Indian Premiere League
Rajasthan Royals (RR) continued their impressive run in the TATA IPL 2025 with a dominant 50-run victory over Punjab Kings (PBKS) in Match 18 at the New PCA Stadium in New Chandigarh. A composed half-century from Yashasvi Jaiswal and a fiery three-wicket haul from Jofra Archer were the highlights of Rajasthan’s commanding performance, which secured their second successive win of the season. Meanwhile, Punjab Kings faced their first defeat of the campaign.
A Dream Start for Rajasthan Royals
Punjab Kings, playing their first home game of the season, won the toss and opted to bowl, with their captain Shreyas Iyer leading the charge. Rajasthan, under the leadership of Sanju Samson, who returned as a full-time captain after his role as an Impact Player in the first few matches, responded with a stunning batting display.
Openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and Samson gave Rajasthan a dream start, building a solid 89-run partnership, the highest opening stand for Rajasthan in IPL 2025 so far. The pair rotated the strike effortlessly, punishing anything loose, and kept the pressure on Punjab’s bowlers.
Lockie Ferguson finally broke the partnership in the 11th over, dismissing Sanju Samson for a fluent 38 off 26 balls. Yashasvi Jaiswal, who had taken his time to settle, stepped on the accelerator after reaching his first half-century of the season. He hit a four and a six off Yuzvendra Chahal to bring up his fifty. However, Ferguson returned to bowl a clever slower ball, which sent Jaiswal’s stumps flying in the 14th over, leaving him at 67 off 45 balls.
Riyan Parag’s Finishing Touches
Riyan Parag then took control and ensured that RR finished on a high. Although Nitish Rana and Shimron Hetmyer fell in the process, Parag’s blistering unbeaten knock of 43 off 25 balls, supported by Dhruv Jurel’s quick-fire 13* off 5 balls, guided Rajasthan to a formidable total of 205/4. This was also the first time a team had breached the 200-run mark at the New PCA Stadium in IPL history – a record achievement!
Punjab Kings’ Struggle in the Chase
Chasing a challenging target of 206 runs, Punjab Kings got off to a horrendous start. Jofra Archer made his intentions clear right from the first ball of the chase, cleaning up opener Priyansh Arya with a delivery that hit the top of the off stump. Archer then returned to knock out Punjab’s captain Shreyas Iyer, who was in great form, with a peach of a delivery in the same over – two wickets in just six balls!
Sandeep Sharma joined the fray, removing Marcus Stoinis for a solitary run, and in a flash, Punjab was reeling at 26/3 within just four overs.
Despite the early setbacks, Prabhsimran Singh and Nehal Wadhera tried to rebuild the innings. Their 88-run stand brought a glimmer of hope, with Wadhera bringing up his half-century. However, Rajasthan’s bowlers were relentless. Kumar Kartikeya broke the partnership by dismissing Prabhsimran right after the powerplay.
RR Seal the Win with Clinical Bowling
Wadhera and Glenn Maxwell then launched a mini-revival with a determined stand, but Rajasthan’s bowlers kept applying pressure. Maheesh Theekshana removed Maxwell on the final ball of the 15th over, and on the very first ball of the next over, Wanindu Hasaranga sent Wadhera packing for 62 off 41 balls. A superb diving catch by Dhruv Jurel at deep mid-wicket added to Rajasthan’s dominance.
With PBKS needing 75 runs off 29 balls and just four wickets in hand, the chase was as good as over. Sandeep Sharma dismissed Suryansh Shedge, and Theekshana got rid of Marco Jansen. Archer returned for the final over, cleaning up Arshdeep Singh and sealing a comprehensive victory for Rajasthan Royals.
Key Performers
- Yashasvi Jaiswal: Jaiswal’s sublime knock of 67 off 45 balls set the foundation for Rajasthan’s massive total. His composure and ability to shift gears were crucial in laying the groundwork for a high total.
- Jofra Archer: Archer was the standout performer with the ball, taking 3 wickets for 25 runs. His sensational opening over, where he claimed two wickets in the very first over of the chase, was a game-changer, setting the tone for Rajasthan’s dominance.
- Riyan Parag: Parag played the role of finisher perfectly, scoring an unbeaten 43 off 25 balls, guiding RR to a total beyond 200. His aggressive batting in the death overs was a key factor in RR’s massive total.
- Prabhsimran Singh: Although Punjab lost early wickets, Singh’s 38 off 28 balls was a stabilizing knock, but he couldn’t carry the innings long enough to steer PBKS towards the target.
- Nehal Wadhera: Wadhera’s 62 off 41 balls was a shining light in Punjab’s chase, and his partnership with Maxwell raised hopes of a potential fightback. However, his wicket at a crucial juncture dampened PBKS’s chances.
- Wanindu Hasaranga: Hasaranga’s timely wicket of Nehal Wadhera was instrumental in shifting the momentum back in Rajasthan’s favor. He also created pressure in the middle overs, maintaining a solid economy rate.
Jofra Archer Shines
Jofra Archer’s brilliant spell of 3/25 earned him the Player of the Match award, and his fiery performance set the tone for Rajasthan’s dominating victory. PBKS finished their innings at 155/9, well short of the target.
Standings Update
With the 50-run victory, Rajasthan Royals climbed to the seventh spot in the points table, while Punjab Kings dropped to fourth place. It was a game that showcased Rajasthan’s all-round strength, both with the bat and ball, as they continued to make their mark in IPL 2025.
As Rajasthan Royals look forward to continuing their momentum, Punjab Kings will be keen to bounce back from their first loss of the season and regain their winning form.
Stay tuned for more updates on IPL 2025!