Punjab Kings, who are in great shape, will clash with Rajasthan Royals for the IPL 2025’s 18th face-off. Sitting at the top, the Kings boast two victories from two matches. Rajasthan landing in the 9th spot, have one win to their name alongside two defeats. Both squads aim to climb higher in the standings with a win in this showdown. So far, they’ve clashed 28 times. Punjab Kings claimed 12 wins, whereas the Royals have the upper hand with 16 triumphs.

The Punjab Kings stand out as the top performers in IPL 2025 up to now. Their hitters are smashing it, and their throwers are nailing their targets. Even with this success, they still haven’t hit their peak performance since Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, and Marco Jansen have yet to show their best game. Shreyas Iyer is killing it as the skipper showing everyone how it’s done. The Punjab Kings are gunning to nail down win number three in a row this match.

So, Rajasthan Royals just nailed it by snagging a win against CSK with a six-run lead marking their initial triumph of the season. Nitish Rana racked up 81 runs, Wanindu Hasaranga struck out three with 35 runs given, and Jofra Archer nailed two wickets for just 13 runs. Real star material, these guys. But hey, there’s a bit of worry with Yashasvi Jaiswal’s game. Not as hot as they’d want. On the flip side, Archer is bringing his A-game, which is ace for the Royals. Still, they’re gonna need those top 3 hitters to bring their game, like all the time. This next match? It’s gonna be a real examination for them.

Oh, and the showdown’s going down at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur Chandigarh.

Punjab Kings and Rajasthan Royals clashed in 28 matches head-to-head. Punjab Kings triumphed 12 times, while Rajasthan Royals snagged 16 victories.

PBKS Team Profile

The Punjab Kings Kings XI Punjab entered the Indian Premier League back when it kicked off in 2008. These guys hail from Mohali, Punjab, and rock their home games at the Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium. They’ve got some solid all-rounders – think Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, and Marco Jansen. These dudes are key because they’re good with the bat and the ball giving the squad a sweet balance. Plus, they can handle important overs, whether we’re talking spin or medium-pace.

Arshdeep Singh’s sharp skills in the early game give Punjab Kings a varied bowling lineup, a big plus. The team’s bowling squad has talent all around, which stands out as a strong point. Shreyas Iyer now leads the Punjab Kings with experience. He’s a tested leader who adds a steady vibe and lots of guts to the squad. PBKS could turn things around in the IPL 2025 with him in charge. When he’s up to bat, his knack to hold down the fort beefs up Punjab Kings’ middle lineup putting him at the heart of the team’s strategy.

Punjab Kings Might Roll Out These Players

1. Prabhsimran Singh (wk)
2. Priyansh Arya
3. Shreyas Iyer ©
4. Glenn Maxwell 
5. Nehal Wadehra
6. Shashank Singh
7. Glenn Maxwell
8. Marco Jansen
9. Marcus Stoinis
10. Arshdeep Singh
11. Lockie Ferguson
12. Yuzvendra Chahal (Impact)

Meet Team Number Two

The Rajasthan Royals stays a crowd-puller in the IPL backed by dedicated fans who stick with them no matter what. This team works hard to succeed hoping to put on shows that delight cricket fans globally. In 2008, under Shane Warne’s leadership, the Rajasthan Royals clinched their only IPL title.

The Rajasthan Royals boast a solid lineup mixing seasoned pros with rising stars. Smashing hitters such as Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson, Riyan Parag, Nitish Rana, and Dhruv Jurel amp up their batting game. They’re not short on ace all-rounders either, with Wanindu Hasaranga and Riyan Parag lending muscle. Their bowling squad’s pretty stacked too, with Sandeep Sharma, Akash Madhwal, Kwena Mapakha, Maheesh Theekshna, Fazalhaq Farooqi, and Jofra Archer bringing expertise and knockout power to the table.

Sunrisers Hyderabad became the first team to triumph over the Rajasthan Royals in their opening game, securing their win by 33 runs even though Dhruv Jurel and Sanju Samson put up a solid fight.

Likely Starting Lineup of Rajasthan Royals

1. Sanju Samson
2. Yashasvi Jaiswal
3. Nitish Rana
4. Riyan Parag (captain)
5. Dhruv Jurel (wicketkeeper)
6. Shimron Hetmyer
7. Shubham Dubey
8. Wanindu Hasaranga
9. Jofra Archer
10. Tushar Deshpande
11. Sandeep Sharma
12. Shubham Dubey (Game-changer)

Anticipate What?

At Mullanpur, pace bowlers find help with the fresh ball. The ground’s expansive boundaries keep the spin bowlers relevant. Once the initial burst from the fast bowlers is over, batsmen can aim for high scores. We anticipate totals between 180-200 in this game. The preference will lean towards batting second upon winning the flip of the coin. Expect a clear sky with zero rain prospects. Game time temperatures should hover near 31 degrees Celsius.

Spotlight on Star Players?

1. Yashasvi Jaiswal isn’t hitting too well right now. In 6 turns batting against PBKS, he’s knocked 221 runs averaging 36.80. His strike rate? Pretty good at 144.40 and he’s notched up a pair of half-centuries. Maybe this match is where he’ll get back in form.
2. Shreyas Iyer is killing it this season so you better not skip him for your fantasy league. He’s racked up 366 runs across 11 innings when playing RR, with an average score of 33.30 and three half-centuries under his belt. Plus, he’s scored two fifties in IPL 2025’s two matches so far.
3. Opt for Shimron Hetmyer as a key off-the-radar choice in this match. His stats are solid when playing Punjab Kings – he’s knocked 173 runs across 7 innings holding a 43.20 average coupled with a swift 182.10 strike rate. Hitting balls in the later stretches of the batting lineup, Hetmyer could switch things up in fantasy cricket.
4. Yuzvendra Chahal snagged 18 wickets during 12 matchups with Rajasthan Royals. Though he rocked their jersey from 2021 through 2024, he’s now lined up to tackle their middle squad. Arshdeep Singh notches up a total of 17 wickets across nine matches when playing against the Royals. Last time, he snagged 3 wickets making him a solid choice for fantasy teams in this match too. You might wanna use him as Captain or Vice-Captain in major leagues when his team bowls first.