By exploreodisha.in 
The excitement of IPL 2025 continues to thrill fans as the Rajasthan Royals (RR) clashed with the Punjab Kings (PBKS) on April 5, 2025. Hosted at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur, the match delivered a gripping contest filled with powerful performances, late twists, and standout individual brilliance.
First Innings: RR’s Measured Batting Approach
Rajasthan Royals, after winning the toss, opted to bat first on a surface that offered good bounce and stroke-play potential. The opening duo, Jos Buttler and Yashasvi Jaiswal, started positively, putting up a brisk 54-run stand in the powerplay. Buttler looked in fine touch, mixing aggressive intent with smart rotation, before being dismissed for a quick 37 off 24 balls.
Sanju Samson anchored the innings beautifully with a composed 64 off 45 deliveries, showcasing elegant stroke play through the covers and calculated risks. Riyan Parag’s cameo of 28 from 16 balls provided the late acceleration that pushed RR to a competitive total of 179/6 in 20 overs.
PBKS bowlers had their moments too. Kagiso Rabada bowled with pace and accuracy, finishing with 2/31, while Rahul Chahar controlled the middle overs effectively with a tight spell of 1/26 in his four overs.
Second Innings: Punjab Kings’ Rollercoaster Chase
In response, Punjab Kings began their chase aggressively with Prabhsimran Singh and Shikhar Dhawan taking the attack to the RR bowlers. Dhawan’s 44 (33 balls) brought stability at the top, but the middle order struggled to build on the momentum once he was dismissed by Yuzvendra Chahal.
The turning point came with Chahal’s double-wicket over, where he removed both Liam Livingstone and Sam Curran in quick succession. RR’s bowlers tightened the screws from there. Trent Boult’s deadly yorkers at the death and Avesh Khan’s clever variations ensured PBKS could never quite recover.
Despite a late flourish by Jitesh Sharma (29 off 15), PBKS fell short, ending their innings at 167/8, handing RR a well-earned 12-run victory.
Key Performances of the Match
- Sanju Samson (RR): 64 (45) – The skipper led from the front with a calculated innings that set up a strong platform.
- Yuzvendra Chahal (RR): 3/27 – The leg-spinner turned the game with crucial wickets in the middle overs.
- Kagiso Rabada (PBKS): 2/31 – Spearheaded the PBKS bowling with consistency and firepower.
- Jitesh Sharma (PBKS): 29 (15) – A valiant effort in the final overs, showing promise under pressure.
Match Summary
- Rajasthan Royals: 179/6 (20 overs)
- Punjab Kings: 167/8 (20 overs)
- Result: Rajasthan Royals won by 12 runs
- Player of the Match: Yuzvendra Chahal
Conclusion
The match was a classic example of how crucial middle-over bowling and pressure handling in the death overs can determine the outcome. With this win, Rajasthan Royals not only added two important points to their tally but also sent a strong message about their balanced squad and strategic depth. PBKS, while showing glimpses of brilliance, will look to fine-tune their middle-order resilience ahead of their next encounter.