The Indian Premier League (IPL) always provides the chance for exciting cricket, and the 59th match of the 2025 season will surely deliver excitement as the Rajasthan Royals (RR) play against the Punjab Kings (PBKS) at Sahara Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. The teams could not be arriving in more contrasting situations, increasing the intrigue of the match up.
Match Context/Current Form
The Punjab Kings have had a season with several ups and downs, but are still trying to avoid one great big down as they are still competing for a playoff spot. In their last match, they played in rain affected conditions, scoring a highly respectable 122 in 10.1 overs before it was abandoned, the truth is it is hard to know which way the change in events (the rain) has sent them. They either lost momentum going into their next match, or they may arrive back even more determined to make an impact. For positive momentum, the Punjab Kings have a few stars, with Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh, an uncapped pair of players, putting enough pressure on bowlers in the initial overs with boundaries upon boundaries.
The Rajasthan Royals have had a disappointing season and have already been eliminated from the playoffs and two things have hurt their chances; they have not had consistent bowling or consistent performance. Their good luck in all of this is that captain, Sanju Samson, is back into the mix having missed time due to injury. All of these factors seem to lead to the possibility that Rajasthan could be headed to a high note to finish their season, however, it seems unlikely.
Venue/Conditions
This match will be played at Sahara Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur, which is understood to be a tough place to play a match at this time of the year. The surface at the Sahara Mansingh Stadium cannot be characterized for either the batters or the bowlers. We were on the verge of losing faith in the conditions to be ‘tough enough’ to make any meaningful distinction between batters and bowlers, so we can only imagine what watching the batsmen hug the crease is going to be like. The expected temperature will be well over 40 celsius in is an afternoon match, it conditions will impact the stamina and physical outputs required and make this match a test of endurance.
Key Player Battles
A key battle to watch for is Sanju Samson vs Arshdeep Singh. Samson has an excellent record against Arshdeep with a strike rate of 188.09 in IPL after being dismissed only once. There is a lot of reliance at the top of the order for Rajasthan based only around Samson, so this battle will be very important.
For Punjab Kings, the top-order will make a big difference – particularly the opening pair of Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya. They are currently amongst the most attacking PowerPlay batters this season at an incredible run rate of 10.25. If they can get off to a rocket start, the RR’s already fragile bowling unit will be under enormous pressure.
Team News and Probable XIs
Rajasthan Royals: The good news is the return of Sanju Samson, however, they continue to miss Jofra Archer who opted to not participate in the last two matches. RR will be hoping that the young Indian core can carry the international stars like Shimron Hetmyer or Wanindu Hasaranga to impactful performances.
Probable XI: Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson (C), Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Shimron Hetmyer, Shubham Dubey, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh theekshana, Akash Madhwal, Kumar Kartikeya, Fazalhaq Farooqi.
Punjab Kings: The Kings have also been affected by some setbacks due to overseas players. Marcus Stoinis, Aaron Hardie, and Josh Inglis are unavailable for this match. However, the inclusion of Mitch Owen, Xavier Bartlett, and Kyle Jamieson as replacements has strengthened the remaining squad depth obtainable.
Probable XI: Prabhsimran Singh (WK), Priyansh Arya, Mitch Owen, Shreyas Iyer (C), Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, Suryansh Shedge, Azmatullah Omarzai, Marco Jansen, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal, Xavier Bartlett.
What to Look For
Expect fireworks at the top, as both teams like to start fast and aggressive. The PBKS has been in better recent form, but RR will be looking to play the spoiler and end the season on a high note in front of their home crowd. Both sides have big hitters and erratic bowling attacks, so expect a high-scoring match.
Final Thoughts
RR only have pride to play for, while PBKS are playing for a place in the playoffs. With everything to play for, it will feel different for the teams, and as the saying goes, pressure can produce strange things in cricket. Both teams have game-changing players and this match has the potential to be an IPL classic.
