IPL 2025, RR vs PBKS Highlights: Punjab Kings win by 10 runs as Rajasthan Royals botch up another run-chase

Oh Jansen, bowls a wide off the hat-trick ball! But he has done enough to seal the win for PBKS, despite a couple of fours for Maphaka there. 

Punjab Kings have all but sealed their place in the playoffs for the first time in more than a decade! They have crossed that magical 16-point mark. A terrific fightback from Punjab after RR's openers were off to blazing start.

Jansen with 2 in 2 balls and Hasaranga's stay is brief. Outside edge taken by the keeper. 

Wanindu Hasaranga c Prabhsimran Singh b Marco Jansen 0 (1 balls)

And that is the match! Jansen goes for the wide angle again from over the wicket and the fielder is placed perfectly for this sliced mishit. Jurel's knock is over and Jansen just neds to bowl three legal deliveries. 

Dhruv Jurel c Mitch Owen b Marco Jansen 53 (31 balls)

Another single, that wasn't a great delivery actually, a batter in better rhythm could have sent it over deep midwicket. 

But as such, 2 singles off the first 2 balls from Jansen. 

Well, surely that's not a good call? Sure, Dubey can hit but he has connected in six balls here. Jurel hits one to long off and takes the single. Jansen nails his wide yorker first ball. 

RR need 21 off 5 balls.

Arshdeep Singh finishes with 0/60 but might have just done enough to win the match for Punjab with that 19th over! Just the one four for Jurel, and 8 runs off it. At least RR do the right thing to rush for a two last ball to keep Jurel on strike (and Dubey off it). 

Surely Jurel has to face all six balls in the last over? 22 to win. 

Jurel has arguably played his best innings of the tournament so far here. Away from the strike for the first two balls, then hits a four as he cuts a shorter ball from Arshdeep over point for four. 

There is a school of thought that Punjab vs Rajasthan is the actual El Clasico of IPL, because of how often they throw up these dramatic matches. This is heading to be one. Omarzai's good over spoiled by a Jurel six down the ground. Just missed the yorker length there and that's all the batters need these days. 

30 needed off 12 balls. 

Shubham Dubey comes into bat and he will replace Farooqi in the lineup. 

Omarzai strikes and it is the end of an ordinary innings from Hetmyer, going at under run-a-ball in a big chase. Maybe it won't hamper RR that much after all. Hint of reverse there for Omarzai and Hetmyer just chips it down to long on. 

Shimron Hetmyer c Xavier Bartlett b Azmatullah Omarzai 11 (12 balls)

And exactly what RR needed. It started off oh-so-well for Arshdeep with a couple of dot balls and a single. But Jurel then goes over extra cover off a slot ball for six. Then a poor call from Punjab to not review a wide that went for four. Stand-in captain Shashank with a blunder there, an extra run and extra ball. 

A good over for RR that, as both Hetmyer and Jurel release some pressure with a four each. First the West Indies batter finds the gap between cover and mid off and then Jurel finds the same gap with a shot through midwicket.

Required rate is now up to 13.20 after an 8-run over from Chahal. And to think there was a six in that over, as Chahal dropped one short to Jurel. The spinner comes back well with three dot balls to finish that over. 

Harpreet Brar brings out the thigh-five! After that big over, a breakthrough for Punjab. Harpreet darts one in and it goes with the arm and goes through Parag who was late on that shot. Bowled! 

Harpreet finishes with 4-0-22-3.

Riyan Parag b Harpreet Brar 13 (11 balls)

A 17-run over and Rajasthan needed that! Their run-chase had stagnated and this could be the change of momentum they wanted. Omarzai's over starts and ends with a six. First, Jurel with a stylish flick off his pads and off the last ball, Parag plays a fine pickup wide of long on. 

He has been hugely underwhelming this season after impressing RR enough to be retained. He has had quite a few chances to finish off run-chases but got stuck in 2nd gear. A four in that Chahal over, and he'd hope for more of that. Still, a 7-run over is not bad for PBKS. The required rate has climbed close to 12. 

They have had a couple of good defences this season but have also conceded some big totals like they did in Hyderabad. But can Punjab fight back here? The required rate is starting to creep up as Jurel joins Parag. Just 5 runs in that Omarzai over and the boundaries have dried up in the desert. 

And just like that, RR have lost their top three. Are we looking at another sensational start going to waste? Omarzai strikes with a change of pace, Samson early into the shot and Jansen takes a fine running catch from mid off. 

