Cricket is more than just a game in India—it’s a festival, a passion, and a way of life. On May 18, 2025, the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur lit up with excitement as the Rajasthan Royals vs Punjab Kings Match Scorecard in the 59th match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. This match was a rollercoaster of emotions, with both teams showcasing their batting firepower, clever bowling, and moments of sheer brilliance. Punjab Kings emerged victorious by 10 runs, but the game was a spectacle of skill and strategy that kept fans on the edge of their seats. Let’s dive into the details of this high-scoring clash, break down the scorecard, and relive the moments that made this match unforgettable.
The Stage is Set in Jaipur
The Sawai Mansingh Stadium, known for its batting-friendly pitches, was buzzing under the afternoon sun. With temperatures soaring to nearly 40°C, the heat was a factor, but the players were ready to battle it out. Punjab Kings won the toss and chose to bat first, a decision influenced by the pitch’s reputation for favoring teams setting a target. Experts on the commentary panel noted that a score of around 180 would be competitive, but both teams had other plans, turning this into a run-fest that totaled 428 runs!
The pitch was described as a “batting beauty,” with short boundaries (67 meters on the off-side, 73 meters downtown, and 67 meters on the on-side). This set the stage for aggressive strokeplay, and the players didn’t disappoint. Let’s take a look at how the game unfolded, starting with Punjab Kings’ innings.
Punjab Kings’ Batting: A Power-Packed Performance
Punjab Kings came into the match with a strong batting lineup, led by captain Shreyas Iyer. However, their innings got off to a shaky start. Priyansh Arya, the opener, was dropped on 7 by Fazalhaq Farooqi in the 1.4th over, but he couldn’t capitalize, falling for 9 (7 balls, 1 four) to Tushar Deshpande in the next ball. Deshpande struck again in the 3.1st over, dismissing the in-form Prabhsimran Singh for 21 (10 balls, 3 fours, 1 six) after a successful review for a caught-behind decision. Debutant Mitchell Owen didn’t trouble the scorers, getting out for a two-ball duck to Kwena Maphaka in the 2.6th over. At 34/3 after 3.1 overs, Punjab Kings were in trouble.
Enter Nehal Wadhera and Shreyas Iyer, who steadied the ship with a 67-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Wadhera played with flair, reaching his fifty in just 25 balls (5 fours, 3 sixes). Iyer, more measured, contributed 30 (25 balls, 5 fours) before Riyan Parag dismissed him in the 10.3rd over, caught by Yashasvi Jaiswal at long-off. Wadhera continued his aggressive approach, but his fine knock of 70 (37 balls, 5 fours, 5 sixes) ended in the 15.6th over, caught by Shimron Hetmyer off Akash Madhwal.
The real fireworks came from Shashank Singh, who played a blistering unbeaten 59 (30 balls, 5 fours, 3 sixes). Supported by Azmatullah Omarzai’s quickfire 21 not out (9 balls, 3 fours, 1 six), Punjab Kings powered to 219/5 in their 20 overs. Shashank’s late assault, especially in the death overs, ensured a daunting target. The Royals’ bowlers struggled to contain the flow of runs, with Tushar Deshpande (2/37) being the pick of the bowlers, while Akash Madhwal (1/48) and Fazalhaq Farooqi (0/39) were expensive.
Rajasthan Royals’ Chase: A Fiery Start, A Dramatic Collapse
Chasing 220 was no easy task, but Rajasthan Royals had the firepower in their batting lineup. Openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and Vaibhav Suryavanshi came out swinging, dominating the powerplay with an explosive 76-run stand in just 4.5 overs. Jaiswal, in scintillating form, smashed 50 (25 balls, 9 fours, 1 six), while Suryavanshi’s 40 (15 balls, 4 fours, 4 sixes) at a strike rate of 266.67 set the tone. The Royals raced to 89/1 in the powerplay, compared to Punjab’s 58/3, giving them a clear edge.
However, Harpreet Brar, Punjab’s left-arm spinner, turned the game on its head. Brought into the attack in the 5th over, Brar struck twice in quick succession, dismissing Suryavanshi (4.5th over) and Jaiswal (8.4th over). His disciplined bowling (4 overs, 0 maidens, 22 runs, 3 wickets) earned him the Player of the Match award. Sanju Samson, the Royals’ captain, tried to keep the momentum going with 20 (16 balls, 1 four, 1 six), but Azmatullah Omarzai had him caught by Marco Jansen in the 10.2nd over, leaving RR at 114/3.
