IPL 2025: 3 heroes and 3 zeroes from the PBKS vs RR clash

A complete performance from Rajasthan Royals helped them down Punjab Kings in match number 18 of the IPL 2025 season at Mullanpur, Chandigarh. The Royals saw several boxes get ticked. Yashasvi Jaiswal hammered his maiden fifty-plus score this season. Sanju Samson was back as skipper after just playing as an Impact Substitute in RR’s 1st three games. Jofra Archer’s solid bowling, backed by the Sri Lankan spin duo, were aspects they saw coming into shape.

Jaiswal and Samson set the platform with an 89-run partnership for the opening wicket. Jaiswal went on and completed his fifty. Riyan Parag’s unbeaten 43 played its part. The likes of Shimron Hetmyer and Dhruv Jurel played their part in seeing RR get to 205/4 in 20 overs. The Punjab bowlers struggled with consistency and paid the price. Lockie Ferguson was the pick of the bowlers with 2/37.

In response, PBKS were two down in the 1st over in this stiff run-chase. Archer got going with sheer pace and picked two scalps in the 1st over. RR struck two more blows to have PBKS lose two more wickets in the 1st 7 overs. In this game of catch-up thereafter, Nehal Wadhera and Glenn Maxwell did an able job of lifting things and keeping their side with an outside chance of taking the shots.

Maheesh Theekshana and Wanindu Hasaranga removed both set batters and once that was done, PBKS were done and dusted. They managed to hit only one boundary in the last 5.4 overs as RR won the contest by 50 runs. PBKS scored 155/9.

Here are the heroes and zeroes from the PBKS-LSG contest.

Heroes

Yashasvi Jaiswal: After a string of low scores, Jaiswal came alive, scoring a useful half-century for RR. He scored 32 runs in the power play before things dried up a bit. However, he shifted gears thereafter and ended up setting a platform for his side to exploit. Jaiswal was finally dismissed by Lockie Ferguson as he failed to read a slower ball. Jaiswal’s knock had 5 sixes and three fours. He struck at 148.89. In 57 IPL matches, the left-handed batter has scored 1708 runs at 31.62. He now owns 10 IPL fifties (100s: 2). Versus the Kings, the youngster has amassed 288 runs from 7 matches at an average of 41.14. This was his 3rd fifty versus PBKS (SR: 145.45).

Riyan Parag: A solid effort from Parag helped the side get past 200. Parag scored a useful 43* from 25 balls, hitting three 4s and three 6s. He struck at 172. He walked in when RR were 89/1 in the 11th over. He made sure to stay until the end and got the desired shots when needed to maximise scoring. He shared three useful stands with Jaiswal, Shimron Hetmyer and Dhruv Jurel. Notably, Parag slammed all of his three sixes in the death overs. This was a knock of maturity as Parag made his stay count despite being undone initially by the Punjab bowlers. The batter has scored 109 runs this season at 36.33.

Jofra Archer: After a strong performance against Chennai in the previous game of RR, fast bowler Archer was at his sublime best in this contest. Archer set the tone for RR with a fiery spell. He claimed two wickets in the 1st over itself. He got Priyansh Arya out first ball, opening up the batter’s defence as he got cleaned out. He then got the PBKS captain next as PBKS were reduced to 11/2. Archer came back to pick his 3rd wicket in the 20th over to end with 3/25. He also surpassed 50 wickets in the IPL, getting to 52 wickets. He became the 2nd Englishman to claim 50-plus wickets after Sam Curran, who has 58.

Zeroes

Shreyas Iyer: The PBKS captain came into this contest on the back of two successive fifties. The in-form Shreyas, who has been amongst the runs across formats of late, came in and punished Archer off the 1st ball he faced for a four. Another fuller ball was punished for a four as well. However, with 11 runs coming off the over and a wicket falling, Iyer had a poor moment. He played a needless aggressive shot which came from a lapse in concentration. A fuller ball on the stumps saw him back away and aiming to slog. He was in no shape and Archer castled him to make it 11/2. In what was a stiff chase, Iyer will be miffed with himself for opting to go with a shot like that.

Yuzvendra Chahal: Another mediocre performance from IPL’s leading wicket-taker Yuzvendra Chahal. The wrist-spinner was abysmal, conceding 32 runs from three overs and going wicketless. Since his mega INR 18 crore move to PBKS, the former RCB and RR stalwart has failed to live up to expectations. In all of his three outings, he has been expensive and this was another bad day at the office. Chahal clocked just two dot balls and ended up being smashed for 2 fours and a six. He also bowled 5 wides. In IPL 2025, Chahal has managed just one wicket from three matches. He has bowled 10 overs, giving away 102 runs and averaging 102. His economy rate reads a high 10.20.

Marcus Stoinis: The Aussie all-rounder failed to make an impact for the side booth with ball and bat. With the ball, his 4 overs went for 48 runs. He conceded at 12 runs an over. He was whipped for four fours and three sixes. Stoinis bowled just the 4 dot balls. He went wicketless. He bowled the 20th over and gave away 19 runs. And then, with the bat, he walked in when PBKS were 11/2. He ended up facing 7 balls, scoring one run. Sandeep Sharma dismissed Stoinis, who was caught and bowled. Stoinis struggled in the middle, and he was early on the punch to offer a catch to the bowler off a good length delivery on off. His dismissal saw PBKS get reduced to 26/3 in the 4th over.

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