Chahal has bowled a couple of solid overs against his former side here. Just four singles in that over, and RR have slowed down a bit after that stunning start. Finishing off run-chases has been. their problem. 

Yashasvi Jaiswal slams a superb 24-ball half century but is dismissed next ball he faces. He looked to be a struggling a bit after completing a double in that over. Perhaps the heat was getting to him. And this is a tired-ish shot, as he tries to take on Harpreet who has struck again. Two LHB wickets for a SLA spinner, what matchups?

Yashasvi Jaiswal c Mitch Owen b Harpreet Brar 50 (25 balls)

Oh, Samson goes after his former teammate Chahal, taking him down the ground. But this is not too well timed, and Jansen – the tallest there is – nearly pulls it off. Goes for six though. 11 runs in that Chahal over. 

Harpreet has been the guy who has provided a semblance of control for Punjab Kings. Just five singles in that over as RR look to steady the ship after a racy powerplay. 

And meanwhile Jaiswal has moved to the top of the Orange Cap leaderboard, has been in sensational form after a slow start. Nothing slow about RR's start here as they race to what we are told now is their highest ever powerplay total in the IPL. A couple of fours for YBJ to start that over and Samson too joins in at the end. 

We all need a break, time for a timeout. 

Interesting ploy from Ponting and Shashank, bringing in the left-arm spinner with the left-handed batters on fire in the middle. But after a couple of mishit boundaries for Vaibhav (well, maybe not the 2nd one down the ground), Harpreet Brar strikes! A leading edge from the young man and it is taken at mid off. 

Vaibhav Suryavanshi c Xavier Bartlett b Harpreet Brar 40 (15 balls)

What a sensational start this is. Vaibhav goes after senior India T20 pacer Arshdeep like he is no rookie. A four to start the over then Arshdeep comes back well with three dot balls. But the young man goes BOOM, BOOM for two sixes to finish the over, depositing the ball into the stands over midwicket. First a full ball, heaved. Then slightly short of length, still pulled away. 

Oh RR nearly gifted a wicket to Punjab there. Jaiswal drives down the ground, Arshdeep throws for a direct hit, the ball richochets at the non-striker's end, and Jaiswal wants to sneak in a single. Vaibhav not keen and sends his senior partner back. A better throw and Jaiswal would have been short, Nehal banged it into the outfield and that takes some sting off the throw. The dive saves YBJ.

And it turns into another BIG OVER! Bartlett's first over goes for 12, three fours to Yashasvi. And it is the fastest team fifty of the tournament! 

Well, what a start this is for RR. Jansen mixes up his lengths in that over to Vaibhav, trying to go full in search of swing and then dragging the length ball alternatingly. But every time he went full, the young man went hard at it. Two sixes down the ground and a four off a streaky outside edge sandwiched in between. 

What a start to the run-chase! Jaiswal has been in great form recently and been getting off to a flying start. And it is a massive first over. The over starts with a four through midwicket and the intentions are clear right away. Then a lofted shot over mid off, followed up a scoop behind the wicket for a couple more boundaries. Then comes a big heave over midwicket for six. The over ends with a streaky outside edge for four after Punjab took the slip out. 

As Sanju Samson said, the opening pair hasn't been disturbed with his return to the side. It is Jaiswal and Vaibhav in the middle. Arshdeep starts off. 

Oh, perhaps the Punjab captain is not 100%. Simon Doull says he didn't look fully fit at the toss. And Shashank Singh is the stand-in captain for Punjab as they look to defend 219. Harpreet Brar is the Impact Sub. 

That is a brilliant batting effort from Punjab Kings, not for the first time this season they have crossed 200 despite losing early wickets. Today, the stars were Nehal Wadhera and Shashank Singh. The latter finishes things off well, with 17-run last over that was bowled by Tushar. First a six over long on to start the over, then a fine scoop behind the wickets by moving across the pitch. 

PBKS POST 219/5,

Like Nehal, this has been a stunning counterattack from Shashank Singh. Gets to a 27-ball half century in the last over of the match. 

That was actually shaping into a fine 19th over from Madhwal, just four runs off the first four balls. Then Omarzai throws his hands at a wider delivery, finds the gap through offside for four. The 200 comes up with an over to spare. 

