Chasing, Royals' Ben Stokes (50) got off to a flier, before Sanju Samson (48) set the tone in the middle overs. Steve Smith (31*) and Jos Buttler (22) brought up the winning runs in quick time. 

With this win, RR stay alive in the play-off race, climbing to fifth spot in the table.

After 16 overs Kings XI are 156-3. They need 30 from 24 balls. Smith is on 15 (14) Buttler is on 10 (8).

Jordan is back, Smith is beaten. He then pulls to long-on for a single. Sanju powers the ball to the ropes for four runs. Sanju hits it in the air, brilliant fielding from Arshdeep at third man. Saved two runs. Samson flicks the ball to third man for a single. Jordan misses the yorker, Smith hammers a boundary. 

After 14 overs Royals are 144-2. They need 42 from 36 balls. 

Bishnoi comes to bowl his last over, Samson sends the ball to long-on for a single. 

Smith tries to steal a single, Sanju didn't look ready, he dives but is short courtesy the direct hit from substitute Suchith. He walks back scoring 48 off 25 balls. 

 Jos Buttler is the new batsman. Buttler is beaten, big shout for LBW. Umpire not interested, Kings XI go for review. Replays show the ball pitching outside leg and original decision retained. Buttler survives. He takes a single off the next ball. Dot ball to end the over. Just two came off that over and a wicket. 

After 15 overs, Royals are 146-3. They need 40 from 30 balls. They were doing well in the run chase but lost Sanju's wicket.

Same shot, but result is different. Pooran takes a brilliant catch at deep mid wicket. It was just a matter of 2-3 meters that did Uthappa in. Ashwin strikes! Robin is gone for 30 off 23 balls. 

 After timeout Bishnoi is back, he starts with a wide. Robin misses completely. Dot ball. Robin sends the ball to deep square leg for a single. Samson hammers six runs over long-off! Samson sends the ball down, Bishnoi is quick to deny them a single. Two more singles to end the over. 

After 10 overs Royals are 103-1. Samson is on 28 (15) Robin is on 23 (19). They need 83 from 60 balls.

Ravi Bishnoi is brought into the attack now. Four singles and a dot ball. It was a fantastic over for Kings XI. Robin's reverse sweep earns him a boundary. Eight came off that over. After 8 overs Royals are 79-1. They need 107 runs in 72 balls.

Chris Jordan to bowl now, Stokes welcomes him with a six. Brings up his half century in style. Dot ball. 

Jordan strikes! Stokes slices it, doesn't get the elevation but Hooda doesn't make any mistake and takes a lovely catch at mid-off and Jordan gets his man. He was in good touch, looks disappointed. Stokes is gone for 50 from 26 balls. 

Sanju Samson is the new batsman  and he is off the mark with a single. Uthappa puts his bat down and gets a single. Samson hammers a boundary towards third man. 

After powerplay overs Royals are 66-1.

 After 3 overs Royals are 32-0. Stokes is on 23 (13) Robin is on 8 (5).

Shami shares the ball with Arshdeep. Ball hits the pads high, one legbye. Stokes hammers a boundary over cover point. Stokes it hit on the helmet. 

Dropped! Stokes was on 12 He pulled the bouncer towards mid-on. Maxwell dives but dropped it. 

Stokes sends the ball to cover for a single. Uthappa hits big runs now and uses the pace to slam the ball for six towards leg side. After 2 overs Royals are 21-0.

Chris Gayle's 99 was the biggest contribution in the Punjab innings. KL Rahul (46) and Gayle added a 120-run partnership to set the tone for the innings, before Nicholas Pooran contributed some big shots.

Archer bowls the last over, just a single for Gayle. Single for Maxwell too. Aaron dropped him at fine leg. Gayle storm here, hammers another six, Stokes leaps high high to stop that, doesn't get his hands to it. 

Archer gets the 'Universe Boss'! Yorker hits his pad, and bamboozled into the wicket! Gayle goes for 99 from 63 balls. He is disappointed. His bat slips! He appreciates Archer. 

Hooda is the new batsman. He gets a single. Dot ball to end the over. Kings XI set 186 target for Royals to win.

After timeout Tyagi is called, starts with a d4yorker, ot ball. Yorker but Gayle steals a single. Tyagi bowling yorkers at will now, Pooran drives to the covers for a single. Just a single to Gayle off long-off. Pooran sends the full toss down the ground, Smith dives to save two runs. Pooran finishes off with a big big six! After 17 overs Kings XI are 148-2. Gayle is on 73 (53), Pooran is on 21 (8). 

Stokes comes to bowl his 4th over, Gayle welcomes him with a boundary. He finds the gap between long-on and deep midwicket and sent the ball to the ropes. Slow bouncer called wide. Gayle swings, takes a single. Single for Pooran too. Gayle pounces on the ball and slams it for six over deep midwicket. He hits the other one hard but mis-times it and will get just a single.

