Jaipur, May 18: In what promises to be a high-octane encounter under the blistering Rajasthan sun, Punjab Kings (PBKS) resume their IPL 2025 campaign against a beleaguered Rajasthan Royals (RR) side at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium on Sunday afternoon. With playoff qualification still within reach for PBKS, the stakes are high as they look to bounce back from an unfortunate washout after racking up 122 in just 10.1 overs in their previous outing.
The Kings will be wary of the shift in conditions — from the batter-friendly climes of Dharamsala to the more unpredictable pitches in Jaipur, where strokeplay has been a mixed bag. While the Jaipur surface has seen competitive totals, it also has a knack for rewarding disciplined bowling, something Punjab’s in-form unit will be banking on.
PBKS Batting Unit on Fire
Punjab Kings have made headlines this season for their aggressive batting, with the uncapped duo of Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh setting the tone at the top. The pair has lit up PowerPlays with their fearless strokeplay, averaging a strike rate of 10.25 — second best this season, only behind RR themselves.
Captain Shreyas Iyer has led from the front, anchoring innings and marshalling resources with tactical acumen. With Shashank Singh and Nehal Wadhera also contributing key knocks in the middle order, PBKS are peaking at the right time despite the absence of overseas stars like Marcus Stoinis, Aaron Hardie, and Josh Inglis.
RR: A Campaign to Forget
In stark contrast, Rajasthan Royals are already out of playoff contention, and the campaign has been plagued by inconsistency and poor execution. Their decision-making at the auction, especially in the fast-bowling department, has backfired badly. RR have the worst fast-bowling average in IPL 2025 and are the second-most expensive pace unit overall, despite occasional brilliance from Jofra Archer, who has now opted out of the remainder of the season.
There is a silver lining though. Sanju Samson is back after missing several games due to injury and will be eager to end the team’s home leg on a high. He has a remarkable record against PBKS’s spearhead Arshdeep Singh, with a strike rate of 188.09 and only one dismissal.
PBKS vs RR Key Match-ups and Tactical Watch
- Arshdeep Singh vs Sanju Samson: Arshdeep has been lethal in the first three overs this season, tied with Khaleel Ahmed at seven wickets. But Samson has historically thrived against him, setting up an intriguing mini-battle.
- PBKS Openers vs RR Pacers: Rajasthan’s inability to make breakthroughs in the PowerPlay has been glaring, having failed to take a wicket inside six overs in five of their 12 games. That puts pressure on bowlers like Akash Madhwal and Fazalhaq Farooqi (or Kwena Maphaka) to deliver against an explosive top order.
PBKS vs RR Probable Playing XIs
Rajasthan Royals:
Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson (c), Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Shimron Hetmyer, Shubham Dubey, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Akash Madhwal, Kumar Kartikeya, Fazalhaq Farooqi/Kwena Maphaka
Punjab Kings:
Prabhsimran Singh (wk), Priyansh Arya, Mitch Owen, Shreyas Iyer (c), Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, Suryansh Shedge, Azmatullah Omarzai, Marco Jansen, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal, Xavier Bartlett
PBKS vs RR Pitch and Conditions
It’s expected to be scorching hot, with temperatures touching 40°C in Jaipur. The pitch has been reasonably good for batting but has also offered something to bowlers who maintain discipline. With no dew factor in an afternoon match, spinners like Yuzvendra Chahal and Wanindu Hasaranga could play a crucial role.
PBKS vs RR Head-to-Head Record
In 29 meetings, Rajasthan Royals lead 17-12. The last time these two met, RR had convincingly won by 50 runs in Chandigarh. However, with playoff hopes on the line and PBKS in better form, roles might reverse this time around.
Did You Know?
- RR have failed to take a wicket in the PowerPlay in five of their 12 matches this season.
- Yashasvi Jaiswal averages 70.5 in RR wins but only 35.12 in defeats, underlining his importance.
PBKS vs RR Live Streaming & Broadcast Info
PBKS vs RR Live Telecast: Star Sports Network (Select channels with Hindi, English, regional language options)
PBKS vs RR Live Streaming: JioCinema (free in India across all languages and devices)
