Punjab Kings Crush Rajasthan Royals to Climb to Second Spot in IPL 2025

Punjab Kings delivered a commanding performance in Jaipur to secure a convincing win over Rajasthan Royals, climbing to second place in the IPL 2025 points table. With this victory, Punjab now shares the same points as Royal Challengers Bangalore but holds a better net run rate. The match, played at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium on Sunday, saw Punjab dominate both with the bat and in strategy.

Opting to bat first, Punjab Kings got off to a brisk start with openers Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh showing intent early on. Prabhsimran hit a boundary off the very first ball, while Arya also looked promising. However, Rajasthan Royals quickly fought back, with Tushar Deshpande dismissing Arya for 9 in the second over. Prabhsimran followed soon after, falling for 21 off just 10 deliveries, which included three fours and a six. Punjab found themselves three wickets down within the powerplay, including the dismissal of debutant Mitchell Owen for a duck.

Despite the early setbacks, captain Shreyas Iyer and Nehal Wadhera steadied the innings. The pair batted sensibly, ensuring no further damage during the powerplay and keeping the scoreboard ticking. Wadhera shifted gears in the middle overs, attacking Wanindu Hasaranga with aggressive strokes, while Iyer played the supporting role. Together, they brought up a crucial 50-run stand for the fourth wicket.

Iyer’s innings ended on 30 from 25 balls after he mistimed a shot off Riyan Parag, leaving Punjab at 105/4. Wadhera continued his assault, reaching his half-century in just 25 balls. Joined by Shashank Singh, the duo pushed the run rate further, putting Rajasthan under immense pressure.

Shashank announced his arrival with a six off Hasaranga and was later dropped by the same bowler on a return catch. Wadhera remained the backbone of the innings, smashing five sixes and five fours en route to a dazzling 70 from 38 balls. He was eventually dismissed at the end of the 16th over, leaving Punjab at 159/5.

In the final four overs, Shashank Singh and Azmatullah Omarzai launched a brutal attack on Rajasthan’s bowlers. The duo added 60 runs in just 24 balls, maximizing the death overs. Shashank brought up his half-century in 27 balls and remained unbeaten on 59 off 30 balls, which included three sixes and five fours. Omarzai chipped in with a quickfire 21 off nine deliveries, smashing one six and three fours to push Punjab to a formidable total of 219/5 in their 20 overs.

For Rajasthan Royals, Tushar Deshpande was the pick of the bowlers with 2/37. Riyan Parag, Kwena Maphaka, and Akash Madhwal took one wicket each but failed to contain Punjab’s aggressive middle and lower-order batting.

This defeat adds to Rajasthan Royals’ woes in what has been a disappointing IPL season for them so far. The team has struggled to find consistency and has suffered multiple setbacks. They will now face Chennai Super Kings on May 20 in a crucial clash, while Punjab Kings will play Delhi Capitals on May 24.

With the tournament heading into its final phase, the race to the playoffs is heating up. Punjab Kings’ massive win has added another layer of excitement to the points table. Their explosive batting performance and improved net run rate have positioned them well for a strong finish to the league stage. Fans can look forward to more high-octane action as the IPL 2025 season moves toward a thrilling climax.

Team Maverick.