Rajasthan Royals (RR) defeated Punjab Kings (PBKS) by 50 runs in the 18th match of IPL 2025 at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mohali. Yashasvi Jaiswal's blazing knock, supported by Sanju Samson and followed by Riyan Parag's quickfire innings, set the stage for RR. Later, Jofra Archer shattered PBKS’s top order. Rajasthan's disciplined bowling sealed a convincing victory.
Punjab Kings opt to bowl first
Punjab Kings won the toss and chose to bowl. Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sanju Samson opened the innings for Rajasthan Royals. Arshdeep Singh began the attack for Punjab. Initially, both batters played carefully but kept an eye out for boundaries. Marco Jansen bowled the second over. RR scored 13/0 after two overs.
Then in the fourth over, Jaiswal launched two consecutive sixes off Jansen. Rajasthan gained momentum. Glenn Maxwell was brought in to break the partnership, but RR stayed steady. After the powerplay, Rajasthan were cruising at 53/0. Jaiswal stood at 32 off 22, while Samson was on 20 off 14.
Rajasthan builds a solid platform
Lockie Ferguson returned and got the breakthrough. He dismissed Samson for 38 off 26. Riyan Parag walked in at No. 3. Jaiswal brought up his fifty in the 12th over with a four and followed it with a six. He took 40 balls for his half-century.
However, Ferguson ended Jaiswal’s knock in the 14th over. The opener scored a commanding 67 off 45. Nitish Rana came in and hit back-to-back boundaries immediately. At 135/2 after 14 overs, RR looked strong. But Jansen sent Rana back in the next over. Shimron Hetmyer joined Parag at the crease.
Parag powers the finish
Parag picked up the pace and kept the boundaries coming. Hetmyer smashed a six in the 17th over. Parag added two sixes in the 18th. RR reached 177/3. Arshdeep dismissed Hetmyer in the 19th over for 20 off 12, but Rajasthan had the momentum. Dhruv Jurel joined Parag for the final over and the duo added 19 runs. Rajasthan Royals finished at 205/4.
Archer breaks Punjab early
Chasing 206, PBKS opened with Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh. Jofra Archer struck immediately. He bowled Arya on the first ball and dismissed Shreyas Iyer on the last. Punjab crumbled to 11/2. Marcus Stoinis walked in, but Sandeep Sharma sent him back in the fourth over. Nehal Wadhera came to bat at No. 5. PBKS reached 31/3 in 4 overs.
Middle order offers resistance
Theekshana bowled the fifth over. Despite the tight lines, Prabhsimran and Nehal added useful runs. PBKS scored 43/3 after six overs. Kumar Kartikeya dismissed Prabhsimran in the seventh for 17 off 16. Maxwell stepped in but runs dried up. Nehal and Maxwell picked up the tempo after the 10th over. PBKS touched 78/4 at the halfway mark.
They stitched a 50-run stand. Maxwell hit a boundary in the 12th over to take PBKS past 100. Nehal smashed a six in the 14th over to complete his half-century in 33 balls.
Collapse ends Punjab’s hopes
Theekshana ended Maxwell’s innings in the 15th over for 30 off 21. Hasaranga then struck in the next over, dismissing Wadhera for a well-made 62. Sandeep Sharma sent Suryansh back in the 17th over. At 142/7, PBKS were in deep trouble.
Theekshana removed Jansen in the 18th. Archer wrapped things up by taking Arshdeep's wicket in the 20th. Punjab Kings could only manage 155/9.