abhinav Mukund, discussing Dubey’s role on a program, described the challenge of batting at number six as 'very difficult' for many Indian players. 'A lot of teams have the conviction to do that. Some teams don't. And I always pity these guys who have only ten balls and they have to get about 25-30 runs,' he noted. Piyush Chawla echoed similar sentiments, highlighting Dubey’s knack for 'running the game' and his ability to play explosive shots. ## Chawla lauds impact partnership Piyush Chawla pointed to Dubey’s early IPL performances with Rajasthan Royals in his debut season, when critics questioned his selection. 'We have seen the cameos from Shubham Dubey earlier also, when he was picked by Rajasthan Royals, in the first season itself,' he recalled. Chawla praised Dubey’s talent for big shots and his understanding of match situations, adding, 'And the partnership which he had today with Ferreira, that was just brilliant. He actually made sure that Rajasthan got home.' ## Sangakkara credits collective effort Kumar Sangakkara reiterated that Rajasthan’s win was not solely due to one player but a team effort. He commended Donovan Ferreira’s performance, Riyan Parag’s quick innings, and Dubey’s ability to handle pressure in a tough batting position. 'He went in at a tough position. Don [Ferreira] today was outstanding. Riyan's small innings [29 in 16 balls] was exactly what we needed to bring the momentum back over here,' he explained, stressing the importance of every contribution.