Jaipur: Punjab Kings will aim to storm to the top of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 points table when they take on Rajasthan Royals, a side already out of playoff contention, at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium here on Sunday afternoon.
The 59th match of the season carries high stakes for Punjab, who have won four of their last five matches and are peaking at the right time under the captaincy of Shreyas Iyer. A win against Rajasthan, who sit ninth with just three victories from 12 outings, could see PBKS briefly go top, further tightening the race for playoff positions.
In stark contrast, Rajasthan Royals come into the match on the back of a poor run that has seen them lose four of their last five games. The franchise, which showed early promise, has failed to capitalise on opportunities and struggled with injuries and inconsistency. With Sanju Samson ruled out due to injury, leadership and stability have been hard to come by.
Punjab’s strength lies in their explosive batting order and a balanced bowling attack. Openers Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh have been in sublime form, with Arya hammering 70 off just 34 balls in the last completed game. In the middle order, wicketkeeper-batsman Josh Inglis and skipper Iyer provide solidity and acceleration. All-rounders Marcus Stoinis and Azmatullah Omarzai, if available, further strengthen the lower middle order.
In the bowling department, Arshdeep Singh remains the go-to pacer in the powerplay and death overs, while Marco Jansen and Omarzai provide seam options. Veteran leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal, who has picked up crucial wickets this season, will be a key threat on the Jaipur pitch which has shown moderate turn and two-paced bounce.
For the home side, the bright spots have been few. Young opener Vaibhav Suryavanshi announced himself with a blistering century earlier in the season against Gujarat Titans, and Riyan Parag played a lone hand with a 95-run knock in their recent loss to KKR. However, the lack of finishing firepower and a struggling bowling unit have hurt their campaign.
RR’s bowling has lacked penetration in the absence of Jofra Archer, who has been ruled out of the remaining matches. The responsibility will fall on Fazalhaq Farooqi, Maheesh Theekshana, and the promising Akash Madhwal to contain the in-form PBKS lineup.
The pitch at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium has favoured batting this season, with an average first-innings score of 195. The match will be played in extreme heat, with the mercury expected to touch 42°C. Dew is unlikely to play a role in the afternoon start, making the toss result less crucial than in evening fixtures.
While Rajasthan Royals will look to salvage pride and test their bench strength, Punjab Kings will be focused on consolidating their playoff position and possibly ending the day atop the table.