Punjab Kings Vs Rajasthan Royals, IPL 2025: Three Key Players Battles To Watch Out For In PBKS vs RR Clash

Punjab Kings will be eyeing a third straight win in IPL 2025 when they take on Rajasthan Royals in Match 18 on Saturday evening at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur. (Match Blog | Schedule | Teams | Points Table)

Sitting comfortably at the top of the table, PBKS have looked like a complete unit under new skipper Shreyas Iyer, who has led from the front with back-to-back fifties and a blazing strike rate of over 200. His 149 runs in two matches, along with 13 sixes, make him one of the most dangerous batters of the tournament so far.

Iyer라이브 바카라 purple patch is well supported by a solid batting lineup featuring the explosive Prabhsimran Singh, who played a match-winning knock of 69 against LSG, and promising youngsters like Priyansh Arya and Shashank Singh. With a deep and fearless batting order, Punjab look well-prepared to take on any bowling attack. In the bowling department, Arshdeep Singh continues to lead the charge, while Vijaykumar Vyshak has emerged as a standout impact player, impressing with his sharp spells in the powerplay and at the death.

Rajasthan Royals, on the other hand, have had a stuttering start, managing just one win in three games. However, the return of Sanju Samson as full-time captain and wicketkeeper is a much-needed boost. Having recovered from a finger injury, Samson is expected to provide stability and leadership, while Dhruv Jurel and Shimron Hetmyer will be key in the middle and death overs. But RR라이브 바카라 biggest concern lies at the top — Yashasvi Jaiswal's poor run has hurt their starts, and they’ll be hoping he finds form soon.

PBKS vs RR IPL 2025 Key Battles

Arshdeep Singh Vs Yashasvi Jaiswal

One of the key battles to watch out for in the PBKS vs RR clash will be between Yashasvi Jaiswal and Arshdeep Singh. Jaiswal, who entered the tournament as one of RR라이브 바카라 most bankable batters, has struggled for rhythm, managing just 34 runs in three innings with two single-digit scores. His challenge will intensify in the powerplay as he faces the disciplined Arshdeep, who has kept him quiet in previous encounters. In their five IPL meetings, Arshdeep has dismissed the southpaw twice, conceding just 26 runs off 20 balls. With a powerplay economy of 5.75 this season, the left-arm pacer could once again apply early pressure on the out-of-form Jaiswal.

Sanju Samson Vs Yuzvendra Chahal

Another intriguing duel will unfold between Sanju Samson and Yuzvendra Chahal. Returning to full captaincy duties after playing the initial matches as a pure batter, Samson will aim to lead from the front. However, he faces a familiar threat in Chahal, who has dismissed him five times in the IPL — the joint-most by any bowler against the RR skipper. In this matchup, Samson has managed just 42 runs off 42 balls, a strike rate that highlights the leg-spinner라이브 바카라 control over the contest. Having shared the RR dressing room for the past three seasons, both players know each other's game inside out, adding more depth to this face-off.

Shreyas Iyer Vs Jofra Archer

On the Punjab side, all eyes will be on in-form skipper Shreyas Iyer, who has been anchoring the innings with authority. With two half-centuries and a strike rate above 200, Iyer라이브 바카라 form is one of the reasons behind PBKS라이브 바카라 early success. However, he will be up against Jofra Archer, Rajasthan라이브 바카라 pace spearhead, who thrives on pace and bounce. Archer라이브 바카라 ability to strike early with the new ball and unsettle batters with steep bounce makes his battle with Iyer a vital one.

Squads:

Punjab Kings: Nehal Wadhera, Harnoor Singh, Shreyas Iyer, Musheer Khan, Pyla Avinash, Prabhsimran Singh, Vishnu Vinod, Josh Inglis, Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, Praveen Dubey, Priyansh Arya, Azmatullah Omarzai, Aaron Hardie, Marco Jansen, Harpreet Brar, Suryansh Shedge, Shashank Singh, Lockie Ferguson, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Xavier Bartlett, Kuldeep Sen, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Yash Thakur

Rajasthan Royals: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shimron Hetmyer, Shubham Dubey, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Sanju Samson, Dhruv Jurel, Kunal Singh Rathore, Riyan Parag, Yudhvir Singh Charak, Nitish Rana, Sandeep Sharma, Tushar Deshpande, Akash Madhwal, Kumar Kartikeya, Kwena Maphaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Ashok Sharma, Jofra Archer