Rajasthan Royals’ struggles with run-chases continued in dramatic fashion, as they fell short by just 11 runs in their latest outing, the fourth time this season they’ve lost by such a narrow margin. Adding to their woes, this tally doesn’t even include the heartbreak of their Super Over defeat to the Delhi Capitals.
High-fives all around the @PunjabKingsIPL camp 🙌
With this win they move to the 2️⃣nd spot on the Points Table and one step closer to the Playoffs
Scorecard ▶ https://t.co/HTpvGew6ef #TATAIPL | #RRvPBKS pic.twitter.com/dZT4hw3f1Z
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 18, 2025
The match had begun with promise and power. Openers Vaibhav Suryavanshi and Yashasvi Jaiswal tore into the opposition with a blistering assault that had boundaries raining from the outset. Remarkably, the pair didn’t run a single during the opening five overs, relying solely on a barrage of fours and sixes to light up the scoreboard. At that point, Rajasthan looked well on course to chase down the target with ease.
But the game turned dramatically after the breakthrough wicket. Once the opening stand was broken, the Royals’ innings unraveled. Wickets fell in clusters, halting momentum and piling pressure on the middle order. Youngster Dhruv Jurel was left to salvage the chase on his own in the death overs, but with no support from the other end, his efforts fell short.
Amid the Royals’ collapse, Harpreet Brar stood out with a sensational bowling performance. While most bowlers were taken to the cleaners on a batter-friendly pitch, Brar held his nerve and claimed the crucial wickets of Suryavanshi, Jaiswal, and Riyan Parag. His final figures — 3 for 22 — were instrumental in tilting the game in his side’s favour.
Earlier, an explosive batting performance from Nehal Wadhera and Shashank Singh propelled Punjab Kings to a commanding 219/5 against Rajasthan Royals at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium on Sunday, despite an early top-order collapse.
Rajasthan Royals (Playing XI): Yashasvi Jaiswal, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Sanju Samson(w/c), Riyan Parag, Shimron Hetmyer, Dhruv Jurel, Wanindu Hasaranga, Kwena Maphaka, Tushar Deshpande, Akash Madhwal, Fazalhaq Farooqi
Punjab Kings (Playing XI): Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh(w), Shreyas Iyer(c), Shashank Singh, Nehal Wadhera, Mitchell Owen, Azmatullah Omarzai, Marco Jansen, Xavier Bartlett, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal
