PBKS vs RR, IPL 2025 Highlights: Jofra Archer bags 3 wickets as Rajasthan Royals crush Punjab Kings by 50 runs, snap unbeaten streak

Marcus Stoinis goes a touch too full, and Riyan Parag wastes no time cashing in. He gets forward, meets it cleanly, and drives it sweetly through the covers.

Parag joins in on the fun now — Rajasthan’s momentum refuses to dip as the boundaries keep coming!

Chahal gives it some flight, but Jaiswal is in full flow now. He gets under it, swings through cleanly, and sends it soaring high into the night sky.

The ball sails well beyond the boundary — a towering six that disappears into the Mullanpur night! Jaiswal is putting on a show, and the crowd is loving every bit of it!

Chahal tosses it up a touch, and Jaiswal isn’t holding back. He dances down the track, gets to the pitch, and absolutely smashes it straight past the bowler.

No fielder had a chance — it rockets to the fence! Jaiswal’s on song and making sure the scoreboard keeps ticking in style.

Full on middle and leg, and Sanju Samson turns it into a highlight-reel moment. He takes a subtle step back into his crease, gets into perfect position, and then presents the full face of the bat.

The timing is sublime as he creams it straight back past Stoinis — showing the maker’s name in style! That’s a shot of pure class from the RR skipper!

Yuzvendra Chahal drops it short, and Sanju Samson doesn’t miss out. He stays back, waits for it, and pulls it with ease through midwicket.

Dragged down and duly put away — Samson continues to make it look effortless as the boundaries keep flowing for Rajasthan!

Glenn Maxwell drops it short and wide — and that’s all the invitation Sanju Samson needs. He rocks back in a flash and cracks it past point with authority.

Absolutely all over it like a rash! Another boundary for the RR skipper, who’s looking in majestic touch tonight.

Lockie Ferguson hits the deck hard, but Jaiswal is in the mood tonight! He picks the short ball early and dispatches it with disdain over deep midwicket.

That’s another towering six — Jaiswal is absolutely dining out in Mullanpur! The crowd might be waving PBKS flags, but it’s the RR opener lighting up the night right now.

Marco Jansen errs slightly short outside off, and Jaiswal is all over it. He clears his front leg, picks the length early, and absolutely clobbers it over deep square leg!

“Fetch that too,” says Jaiswal, as the ball disappears into the stands. He’s shifted gears in style — and suddenly, the pressure is right back on Punjab!

Jansen goes short, and Jaiswal is quick to read it. Instead of swinging hard, he uses the pace and ramps it over fine leg with precision and control.

Clever, clever batting from the left-hander — not brute force, just pure awareness and timing. That sails over for the first maximum of the match!

Marco Jansen angles one in, but Sanju Samson responds with a stroke straight out of the textbook. With a regal flourish, he drives it effortlessly through extra cover.

No muscle, just pure timing — the ball glides across the turf and into the boundary. Classy from the Rajasthan skipper!

This time, Jaiswal connects — and how! Arshdeep pitches it up just a bit fuller, and Jaiswal doesn’t miss out. He leans into the shot and drives it crisply past mid-off.

Clean timing, confident footwork, and the ball rockets to the boundary. Much better from Jaiswal, and that’ll do his confidence a world of good!

Sanju Samson wastes no time getting into the groove. Arshdeep delivers one just short of a good length, and Samson leans into it beautifully, punching it through the gap on the off side.

The timing is sweet, the placement even better — the ball races away to the boundary. A confident start from the RR skipper — he’s up and running with a crisp four!

Arshdeep Singh steams in for the first delivery — and it’s a back-of-a-length ball slung wide outside off. The ball shapes away even more after pitching, teasing Jaiswal into a flashy swish that connects with nothing but air.

The umpire stretches his arms for an early wide — and we’re off the mark with an extra. Not the ideal start for Punjab, but a testing line for Jaiswal right away.

The players make their way out to the middle, greeted by a sea of PBKS flags fluttering in the stands. The home crowd is in full voice, rallying behind their team as the action gets underway.

Yashasvi Jaiswal walks out to open the innings, joined by captain Sanju Samson. It’s a big game for this opening pair — especially for Jaiswal, who’s been searching for form. A solid start from the top could set the tone for Rajasthan Royals, who’ll be eager to post a strong total after being put in to bat.

