Mullanpur, April 5: Home advantage can be a game-changer in T20 cricket, but for Punjab Kings (PBKS), it has been more of a burden than a blessing. As they gear up to play their first home game of IPL 2025 at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, PBKS are hoping to buck the trend and continue their promising start to the season.
PBKS Aim to Break the Home Hoodoo
Despite playing at three different venues since IPL 2023, PBKS have struggled to establish dominance at any of them. Their record at Mullanpur—four losses out of five—offers little encouragement, while Dharamsala remains winless territory. However, they remain one of only two unbeaten teams in IPL 2025, and with a well-rounded squad led by Shreyas Iyer and guided by coach Ricky Ponting, Punjab will be eyeing a fresh chapter at home.
The top order has clicked well, with Iyer anchoring confidently. The bowling unit has been timely and effective, sealing key moments. Now, with two back-to-back home matches, PBKS have a real shot at rewriting their home narrative.
Royals Regaining Rhythm
The Rajasthan Royals (RR) arrive on the back of a crucial win over Chennai Super Kings, a result that brought them back into the reckoning after two early losses. But it hasn’t all been smooth sailing. Yashasvi Jaiswal has looked off-color, and the batting lacks the dynamism of previous seasons with reduced overseas flair.
Still, players like Nitish Rana and Dhruv Jurel have stepped up under pressure, and the bowling unit is finding its groove. Jofra Archer has bounced back from an expensive start, while Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana are beginning to gel into a threatening spin tandem.
With a slowish surface in Mullanpur, spinners could once again play a pivotal role.
Venue & Conditions
When: Saturday, April 5 at 7:30 PM IST
Where: Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur
What to Expect: The pitch has traditionally favored bowlers, especially spinners. IPL 2024’s highest score at this venue was 192, with most first-innings totals hovering around 180. Only two 200+ scores have been posted in 28 T20s here since October 2022. Spinners enjoyed an economy of 7.08—the best among all IPL 2024 venues.
Team News & Match-ups
Punjab Kings
- Injuries: No reported injury concerns.
- Tactics: Yuzvendra Chahal could be used early against Sanju Samson and Nitish Rana, whom he has dismissed five and six times respectively. Marcus Stoinis may also be handed the ball early, given his strong record against Yashasvi Jaiswal.
Probable XII: Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh (wk), Shreyas Iyer (c), Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, Suryansh Shedge, Marco Jansen, Lockie Ferguson, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Nehal Wadhera/Harpreet Brar
Rajasthan Royals
- Injuries: Sanju Samson returns as captain and wicketkeeper after playing previous games as an impact sub.
- Tactics: Sandeep Sharma is expected to be the key weapon against Punjab’s middle order. He has dismissed Iyer, Maxwell, and Stoinis a total of seven times, with all three having below-par strike rates against him.
Probable XII: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson (c & wk), Nitish Rana, Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, Shimron Hetmyer, Wanindu Hasaranga, Jofra Archer, Maheesh Theekshana, Sandeep Sharma, Tushar Deshpande, Kumar Kartikeya
RR vs PBKS Head-to-Head
- RR lead the rivalry 16-12, with six wins in the last nine meetings since 2020.
Did You Know?
- Shashank Singh has the second-best death overs strike rate (232.46) in IPL since 2024 among batters with 75+ deliveries.
- Shreyas Iyer boasts a 58.33% win record as captain, third-best behind MS Dhoni and Sachin Tendulkar (min. 50 games).
- Yashasvi Jaiswal has been dismissed seven times by short balls out of 15 pacer dismissals since 2024.
- Wanindu Hasaranga is the leading T20 wicket-taker since 2024, with 94 wickets in 57 matches at an average of 15.73 and economy of 7.13.
RR vs PBKS Live Streaming and Broadcast Details
Cricket fans across the globe can catch the live action of RR vs PBKS through various platforms:
- India: Star Sports Network, Disney+ Hotstar
- Pakistan: Tapmad TV
- United States: Willow TV
- United Kingdom: Sky Sports Cricket
- Australia: Fox Sports
Viewers traveling abroad can use VPN services like NordVPN or ExpressVPN to access their preferred streaming platforms.
