IPL 2025 Match 18 brings an electrifying clash as table-toppers Punjab Kings (PBKS) host Rajasthan Royals (RR) on April 5, 2025, at Mullanpur, Chandigarh, starting at 7:30 PM IST. PBKS, unbeaten with a 2-0 record (1st place, +1.485 NRR), face an RR side (1-2, 9th place, -1.112 NRR) buoyed by a recent win. With Shreyas Iyer’s red-hot form and Sanju Samson back as captain, this promises fireworks. Here’s our researched prediction.
Table of Contents
Punjab Kings: Unstoppable Momentum
PBKS have stormed IPL 2025, winning their opener against GT by 11 runs (243/5) and crushing LSG by 8 wickets (chasing 171 in 16.2 overs). Shreyas Iyer’s unbeaten 149 runs (97* vs GT, 52* vs LSG, SR 206.94) lead a top order firing at a collective SR of 190 (Web ID 0). Prabhsimran Singh (69 off 34 vs LSG) and Priyansh Arya add aggression, though Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis are yet to bat much (Web ID 9). Arshdeep Singh (5 wickets, econ 9.75) spearheads a bowling attack with Lockie Ferguson and Marco Jansen, while Yuzvendra Chahal’s spin looms large against his old team (Web ID 7). PBKS’s depth is untested but enviable.
Rajasthan Royals: Finding Their Feet
RR’s campaign began with losses to SRH (44 runs, chasing 286) and KKR (151/9 chased easily), but they rebounded with a 6-run win over CSK (defending 182, Nitish Rana’s 81) (Web ID 4). Dhruv Jurel (106 runs, avg 35.33, SR 151.42) tops their batting charts, with Yashasvi Jaiswal (2 fifties in 3 games) heating up (Web ID 8). Sanju Samson’s return to captaincy and wicketkeeping boosts morale, though his 52 runs off 51 balls vs Chahal historically is a worry (Web ID 23). Wanindu Hasaranga (5 wickets in 2 games) and Jofra Archer’s pace threaten, but RR’s bowling consistency has wavered (Web ID 5). Their middle order—Riyan Parag, Shimron Hetmyer—needs to fire.
Pitch and Conditions: Mullanpur’s Balanced Deck
Mullanpur’s pitch has hosted 5 IPL games (2024), with 3 won chasing (avg score 167) and a highest chase of 192/7 (Web ID 4). It offers early swing and late turn, suiting both pacers and spinners (Web ID 8). Weather’s clear (34°C max, 25% humidity), with dew likely aiding the chase (Web ID 11). Par is 170-180, but PBKS’s 243/5 on a similar track suggests potential for more. X posts (@yashshah201001) flag a high-scoring possibility if top orders click.
Head-to-Head: RR’s Edge Meets PBKS’s Surge
RR lead PBKS 16-12 in 28 IPL clashes, winning 3 of the last 5 (Web ID 5). At Mullanpur, PBKS won 1/5 last season, but their current form contrasts RR’s 2-3 run in recent games (Web ID 0). Key matchups: Iyer vs Archer (Iyer’s 97* vs pace-heavy GT) and Samson vs Chahal (5 dismissals) could tilt it.
Key Players
- PBKS:
- Shreyas Iyer: 149* runs—unstoppable (SR 206.94).
- Arshdeep Singh: 5 wickets—new-ball threat.
- Yuzvendra Chahal: Spin ace vs ex-team (27 wickets for RR in 2022).
- RR:
- Dhruv Jurel: 106 runs—form player (SR 151.42).
- Wanindu Hasaranga: 5 wickets—match-winner.
- Yashasvi Jaiswal: Loves the first ball (2/3 games with a four).
Prediction: Who Wins?
PBKS look favorites. Their top order’s aggression (27 sixes in 2 games) and bowling variety—Arshdeep’s swing, Chahal’s guile—exploit RR’s inconsistencies (Web ID 23). RR’s win vs CSK shows fight, but their batting depth (Hetmyer low at 7/8) and bowling leaks (SRH’s 286) are concerns (Web ID 9). Mullanpur’s dew favors chasing, and PBKS’s 8-wicket LSG chase proves their prowess there. X sentiment (@bookies_online) backs Iyer’s form; @AniketDwivedi_ picks RR, but stats lean PBKS (57% win chance, Web ID 23).
Prediction: Punjab Kings to win Match 18. They could chase 180-190 in 18 overs or defend 200+ with Chahal strangling RR’s middle. RR’s path is Jurel-Hasaranga brilliance, but PBKS’s streak holds firm. Your take—PBKS’s hat-trick or RR’s upset? Drop it below!