Omarzai, hello! The Afghan allrounder hasn't quite shown his full capabilities in the IPL so far but that is a glimpse of his brilliant batting abilities. Maphaka goes for a bouncer, it is ramped over the keeper's head for four. Then a smashing flat-batted drive over long off for a six. Followed by a four through extra cover. Lovely batting. 

Shashank Singh is making sure Punjab don't lose their way after the wicket of Nehal. 18 runs in that over by Farooqi! Two fours through the offside, late cuts almost either side of the point fielder. Then a smashing shot down the ground for a six. 80m, clears the fence. 

End of a fine innings from Nehal Wadhera. A short ball from Madhwal is first put away superbly for a six through midwicket. A pick up shot to a ball that was nearly shoulder high. Some shot. But next ball, the wider line works as Nehal finds the fielder at cover point. 

Nehal Wadhera c Shimron Hetmyer b Akash Madhwal 70 (37 balls)

A ridiculously long over. First a review for high no ball from Nehal, the graphic tells it is fair by a small margin. (The high full tosses could actually be a good weapon in the IPL, the review system has pretty much ruled out many no balls that were given in the past). Then another long review for a wide over the head. Wide given then has to be overturned. It actually has turned into a superb over from Tushar, great variations in length right through. Just 3 three singles. 

That is just awful judgment from Dhruv Jurel at long off! It was shaping into a really good over from Parag, just a couple of singles and a couple of wides... he forces the false shot from Shashank, similar to the one that got Shreyas. Jurel reacts far too late to where the ball is heading and instead of taking it nice and easy down his throat, it is wide to his left. Goes for six. 

Not slowing yet after the landmark either. First ball after his half century, Nehal smashes a six, another beautiful pick up over the leg side. Such an elegant batter to watch. Madhwal erring on length.

Time for a timeout. 

A fine, fine knock under pressure from Nehal Wadhera, as he has single-handedly almost kept up Punjab's good scoring rate despite the wickets falling early. Gets to the half century off just 25 balls, with a tuck off his hips for four. 

This has been a little gem of a knock from Nehal, has been timing the ball so well. A six in that over off Hasranga, nothing wrong with that delivery but the left-hander goes on his knees and sweetly times one over midwicket for a big six. A slice of luck a couple of deliveries later as he nearly sends one back to the bowler but a diving Hasaranga can't hold on. 

AND PARAG STRIKES! The Punjab captain was looking to break the shackles of his own knock, he was going just over run-a-ball. He smacks one wide of long on for a four. But next ball, as Parag slows it down and throws it slightly wide of offstump, Shreyas skies it to the fielder coming in from long off. That is a proper spinner's dismissal, not a part-timer's. 

Shreyas Iyer c Yashasvi Jaiswal b Riyan Parag 30 (25 balls)

It is a steady pattern of 9-10 runs per over for Punjab as they continue to bat with good intent. That was actually shaping into a really good over from Hasaranga with just 1 run off the first four balls, and then Nehal with a superb shot down the ground for a six. Great hands there, swung through it cleanly. 

Another over with a couple of boundaries. Madhwal into the attack and he is unlucky with the first one. A glance from Shreyas Iyer, and Tushar must do better at short fine leg. Awkward, a bit, for sure but he neither goes for the catch nor able to put the body behind the ball to prevent a four. A smashing square drive from Shreyas for another four a couple of deliveries later. 

Hasaranga is into the attack and should be a good matchup for the leftie Nehal but the Punjab batter takes the initiative and smacks a couple of fours. Two short balls in that over as Hasaranga misses his lengths and both put away through midwicket for a couple of boundaries. PBKS continue to go at a good rate. 

Despite those three wickets, PBKS Still going at nearly 10 an over. Samson throws the ball to Parag, the part-timer, for the 7th over and Nehal makes sure it is not a cheap tidy over. Gave himself room and lofted one over the offside for four. 9 from that over. 

More spin now with Hasaranga from the other end. 

Uff that was some timing! Nehal picks up the short ball, sent soaring over the square leg fence. Sheryas gets a life as he would have been run out in that over if the direct hit happened. 

Punjab Kings were rattled early on as they lost their first three wickets within the powerplay in a match against Rajasthan Royals at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium on Sunday. After opting to bat first, PBKS reached 58/3 at the end of the powerplay, with Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh and Mitch Owen the batters dismissed. 

Just one loose delivery from Maphaka in his 2nd over, a short and wide one that is cut away superbly by Shreyas for four. There was a fielder at deep extra cover but he can only watch it go by down to his left. But just 5 runs off that over though. 

