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All-Round Rajasthan Royals Crush Punjab Kings as Home Struggles Continue
Royals Deliver Comprehensive Win in Mullanpur
Rajasthan Royals continued their winning momentum in IPL 2025 with a dominant all-round performance against Punjab Kings, clinching a comfortable 50-run victory at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur. With this result, PBKS have now lost five of their six games at their new home venue, further deepening their woes after moving from the PCA Stadium in Mohali.
How Rajasthan Royals Seized Control
PowerPlay Contrast: Royals Steady, Kings Collapse
The game was defined early in the PowerPlay phases. Rajasthan Royals, despite scoring just 10 more runs in the initial six overs, emerged stronger as they kept their wickets intact. Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sanju Samson formed a solid foundation, allowing the Royals to launch in the middle and death overs.
In stark contrast, Punjab Kings suffered an early collapse. Jofra Archer struck twice in the opening over, removing Priyansh Arya and the dangerous Shreyas Iyer. Sandeep Sharma added to the damage by dismissing Marcus Stoinis. These early blows left PBKS chasing the game throughout.
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Rajasthan Royals’ Innings Breakdown
PowerPlay: Jaiswal Finds Form
Rajasthan began cautiously, but Yashasvi Jaiswal soon turned the tide with calculated aggression. He struck three sixes and four boundaries in the PowerPlay, helping RR reach 53 without loss. Arshdeep Singh and Marco Jansen bowled with discipline early, but Jaiswal’s shot-making put pressure back on the bowlers.
Middle Overs: Parag and Jaiswal Build Momentum
The Royals continued to dominate as Jaiswal and Riyan Parag took charge. Jaiswal, despite recording his slowest IPL half-century (40 balls), accelerated soon after. Samson and Parag played key supporting roles, and the momentum shifted firmly in RR’s favor.
Lockie Ferguson provided a brief breakthrough, removing Samson and later dismissing Jaiswal with a slower ball. However, Nitish Rana and Parag ensured the innings never lost steam.
Death Overs: Royals Cross the 200-Mark
The death overs witnessed sloppy fielding from Punjab, with dropped catches and missed run-outs. Riyan Parag and Shimron Hetmyer capitalized on the errors, hammering bowlers to take the Royals past 200. Dhruv Jurel provided a final flourish with 13 off 5 balls. Rajasthan finished at 205/4.
Punjab Kings’ Flawed Chase
Early Damage: PBKS Lose PowerPlay Plot
Punjab’s chase got off to a disastrous start. Archer’s swing and accuracy proved too much, while Sandeep Sharma added pressure with economical bowling and timely wickets. They slumped to 43/3 after six overs, setting the tone for a difficult pursuit.
Middle Resistance: Wadhera and Maxwell Counterattack
Nehal Wadhera and Glenn Maxwell put up a brief resistance in the middle overs. Wadhera, playing at home, notched up a gutsy 61 off 33 balls. Maxwell contributed a quick 30, but their partnership ended just when PBKS needed acceleration.
Death Overs Collapse: Royals Seal the Win
Rajasthan Royals tightened their grip in the death overs, claiming four wickets for just 24 runs. Wadhera’s dismissal triggered a collapse, and Punjab limped to 155/9, falling short by a massive margin of 50 runs.
Match Summary
Rajasthan Royals: 205/4 in 20 overs
(Yashasvi Jaiswal 67, Riyan Parag 43; Lockie Ferguson 2/37, Arshdeep Singh 1/35)
Punjab Kings: 155/9 in 20 overs
(Nehal Wadhera 61, Glenn Maxwell 30; Jofra Archer 3/25, Sandeep Sharma 2/21)
Result: Rajasthan Royals won by 50 runs.
What’s Next for the Teams?
Punjab Kings will remain in Mullanpur to face Chennai Super Kings on April 8, hoping to reverse their home fortunes. Meanwhile, Rajasthan Royals travel west to Ahmedabad for a tough contest against Gujarat Titans on April 9.
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