Riyan Parag (13 off 11) fell to Brar in the 13.2nd over, bowled by a skidding arm ball. At 144/4, the Royals needed a big partnership. Dhruv Jurel stepped up with a fighting 53 (31 balls, 3 fours, 4 sixes), keeping the chase alive. Shimron Hetmyer (11 off 12) struggled to find his rhythm and was dismissed by Omarzai in the 17.2nd over. With 22 runs needed in the final over, Marco Jansen delivered a match-winning performance, dismissing Jurel (19.3rd over) and Wanindu Hasaranga (19.4th over) in quick succession. Kwena Maphaka’s 8 not out (2 balls, 2 fours) and Shubham Dubey’s 7 not out (7 balls) weren’t enough, as RR finished at 209/7, falling 10 runs short.
The Rajasthan Royals vs Punjab Kings Match Scorecard Breakdown
Below is the detailed Rajasthan Royals vs Punjab Kings Match Scorecard, capturing every key moment of this thrilling encounter.
|
Team |
Batter |
Runs |
Balls |
4s |
6s |
SR |
Dismissal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Punjab Kings Innings (219/5, 20 overs) |
|||||||
|
Priyansh Arya |
9 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 128.57 |
c Hetmyer b Deshpande |
|
|
Prabhsimran Singh (wk) |
21 | 10 | 3 | 1 | 210.00 |
c Samson b Deshpande |
|
|
Mitchell Owen |
0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
c Samson b Maphaka |
|
|
Nehal Wadhera |
70 | 37 | 5 | 5 | 189.19 |
c Hetmyer b Madhwal |
|
|
Shreyas Iyer (c) |
30 | 25 | 5 | 0 | 120.00 |
c Jaiswal b Parag |
|
|
Shashank Singh |
59* | 30 | 5 | 3 | 196.67 |
not out |
|
|
Azmatullah Omarzai |
21* | 9 | 3 | 1 | 233.33 |
not out |
|
|
Extras |
9 (lb 4, w 5) |
||||||
|
Total |
219/5 (20 overs, RR: 10.95) |
||||||
|
Did Not Bat |
Marco Jansen, Xavier Bartlett, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal, Harpreet Brar |
||||||
|
Fall of Wickets |
19/1 (Arya, 1.5), 34/2 (Owen, 2.6), 34/3 (Prabhsimran, 3.1), 101/4 (Iyer, 10.3), 159/5 (Wadhera, 15.6) |
||||||
|
Bowling |
O |
M |
R |
W |
Eco |
||
|
Fazalhaq Farooqi |
3 | 0 | 39 | 0 | 13.00 | ||
|
Tushar Deshpande |
4 | 0 | 37 | 2 | 9.25 | ||
|
Kwena Maphaka |
3 | 0 | 32 | 1 | 10.67 | ||
|
Riyan Parag |
3 | 0 | 26 | 1 | 8.67 | ||
|
Wanindu Hasaranga |
3 | 0 | 33 | 0 | 11.00 | ||
|
Akash Madhwal |
4 | 0 | 48 | 1 | 12.00 | ||
|
Rajasthan Royals Innings (209/7, 20 overs) |
|||||||
|
Yashasvi Jaiswal |
50 | 25 | 9 | 1 | 200.00 |
c Owen b Brar |
|
|
Vaibhav Suryavanshi |
40 | 15 | 4 | 4 | 266.67 |
c Bartlett b Brar |
|
|
Sanju Samson (c & wk) |
20 | 16 | 1 | 1 | 125.00 |
c Jansen b Omarzai |
|
|
Riyan Parag |
13 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 118.18 |
b Brar |
|
|
Dhruv Jurel |
53 | 31 | 3 | 4 | 170.97 |
c Owen b Jansen |
|
|
Shimron Hetmyer |
11 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 91.67 |
c Bartlett b Omarzai |
|
|
Shubham Dubey |
7* | 7 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 |
not out |
|
|
Wanindu Hasaranga |
0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
c Prabhsimran b Jansen |
|
|
Kwena Maphaka |
8* | 2 | 2 | 0 | 400.00 |
not out |
|
|
Extras |
7 (w 7) |
||||||
|
Total |
209/7 (20 overs, RR: 10.45) |
||||||
|
Did Not Bat |
Tushar Deshpande, Akash Madhwal, Fazalhaq Farooqi |
||||||
|
Fall of Wickets |
76/1 (Suryavanshi, 4.5), 109/2 (Jaiswal, 8.4), 114/3 (Samson, 10.2), 144/4 (Parag, 13.2), 181/5 (Hetmyer, 17.2), 200/6 (Jurel, 19.3), 200/7 (Hasaranga, 19.4) |
||||||
|
Bowling |
O |
M |
R |
W |
Eco |
||
|
Arshdeep Singh |
4 | 0 | 60 | 0 | 15.00 | ||
|
Marco Jansen |
3 | 0 | 41 | 2 | 13.67 | ||
|
Xavier Bartlett |
1 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 12.00 | ||
|
Harpreet Brar |
4 | 0 | 22 | 3 | 5.50 | ||
|
Yuzvendra Chahal |
4 | 0 | 30 | 0 | 7.50 | ||
|
Azmatullah Omarzai |
4 | 0 | 44 | 2 | 11.00 |
Key Moments and Turning Points
-
Early Wickets for RR: Tushar Deshpande’s double strike in the powerplay (Arya and Prabhsimran) and Maphaka’s dismissal of Owen put Punjab Kings at 34/3, giving RR early control.
