Goa, January 28, 2026 - In a thrilling encounter at the 1919 Sportz Cricket Stadium, the Dubai Royals secured their first victory in the World Legends Pro T20 League 2026, edging past the Gurugram Thunders by a narrow margin of three runs. The match, the fourth of the tournament, was a high-scoring affair that kept fans on the edge of their seats until the very last ball.
The Dubai Royals, after winning the toss, elected to bat first and put up a formidable total of 200 for 5 in their allotted 20 overs. The innings was anchored by a brilliant, unbeaten knock of 65 runs from just 32 deliveries by Samit Patel, who combined powerful hitting with clever placement. Patel's innings included five fours and two sixes, providing the much-needed impetus to the Royals' innings. Parvez Rasool also contributed a valuable 20 runs off 12 balls, forming a 50-run partnership with Patel in just 27 balls. The Royals demonstrated aggressive intent from the start, maintaining consistent momentum that kept the Thunders' bowlers under pressure throughout the innings. Despite the onslaught, the Gurugram Thunders managed to regain some control in the later stages, with Thisara Perera being the pick of the bowlers, finishing with 2 wickets for 24 runs in his 2 overs.
Chasing a target of 201, the Gurugram Thunders responded with equal aggression, spearheaded by a magnificent innings from Cheteshwar Pujara. Pujara, known for his classic test match batting, showcased an unfamiliar attacking game, scoring 99 runs off 60 balls, including 7 fours and 1 six. Thisara Perera also contributed significantly with a rapid 56 off 27 balls, striking at a rate close to 200, which included 3 fours and 4 sixes, to keep the chase alive. The duo added 100 runs in 50 balls. The match went down to the wire, with the Thunders needing seven runs off the final over. Piyush Chawla, with his vast experience, was handed the responsibility to bowl the crucial over.
In a dramatic turn of events, Chawla dismissed Pujara, who was agonizingly close to his century, stumped by M Bisla. Ultimately, the Thunders fell short by three runs, finishing at 197 for 5. Chawla finished with figures of 3 for 35.
The Dubai Royals vs Gurugram Thunders match was the first time that the two teams have faced each other. This victory marks the Dubai Royals' first win of the season, a welcome change after their defeat in the opening match against the Delhi Warriors, despite a half-century from Peter Trego. Meanwhile, the Gurugram Thunders suffered their second consecutive narrow defeat, after losing their first match against Pune Panthers.
Cricket fans were able to watch the match live on FanCode.
