In a surprising moment during the IPL 2026 clash between Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Guwahati, Shimron Hetmyer walked out to bat without wearing a helmet. This unusual decision instantly caught the attention of players on the field and set the stage for an interesting turn of events.
Wicketkeeper Jitesh Sharma quickly noticed Hetmyer’s lack of protection and reacted smartly. He signaled towards Krunal Pandya, hinting that a bouncer should be bowled next. Not only that, Jitesh also pointed towards Hetmyer’s head and adjusted the field accordingly, anticipating a pull or hook shot.
Krunal Pandya followed the plan perfectly and delivered a short ball, surprising Hetmyer. The batter, seemingly caught off guard, attempted to deal with the delivery at the last moment. However, the shot lacked control and resulted in a simple catch for the fielder stationed at short third.
Hetmyer’s dismissal turned out to be a golden duck, highlighting how quickly things can go wrong in T20 cricket. The clever anticipation by Jitesh Sharma played a key role in creating confusion in Hetmyer’s mind, ultimately leading to his downfall.
Shimron Hetmyer comes out to bat without wearing helmet. Jitesh gestures to one of the RCB fielders that next ball's gonna be a bouncer from Krunal (points to his head). Then goes ahead adjusting the fielder on the onside for a potential pull/hook pic.twitter.com/aM2rObiVYr
— Middle Stump Cricket (@MiddleCricket) April 11, 2026
Despite this early setback, Rajasthan Royals bounced back strongly in the match. Dhruv Jurel played a crucial unbeaten knock of 81 runs, while Vaibhav Sooryavanshi delivered a blistering 78-run innings at an incredible strike rate, steering the team towards victory.
In the end, Rajasthan Royals secured a comfortable six-wicket win, but it was the brief yet fascinating exchange between Hetmyer, Jitesh, and Krunal that became one of the most talked-about moments of the game.