The PBKS captain is finally in to bat, at No 5 today. (Might be the lowest he has batted so far this season but in terms of overs played, this is rather too early). He hits a four through the leg side to get going, a boundary for Nehal too from the other end. PBKS not slowing down but lost three big wickets early. 

Oh what a review. Tushar Deshpande is convinced that Prabhsimran has got an edge on this attempted glance down the leg side. Sanjiu had no interest initially but he has been convinced by his bowler to go for the review and RR are rewarded. What a gift that is for RR! Bad ball, just a good old strangle down the leg side. 

Prabhsimran Singh c Sanju Samson b Tushar Deshpande 21 (10 balls)

It's not a memorable IPL debut for the explosive Mitch Owen. Coming in at No 3 instead of Shreyas Iyer, the Aussie batter skies one off the 2nd ball he faces and Samson takes the high catch. Earlier in the over though, Prabhsimran went hard after Maphaka, slashing one for four over the offside, then glancing one off the pads (four leg byes). Shot of the day so far with a cut for six over point. A mixed bag of an over from the South African youngster. 

Mitchell Owen c Sanju Samson b Kwena Maphaka 0 (2 balls)

ARYA GONE! A life for him first up. Farooqi drops Arya at short fine leg. A glance off the pads, it flew to the Afghan pacer but he was late to react as well. Should have taken that but he only managed to parry the ball to four. But Tushar won't be denied. Next ball, good length, shaping back into AArya and the opener just pushes it to mid off. Hetmyer takes the catch. RR have their breakthrough. There was a four for Prabhsimran too earlier in the over, a now familiar late cut. 

Priyansh Arya c Shimron Hetmyer b Tushar Deshpande 9 (7 balls)

Farooqi is being generous to the Punjab openers. A couple of early gifts. First to Priyansh Arya on his pads. And then later, a full toss to Prabhsimran Singh. Both have been put away for fours. 

All right, the 2025 season of the IPL is well and truly back at long last after the damp, false restart we had yesterday in Bengaluru. Priyansh Arya facing up to Fazalhaq Farooqi with Prabhsimran Singh at the other end. Here we go!

Both teams line up adjacent to each other alongwith the officials and the national anthem is being played. The PBKS players go back in their dressing room after that, except for openers Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh, who gear up at the boundary. 

Punjab Kings: Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh(w), Shreyas Iyer(c), Shashank Singh, Nehal Wadhera, Mitchell Owen, Azmatullah Omarzai, Marco Jansen, Xavier Bartlett, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal

Impact Subs: Vijaykumar Vyshak, Harpreet Brar, Praveen Dubey, Suryansh Shedge, Musheer Khan

Rajasthan Royals: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Sanju Samson(w/c), Riyan Parag, Shimron Hetmyer, Dhruv Jurel, Wanindu Hasaranga, Kwena Maphaka, Tushar Deshpande, Akash Madhwal, Fazalhaq Farooqi

Impact Subs: Kumar Kartikeya, Shubham Dubey, Ashok Sharma, Kunal Singh Rathore, Yudhvir Singh Charak

What were you doing at the age of 14? Well, Vaibhav Suryavanshi at that age has dislodged his captain from the openin slot of an IPL team. Suryavanshi's incredible season just keeps giving. Here is what the two captains said at the toss. 

Shreyas Iyer: We are going to bat first. The wicket looks fantastic, know how it plays here. The powerhouse has been our batting, so got to make the best use of it. Everyone is in high spirits. The mindset has been strong. Trying to make the best use of the sources. Kudos to the Armed forces. Mitch Owen, Jansen, Omarzai are playing..

Sanju Samson: Wanted to bowl first after how the pitch behaved in the last game against RCB. Let's see how it plays out today. I am okay, hundred percent fit. I would love to respect where he (Suryavanshi) is batting. He has played well for us. I will bat down the order, I come in for Nitish Rana. Maphaka comes in for Jofra Archer..

Shreyas calls tails after Samson tosses it up. Tails it is and he says PBKS are batting first. Samson says that he would've bowled first anyhow and so happy days for both captains. 

Sanju Samson is out there today as captain of Rajasthan Royals, PBKS skipper Shreyas Iyer with him. Simon Doull is conducting the toss today. It is as sunny as it gets out there and well, it must be absolutely sweltering heat at the moment.