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Dravid got it right with the coin
Rahul Dravid won the toss and invited Royal Challengers Bangalore to bat first in Jaipur.
The visitors managed 171 for six in their stipulated 20 overs. The home team won by four wickets, with a ball to spare to move up to third in the table.
The win helped Rajasthan maintain their unbeaten run at the Sawai Mansingh stadium. This was their fifth straight win on their home ground.
RCB, who suffered a second straight defeat - after the thrashing at the hands of Mumbai Indians on Saturday, stay second.
Gayle top-scored for RCB with 34
Chris Gayle top-scored for RCB with a 16-ball 34.
Gayle was in his element from the beginning, hitting six fours and a six during his whirlwind knock of 34 that came off just 16 balls.
But Watson had the dangerous West Indian caught behind with a ball that was slightly on the shorter side outside off, drawing Gayle to go for a loose cut.
Watson was Rajasthan's best bowler
After the early onslaught by Gayle, RCB's run rate dropped considerably.
Shane Watson returned as the most impressive bowler with figures of three for 22.
Trivedi accounted for Mukund
Abhinav Mukund made 19.
His dismissal gave Siddharth Trivedi his only wicket.
Sreesanth made amends
S Sreesanth dropped AB de Villiers (21) off Stuart Binny.
The Kerala speedster later made amends, having the South African caught by James Faulkner in the next over.
Faulkner was a livewire on the field
R Vinay Kumar's final-over assault during which he smashed birthday boy James Faulkner for three sixes propelled Royal Challengers Bangalore to a challenging 171 for six.
Faulkner's final over spoilt what was turning out to be a decent day for him. The Aussie ended with figures of none for 42
Rampaul picked up two wickets
Ravi Rampaul was Bangalore's best bowler, with figures of two for 28.
The West Indies bowler picked up the wickets of Ajinkya Rahane (2) and Sanju Samson (63).
However, his last over was an expensive one, 17 runs coming off it, at a time when RCB could ill afford the same.
Sanju Samson smashed 63
Sanju Samson smashed his way to a superb 63 and was anmed the man-of-the-match. Samson, who replaced Dishant Yagnik, took the fight into the rival camp with a blistering knock, laced with nine boundaries, including two sixes.
Right from his arrival at the crease, upon dismissal of Ajinkya Rahane, Samson dealt in boundaries. The hosts were 45 for one in six overs but Samson brought his side back with his run-spree. At half-way mark he guided the side to 80 for two.
Samson became the youngest batsman to score a fifty in IPL at the age of 18 when he hit a crushing boundary off RP Singh.
Watson made a patient 41
Shane Watson also contributed with the bat with a patient 41.
Watson largely played a second fiddle to Samson but was in good touch as his drives were struck firmly.
The Australian was involved in a 68-run stand for the third wicket with Samson and put on another 46 runs for the fourth wicket with Brad Hodge, thereby taking his team close.
Hodge made a quickfire 32
Brad Hodge conjured up a crucial 32-run cameo as Rajasthan Royals held their nerves to humble formidable Royal Challengers Bangalore.
It proved to be a match-winning cameo. The Australian along with his compatriot Watson sent the Bangalore bowlers to leather hunt.
Hodge whacked Rampaul for two sixes in the 18th over and it looked an easy stroll for the hosts from there.