Pooran wants to go for big runs, he hammers the slower ball to short boundary, Tewatia leaps and takes a brilliant catch near the ropes. Pooran is gone for 22 off 10 balls. 

Glenn Maxwell is the new batsman.

Stokes is back, Rahul leaves the ball. Rahul punches the ball to deep midwicket for a single. Bouncer, wide called. Gayle punches the ball down for a single. Rahul doesn't time is well and ball soars high in the sky and landed straight into Tewatia's safe hands at deep midwicket. Rahul walks back scoring 46 off 41 balls. Nicholas Pooran is the new batsman. Wide called. Gayle wants two, Pooran says no! Pooran on strike, he defends. 

After 15 overs Kings XI are 123-2.

After 12 overs Kings XI are 97-1. Gayle is on 54 (38) and Rahul is on 38 (33). 

Tyagi is back, starts with a dot ball. Rahul slams the ball over extra cover for a splendid six! He sends the ball to third man for a single. Gayle taps the ball, no runs. He takes a single off the next. Rahul misses the last ball of the over. It was a rare quiet over from Gayle.  

After 10 overs Kings XI are 81-1. Gayle is on 43 a4(31) and Rahul is on 33 (28). 

Tewatia is here, Rahul and Gayle start with a single each. Gayle now charges and slams the ball over the fence for six runs and with that brings up his half century. 

Dot ball. Gayle hits it hard and high. It is in no man's land. Tewatia is running towards it and has his eyes on the ball. Stokes also charges in but gives it up since Tewatia has his eyes on the ball. He dives but dropped! Another lifeline to Gayle. Single to end the over. 

After 11 overs Kings XI are 91-1.

After 7 overs, Kings XI are 63-1. Gayle is on 35 (20), Rahul is on 23 (21).

 After timeout, Stokes comes out to bowl. He hasn't bowled much in this IPL. Can he provide a breakthrough? He hit Rahul on the pads who flicks it away for a single. Stokes bowls a little wide, Gayle puts his bat to it. Sanju Samson can't get his hands on it, lucky boundary for Gayle. Gayle punches the ball to deep midwicket for a single. Rahul powers the ball to long-on for a single. Dot ball. Gayle drives the last ball of the over to long-off for a single. Eight came off that over. 

After 8 overs Kings XI are 71-1. Gayle is on 41 (24), Rahul is on 25 (23).

After 5 overs Kings XI are 39-1. Gayle is on 27 (16), Rahul is on 7 (13). 

Aaron continues, good ball, Rahul can't get his bat to it. Rahul now punches the ball to third man for a single. Another wide from Aaron. Gayle hammers Aaron for a stunning six! He open the face of his bat and powers it to over the fence. Gayle hits it high, high, Riyan and Robin go for it, there might be a collision. Parag drops it! It popped out of his hands! Gayle takes two runs and gets a life line. He was on 10. Another single for Gayle. Dot ball to end the over. 

After 4 overs, Kings XI are 25-1.

Mandeep Singh and KL Rahul are out to open openers. Rajasthan Royals's Jofra Archer will bowl the first over. He starts with a yorker. Rahul sends the ball straight to cover. He defends the next ball. Another dot ball. Rahul is off the mark with a single after he tapped the ball to wide of cover. Mandeep on strike now, bouncer and Mandeep holds the bat and ball lofts to Stokes who dives and takes a brilliant catch. Mandeep is sent back for a duck. Archer strikes! Moment of brilliance from him. After the first over Kings XI are 1-1. 

Chris Gayle  is the new batsman. Varun Aaron shares the ball with Archer. Wide. It was going down the leg, Samson puts his bat to it. Kings XI gets 2 runs. Gayle leaves the nest two balls and sends the third straight to cover. Two more dot balls. Varun Aaron was going just fine but two more wide balls spoil his over. Gayle hammers a boundary at the end of the last ball of the second over. After two overs Kings XI are 9-1.

Kings XI skipper KL Rahul said he would have bowled first himself. And they have not tinkered with their winning team.

It has been a dramatic turnaround for the KL Rahul-led side after a string a losses earlier in the tournament. They have managed to weave together five consecutive wins against the top four sides in the tournament, infusing life into their campaign. They are in fourth position with 12 points from as many games, while the Royals have slumped to the penultimate spot with 10 points having suffered seven defeats from 12 outings.  

The Royals will also be high on confidence after their morale boosting win over table toppers Mumbai and would be desperate to keep the winning momentum going. 

The biggest positive for the Royals is Ben Stokes roaring back to form after rusty displays in previous five outings. The English all-rounder, who has been elevated to the role of opener, smashed an unbeaten 107 to help seal a seven-wicket win over Mumbai earlier this week.  

Sanju Samson is also back among runs, while Jos Buttler has looked erratic. That skipper Steve Smith is in the middle of a lean patch will augur well for KXIP.