Picture : IPL/ X : Nehal Wadhera of Punjab Kings
Punjab Kings continued their impressive run in the Tata IPL 2025 as they boosted their play-offs chances with another crucial 10 run win over the Rajasthan Royals.
Punjab Kings Captain Shreyas Iyer won the toss and oted to bat first . And his batsmen rose to the ocassion to ut u a formidable total for the hosts RR. Kings lost early wickets though with the find of the season Priyansh Arya out for (9), in-form Prabhsimran Singh dismissed for ( 21). Mitchell Owen did not disturb the score board out for 0. Skipper Shreyas Iyer scored 30 (5 alls, 5 fours).
The Kings innings gained momentum with Nehal Wadhera who was superb in his 70 ( 37 balls, 5 fours, 5 sixes) before he was out and then Shashnak Singh not out 59 ( 30 balls, 5 fours, 3 sixes) and Azmatullah Omarzai not out with a fine cameo 21 ( 9 balls, 3 fours, 1 six) saw the Kings finish on a high with 219/5 in their 20 overs.
RR Bowling faltered after the intial stage. Fazalhaq Farooqi 0/39 ( 3 overs ), Tushar Deshpande 2/ 37 ( 4 overs), Kwena Maphaka 1/32 ( 3 overs), Riyan Parag 1/ 26 ( 3 Overs), Wanindu Hasaranga 0/33 ( 3 overs ), Akash Madhwal 1/48 ( 4 overs)
RR began the chase with a promise and as has een their case right throgh the season they could not finish off the matches which they should have won . It is this attriute that saw them miss out of the play-offs . And in this match too the same mistakes was repeated again. Making it a season to forget for RR.
Yashasvi Jaiswal 50 ( 25 balls , 9 fours, 1 six), Vaibhav Suryavanshi the teen sensation 40 ( 15 balls, 4 fours, 4 sixes). Sanju Samson ( fitness issues right through) 0, Riyan Parag (13), Dhruv Jurel 53 ( 31 balls, 3 fours, 4 sixes), Shimron Hetmyer (11). Regular loss of wickets dented the RR chase . Wanindu Hasaranga (0), Shubham Dubey not out (7) , and Kwena Maphaka not out 8 as RR finished as 209/7 in their 20 overs. A yet another case of so near yet so far.
unjab Kings Bowling Arshdeep Singh had a rare off day 0/60 ( 4 overs) , Marco Jansen 2/41 ( 3 overs), Xavier Bartlett 0/12( 1 over), Harpreet Brar did the star turn with impressive figures 3/22 ( 4 overs), Yuzvendra Chahal 0/30 ( 4 overs), Azmatullah Omarzai 2/44 ( 4 overs)
Match: IPL 2025, 59th Match
Venue: Jaipur | Date: May 18, 2025
