On April 5, 2025, Rajasthan Royals (RR) delivered a commanding 50-run victory over Punjab Kings (PBKS) in IPL 2025 Match 18 at Mullanpur, Chandigarh, halting PBKS’s unbeaten streak. RR’s Yashasvi Jaiswal (67) and Riyan Parag (43*) powered them to 205/4, the highest IPL total at this venue. PBKS, rattled early by Jofra Archer’s double strike, crumbled to 155/9 despite Nehal Wadhera’s 62. RR’s second win in four games lifted them up the table, while PBKS tasted their first defeat. Here’s how RR dominated this evening clash (7:30 PM IST start).
Table of Contents
Toss and Lineups
PBKS captain Shreyas Iyer won the toss and opted to bowl, eyeing a chase under dew (Web ID 7). PBKS fielded: Prabhsimran Singh (wk), Priyansh Arya, Shreyas Iyer (c), Marcus Stoinis, Nehal Wadhera, Glenn Maxwell, Shashank Singh, Marco Jansen, Arshdeep Singh, Lockie Ferguson, and Yuzvendra Chahal. RR, with Sanju Samson back as captain after a finger injury recovery, replaced Tushar Deshpande with Yudhvir Singh Charak: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson (c/wk), Nitish Rana, Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, Shimron Hetmyer, Wanindu Hasaranga, Jofra Archer, Maheesh Theekshana, Sandeep Sharma, and Yudhvir Singh (Web ID 0).
RR’s Innings: Jaiswal and Parag Shine
RR’s openers set the tone—Jaiswal (67 off 45, 3 fours, 5 sixes) and Samson (38 off 26) raced to 89/0 in 10 overs (Web ID 15). Lockie Ferguson (2/37) broke through, dismissing Samson at 93/1 (10.2 overs) and later Jaiswal, foxed by a knuckleball at 142/2 (15.1 overs) (X @iskarthi_). Nitish Rana’s 12 off 11 ended via Maxwell’s catch off Jansen (1/38), but Parag’s unbeaten 43 off 25 (1 four, 3 sixes) and Jurel’s 13* off 6—including two sixes off Stoinis—pushed RR to 205/4 in 20 overs, the first 200+ score at Mullanpur (Web ID 11). Chahal’s 0/37 vs his ex-team was a rare off-day.
PBKS’s Chase: Archer’s Early Blows
PBKS’s chase imploded instantly—Archer (3/26) bowled Priyansh Arya (0) and Shreyas Iyer (10) in the first over, leaving them 10/2 (Web ID 6). Prabhsimran Singh (15) fell to Kumar Kartikeya (1/20), and Stoinis (3) was caught-and-bowled by Sandeep Sharma (1/25), making it 45/4 after 7 overs (Web ID 14). Wadhera’s 62 off 39 (3 fours, 3 sixes) and Maxwell’s 30 off 22 offered hope with a 50-run stand, but Hasaranga (1/28) and Theekshana (1/31) struck in quick succession at 131/6 (15 overs) (Web ID 17). Shashank Singh’s 15* off 12 couldn’t save PBKS, ending at 155/9 in 20 overs.
Pitch and Conditions: High-Scoring Haven
Mullanpur’s pitch favored batsmen with even bounce, though pacers found early movement (Web ID 19). Dew aided RR’s late surge, but PBKS couldn’t capitalize chasing (X @yashshah201001). At 34°C with 25% humidity, conditions stayed clear, and 205 proved a bridge too far—PBKS’s powerplay (44/4) paled against RR’s 67/0 (Web ID 11).
Standout Stars
- Yashasvi Jaiswal (RR): 67 off 45—Player of the Match for his season-first fifty.
- Jofra Archer (RR): 3/26—devastated PBKS early.
- Nehal Wadhera (PBKS): 62 off 39—lone fighter.
- Riyan Parag (RR): 43* off 25—death-over blitz.
Head-to-Head: RR Pull Ahead
RR extended their H2H lead over PBKS to 17-12 in 29 IPL clashes (Web ID 5). This was RR’s first Mullanpur win, snapping PBKS’s 2-0 home start in 2025.
What’s Next?
RR (2-2) head to Ahmedabad to face GT on April 7, riding this momentum. PBKS (2-1) visit Delhi to meet DC on April 8, needing a batting rethink. Can Iyer regroup?
Final Thoughts
PBKS vs RR Match 18 was RR’s night—Jaiswal silenced critics, Archer roared back, and Parag finished strong. PBKS’s collapse, despite Wadhera’s grit, ended their perfect run, as X buzzed with RR’s “powerplay dominance” (@iamsud24) and “relentless attitude” (@Twilightlove_7). A statement win—what’s your highlight? Share below!
