🏏 Match 18: RR vs PBKS IPL 2025 – Match Highlights, Scorecard & In-Depth Analysis (April 5)
📍 Match 18 Overview – Rajasthan Royals vs Punjab Kings (IPL 2025)
Match No: 18
Date: April 5, 2025
Teams: Rajasthan Royals (RR) vs Punjab Kings (PBKS)
Venue: Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Stadium, Mullanpur
Result: RR won by 50 runs
Toss: PBKS won the toss and opted to bowl
Player of the Match: Jofra Archer (RR)
🏏 RR vs PBKS Scorecard – IPL 2025 Match 18
🅰️ Rajasthan Royals Innings – 205/4 (20 Overs)
Batsman
Runs
Balls
4s
6s
Strike Rate
Yashasvi Jaiswal
67
45
3
5
148.88
Sanju Samson
38
26
4
2
146.15
Riyan Parag
43*
21
3
3
204.76
🔁 Punjab Kings Bowling
Bowler
Overs
Runs
Wickets
Economy
Lockie Ferguson
4
28
2
7.00
Arshdeep Singh
4
42
1
10.50
🅱️ Punjab Kings Innings – 145/8 (20 Overs)
Batsman
Runs
Balls
4s
6s
Strike Rate
Nehal Wadhera
50
38
5
2
131.58
Sam Curran
22
18
2
1
122.22
🔥 Rajasthan Royals Bowling
Bowler
Overs
Runs
Wickets
Economy
Jofra Archer
4
24
3
6.00
Kuldeep Sen
4
29
2
7.25
Ravichandran Ashwin
4
26
1
6.50
🧠 Match Analysis – RR vs PBKS IPL 2025 (Match 18)
🏁 Toss & Strategy
Punjab Kings opted to bowl first, anticipating dew, but RR’s aggressive top-order changed the game early. Their solid partnerships and explosive finish gave them a match-winning total.
🧨 Rajasthan Royals – Batting Brilliance
Yashasvi Jaiswal set the tone with a composed yet attacking 67.
Sanju Samson showed class and timing in his 38-run knock.
Riyan Parag lit up the death overs with a rapid 43*, pushing RR past 200.
🚀 Jofra Archer – Speed & Precision
Archer removed Priyansh Arya and Shreyas Iyer in his first over, breaking PBKS’s back early. His lethal 3-wicket haul earned him the Player of the Match.
🔑 Key Moments
🎯 Archer’s double-wicket first over
🔗 89-run stand between Jaiswal & Samson
💥 Riyan Parag’s explosive death overs cameo
🧤 Ashwin’s economical spell in the middle overs
⭐ Top Performers of Match 18
Player
Team
Performance
Jofra Archer
RR
3/24 in 4 overs
Yashasvi Jaiswal
RR
67 (45) with 5 sixes
Riyan Parag
RR
43* (21) finishing masterclass
Nehal Wadhera
PBKS
50 (38) lone fighting knock
📈 IPL 2025 Points Table – After Match 18
🟣 Rajasthan Royals: 3rd place, 3 wins out of 4
🔴 Punjab Kings: 6th place, 2 wins from 4 matches
🗓️ Upcoming Matches
Rajasthan Royals vs Mumbai Indians at Wankhede
Punjab Kings vs Lucknow Super Giants in Lucknow
📝 Final Thoughts – RR vs PBKS IPL 2025
Rajasthan Royals put on a well-rounded display with bat and ball in Match 18. Their top-order dominated, and bowlers executed plans perfectly, especially Jofra Archer.
Punjab Kings struggled with early wickets and failed to build meaningful partnerships, despite Nehal Wadhera’s valiant half-century.
By IPL Fan 
