IPL 2025: Rajasthan Royals halt Punjab Kings’ juggernaut with win by 50 runs

The 18th game of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season saw Punjab Kings (PBKS) lose their first game of the season. Rajasthan Royals (RR), who had beaten Chennai Super Kings in the previous game, coasted to an easy 50-run win. Sanju Samson was a happy captain as his side won their second game of the season after starting with two successive losses. 

Put into bat first, RR scored a massive 205 on the board with Yashasvi Jaiswal top scoring with 67 runs. Riyan Parag played a key knock as he stayed not out on 43 off just 25 balls while skipper Samson scored 38 runs and added 89 runs for the first wicket. Lockie Ferguson was the best bowler for the home team with figures of 2 for 37 from his four overs. 

Jofra Archer then got RR off to a great start with the ball as he knocked back Priyansh Arya’s off-stump for a golden duck. In the final ball of the same over, Shreyas Iyer was also castled by Archer for 10 runs while Sandeep Sharma and Kumar Kartikeya removed Marcus Stoinis and Prabhsimran Singh. 

Nehal Wadhera’s fight back ends in vain as RR claim an easy win 

Glenn Maxwell joined Nehal Wadhera in the middle as the pair added 88 runs for the fifth wicket in just 52 balls. Wadhera scored his first ever IPL fifty for his new side while Glenn Maxwell showcased his immense hitting talents as the pair began to mount a fightback. Just when the stand was getting dangerous, Maheesh Theekshana got the wicket of Maxwell for 30. 

Wanindu Hasaranga then got the wicket of Nehal Wadhera for 62 as Dhruv Jurel took an amazing catch. In the end, the Royals bowlers were way too good for the PBKS batters, who could only score 155 for the loss of nine wickets from their 20 overs. Jofra Archer was the best bowler for RR with 3/25 from his four overs. Sandeep Sharma and Maheesh Theekshana picked two wickets each for their side. 

With this win, Sanju Samson has become the most successful captain in the Royals’ history with 32 wins in the IPL. Shane Warne held the previous record with 31 wins, while current coach Rahul Dravid is third with 18 wins. The next game for the Royals is against Gujarat Titans on Wednesday, while PBKS will host Chennai Super Kings at home on Tuesday.