-
Wadhera-Iyer Partnership: The 67-run stand between Nehal Wadhera and Shreyas Iyer stabilized Punjab’s innings and set the platform for a big total.
-
Shashank Singh’s Late Surge: Shashank’s unbeaten 59, including 26 runs in the final two overs, pushed Punjab to a formidable 219/5.
-
RR’s Explosive Powerplay: Jaiswal and Suryavanshi’s 89/1 in the first six overs gave RR a strong start, raising hopes of a successful chase.
-
Harpreet Brar’s Game-Changing Spell: Brar’s 3/22, including the wickets of Jaiswal, Suryavanshi, and Parag, derailed RR’s chase and swung the momentum toward Punjab.
-
Jansen’s Final Over: Needing 22 runs in the last over, RR fell short as Marco Jansen dismissed Jurel and Hasaranga, sealing Punjab’s 10-run victory.
Player of the Match: Harpreet Brar
Harpreet Brar’s exceptional bowling performance earned him the Player of the Match award. His 4 overs yielded just 22 runs and 3 crucial wickets, including the dangerous Jaiswal and Suryavanshi. Brar’s ability to bowl tight lines and use the arm ball effectively disrupted RR’s momentum. In the post-match presentation, he dedicated the award to his wife, crediting coach Sunil Joshi and teammate Yuzvendra Chahal for his success.
Awards and Milestones
-
Green Dot Balls of the Match: Harpreet Brar (9 dot balls)
-
On-the-go Fours: Yashasvi Jaiswal (9 fours)
-
Super Sixes of the Match: Nehal Wadhera (5 sixes)
-
Super Striker of the Match: Vaibhav Suryavanshi (strike rate of 266.67)
-
Orange Cap: Yashasvi Jaiswal (surpassed 500 runs in the season)
What the Captains Said
Shreyas Iyer (Punjab Kings): Despite a finger injury keeping him off the field, Iyer praised his team’s positive mindset and execution. He highlighted Brar’s bowling and the team’s ability to turn the game around from any situation.
Sanju Samson (Rajasthan Royals): Samson admitted that despite a strong start, RR failed to capitalize. He expressed disappointment but emphasized the need to regroup for the next season.
Impact on the Rajasthan Royals vs Punjab Kings Match Scorecard Points Table
Punjab Kings’ victory propelled them to second place in the IPL 2025 points table, matching Royal Challengers Bangalore in points but surpassing them with a better net run rate. For Rajasthan Royals, this was their tenth loss in 13 games, marking their worst IPL season to date.
Why This Match Mattered Rajasthan Royals vs Punjab Kings Match Scorecard
This match was a classic IPL thriller, showcasing the unpredictability and excitement of T20 cricket. Punjab Kings’ ability to recover from early setbacks and post a massive total demonstrated their batting depth. Rajasthan Royals’ aggressive start showed their potential, but their collapse highlighted the importance of maintaining momentum. Harpreet Brar’s spell was a reminder that spinners can change the course of a game, even on a batting-friendly pitch.
For fans, this game was a treat—428 runs, 42 fours, 21 sixes, and a nail-biting finish. It was a reminder of why the IPL is the world’s most exciting cricket league, bringing together raw talent, strategic brilliance, and moments of pure drama.
Looking Ahead
Punjab Kings will take on Delhi Capitals on May 24, 2025, in Jaipur, aiming to solidify their playoff spot. Rajasthan Royals, already out of contention, will face Chennai Super Kings in Chennai on May 20, looking to end their season on a high note. For now, the memories of this high-scoring clash will linger, a testament to the magic of IPL cricket.