Here are the official line-ups for today’s clash between Punjab Kings and Rajasthan Royals:

Punjab Kings (PBKS):
Prabhsimran Singh (w), Shreyas Iyer (c), Marcus Stoinis, Nehal Wadhera, Glenn Maxwell, Shashank Singh, Suryansh Shedge, Marco Jansen, Arshdeep Singh, Lockie Ferguson, Yuzvendra Chahal

Rajasthan Royals (RR):
Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson (c), Nitish Rana, Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel (w), Shimron Hetmyer, Wanindu Hasaranga, Jofra Archer, Maheesh Theekshana, Yudhvir Singh Charak, Sandeep Sharma

The stage is set for a high-voltage encounter — Punjab look to continue their winning rhythm, while Rajasthan aim to regroup and make a statement.

After winning the toss and opting to bowl first, Punjab Kings skipper Shreyas Iyer spoke with confidence about his team’s approach and momentum.

“We’ll bowl first. Looking at the last game, we were playing on a new wicket and we want to see how the pitch plays. Same mindset here as well. We need to stabilise the rhythm from game one and that’s happened. Important to steady the ship from here, boys are in high spirits. Need to maintain composure and calmness throughout the season.”

Iyer also noted the familiarity the team has with the conditions, having played practice games at the venue.

“We’ve played the practice games here so we know how the wicket will play. We played our last two games on red soil so hopefully we can adapt early. We have the mindset of champions.”

Punjab go in unchanged, with flexibility in mind regarding the Impact Player. “Bowling first, no changes for us. Will change things around maybe with the impact sub,” Iyer added.

Shreyas Iyer and Sanju Samson are out in the middle for the toss. Shreyas flicks the coin — and it lands in Punjab Kings’ favour. Without hesitation, they choose to bowl first.

With the pitch likely to assist under lights and recent chasing successes at this venue, Punjab will back themselves to make early inroads and control the chase.

Shimron Hetmyer has found himself batting unusually low in the order this season — coming in at No. 8 against KKR and No. 7 versus CSK. While Rajasthan Royals clearly want to reserve his explosive finishing skills for the death overs, the strategy is starting to raise eyebrows.

With the top order not firing consistently, holding Hetmyer back could limit his opportunities to make a real impact. As RR look to find the right balance, getting their power-hitter involved earlier might be key to reversing their batting fortunes.

Sanju Samson is just one win away from becoming the most successful captain in Rajasthan Royals’ history. Currently tied with the legendary Shane Warne at 31 wins, Samson has the chance to surpass that mark with a victory today.

The wicketkeeper-batter returns to lead the side, replacing Riyan Parag as skipper for this crucial encounter.

Ahead of their upcoming clash, Punjab Kings spin-bowling coach Sunil Joshi emphasized the importance of flexibility when it comes to selecting the Impact Player.

“We need to be wise while looking at the Impact Player,” Joshi said. “It depends on the venue, ground, and team combination. You cannot go in one direction regarding the Impact Player.”

He highlighted the team’s diverse pool of options, including all-rounders, spinners, and pacers. Citing a recent example, Joshi pointed to how Vyshak Vijaykumar was effectively utilized in Ahmedabad, underlining the importance of preparation and adaptability.

“With more options, there’s always an opportunity for players to step up and deliver for the team,” he added.

Punjab Kings are riding high under the sharp leadership of Shreyas Iyer. The skipper has been in red-hot form, smashing back-to-back half-centuries and already equaling his six-hitting count from last season — 13 maximums in just two matches.

Iyer’s captaincy has stood out not just for his batting but for his strategic acumen on the field. His clever field placements and the smart utilization of Glenn Maxwell’s spin have turned heads. Maxwell, in fact, has been so effective that he’s currently outshining Yuzvendra Chahal, adding a surprise edge to Punjab’s bowling attack.

According to Accuweather, Chandigarh is expected to witness sweltering heat during the day, with temperatures soaring to around 30°C. However, by the time the match kicks off at 7:30 PM, the conditions are likely to ease a bit, with the mercury dropping to around 27°C.

Prabhsimran Singh (w), Priyansh Arya, Shreyas Iyer (c), Shashank Singh, Markus Stoinis, Glen Maxwell, Suryansh Shedge, Azmatullah Omarzai, Marco Jansen, Arshdeep Singh and Yuzvendra Chahal.

Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson(c/w), Nitish Rana, Ryan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, Wanindu Hasaranga, Shimron Hetmyer, Jofra Archer, Mahesh Theekshana, Tushar Deshpande, Sandeep Sharma

The two teams have clashed 28 times since the inception of the IPL. RR holds the advantage with 16 wins, while the hosts have secured 11 victories, and one encounter ended in a tie. In their most recent meeting, PBKS emerged victorious with a 5-wicket win.