Key Highlights:
Punjab Kings vs Rajasthan Royals IPL 2025-—Match 18 Preview: The Punjab Kings (PBKS) return to home turf at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh Stadium, looking to end their four-match winless streak at the venue. Coming off consecutive away victories, the team is in fine form and eager to give its home crowd something to cheer about.
PBKS Riding High on Momentum
After a high-scoring thriller in Ahmedabad where PBKS edged out Gujarat Titans by 11 runs, they made light work of Lucknow Super Giants, chasing down 171 with ease. Shreyas Iyer has been central to this resurgence. The PBKS skipper has amassed 149 runs at a striking rate of 206.94, leading from the front with confidence and aggression.
What’s also worked in Punjab’s favour is the smart utilization of the Impact Player rule. Be it V. Vyshak’s bowling heroics vs GT or Nehal Wadhera’s contribution with the bat vs LSG, PBKS have made tactical moves that have paid off.
Saturday’s match provides the perfect opportunity for the Kings to break their home jinx and strengthen their claim for the playoffs.
Rajasthan Royals Begin to Find Rhythm
After a dismal start to their IPL 2025 campaign with losses against Sunrisers Hyderabad and Kolkata Knight Riders, Rajasthan Royals (RR) finally turned things around against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in Guwahati. The win has infused fresh energy into the squad.
Nitish Rana was the star of the show with a blistering 81 off 36 balls, setting up a defendable total of 182. The bowling unit followed through strongly, with Jofra Archer choking the batters with figures of 1/13 and Wanindu Hasaranga wreaking havoc with 4 wickets for 35 runs.
The return of Sanju Samson as captain and wicketkeeper after getting clearance from the National Cricket Academy (NCA) is another major boost. His leadership will be key in rallying the Royals as they look to build momentum.
Battle of the Spinners and Impact Players
One of the most exciting subplots of the match will be Yuzvendra Chahal’s performance. Now in PBKS colours, Chahal will face his former franchise Rajasthan Royals — a matchup that could fuel extra motivation. On the other side, RR will continue to rely on Hasaranga’s brilliance to neutralize Punjab’s aggressive top order.
PBKS’ combination of youth and experience has worked well so far. Players like Nehal Wadhera, V. Vyshak, and the in-form Iyer give them a solid foundation. Meanwhile, RR’s hopes will rest on Yashasvi Jaiswal finding his form. The left-hander was the first to arrive at practice, a sign of his intent to bounce back.
Pitch & Conditions: Black Soil Advantage for Spinners
This encounter will be played on a black-soil pitch, unlike the red-soil one used earlier in the season. This surface is known to favour spinners and teams batting second. Historically, at this ground, teams batting second have won five of the last eight matches, with an average first innings score of 181 for 6.
PBKS might look to leverage this with bowlers like Chahal and Liam Livingstone, while RR have Hasaranga and Ashwin to exploit the turn-friendly conditions.
What’s at Stake?
- PBKS can move into the top half of the table with a third straight win.
- RR are looking to continue their fightback and register back-to-back wins.
- The battle between Shreyas Iyer and Sanju Samson — both India prospects — could define the middle-overs contest.
- Both teams are eyeing early momentum in a tightly packed league table.
Prediction: A Contest of Equals
Given both teams are slowly hitting form and the pitch is expected to aid spin, the match could go down to the wire. If Punjab batters can handle Hasaranga, they might just edge it. However, if Jaiswal fires early or Archer strikes gold with the new ball, RR could silence the Mohali crowd.
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