πππππ :βΒ Rajasthan Royals vs Punjab Kings
ππππ : May 18,Sundayβ
ππππ : 15:30 PM ISTββ
πππππ :β Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur, India
ππππππππππ :β Indian Premier League 2025
Punjab Kings eye the top spot in the points table
- Rajasthan Royals have won 1 of their last 5 matches
- Punjab Kings have an in-form batting lineup
- RR have been poor at their home venue this season
Rajasthan Royals vs Punjab Kings
TV channels: The fans can watch the match live on Hotstar
Live Streaming: Live streaming of the match will be available on the FAFA191 Cricket Exchange India and website.
RR vs PBKS Match Prediction & Analysis
IPL 2025 is back after the short interruption. And we have a great fixture lined up for the weekend. Two batting powerhouses go head to head at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur.
The hosts have won just one of their 4 matches on this ground so far this season. They have a promising batting lineup with some young talent at the top order. It was at this venue that RR chased down 212 runs against Gujarat Titans with 8 wickets in hand, riding on Vaibhav Suryavanshiβs debut hundred.
Punjab Kingsβ batting has been in sublime form. They had scored 122 for 1 in just 10 Overs when their home game in Dharmshala was abandoned due to a significant technical failure.
The top order is in great touch, while skipper Shreyas Iyer has also delivered consistently in the middle order. Josh Inglis is another key player in the PBKS setup to watch out for.
TEAMS PREVIEW
Rajasthan Royals Preview
Rajasthan Royals stand eliminated from the playoffs. With just 3 wins from 12 matches, RR are 9th on the points table. They had some great games early in the season and a few close encounters that didnβt end in their favor.
They were never really out of the contest in most of their early losses. However, as the season progressed Rajasthan Royals lost the momentum and could never bounce back. Sanju Samsonβs injury and him being ruled out also impacted the teamβs overall performance and strategies on the field.
They have brilliant batters, and they hold the key to a win here. Suryavanshi and Jaiswal are the ideal opening combination. Both have an attacking and aggressive approach to their game.
They can set the Royals on the path to a big score with a strong power play. Riyan Parag was brilliant in his last outing against KKR, scoring 95 off 45 balls. He finally delivered a big knock after his few promising performances earlier in the season.
Dhruv Jurel hasnβt had a great season this year. He is a key player in the middle order. With Shimron Hetmyer and Shubham Dubey coming in lower down the order, RR have depth in their batting lineup.
Jofra Archer would not be featuring in the RR squad for the remaining two games of the season. That opens a window for Fazalhaq Farooqi in the pace department. It is not a very strong bowling attack. Though Akash Madhwal seems promising, heβs less likely to make a big impact.
Punjab Kings Preview
Punjab Kings have a great opportunity to grab the top spot in the points table with an easy win here. It may seem like an easy win given RRβs poor form at home and overall inconsistency, but the hosts will pose a threat with the bat.
Punjab Kings need to bring their A-game as far as the bowling is concerned. Their bowling attack is, without a doubt, far better than the hosts. Arshdeep Singh is a match-winning left-arm pacer in the T20 format.
Others like Marco Jansen, Azmatullah Omarzai and the leg-break Yuzvendra Chahal are each a match-winner in their own right. Chahal is a key wicket-taking bowler and will be one to watch out for.
There is no clarity on the participation of Marcus Stoinis and Josh Inglis in this game. All-rounders Jansen and Omarzai are also very handy with the bat and can score quick runs lower down the order.
Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh are in great touch at the top. The two openers can get Punjab off to a flier while Shreyas Iyer would come in at 3 or 4 and carry the momentum through the middle over to set the Kings up for a big total.
If Inglis makes it to the XI, he will be a key batter in the middle order alongside the skipper. The two could put on a game-changing partnership that will put Punjab Kings on top of the game.
Shashank Singh and Marcus Stoinis are the match-finishers in the lower order in this side.
Weather Conditions
It will be a very hot day in Jaipur. The skies will be clear and sunny with a high of 42 degrees Celsius. No signs of cloud or rain at any point during the match.
RR vs PBKS Pitch Report
The pitch has been great for batting this season. It wasnβt always like this. There have been low-scoring games in previous seasons where the pitch was a bit on the slower side, making it difficult for batters to score quickly.Β The average 1st innings score in the last 4 matches at this venue is 195 runs. We reckon anything below 200 will not be safe on this wicket.
Toss: To Bat
Teams batting first have won two of the four games played at this venue so far in IPL 2025. Since this match will be played in the afternoon, we reckon there will be no particular advantage to batting second. Both teams have a solid batting lineup and the potential to set up a huge target