IPL 2025: RR Playing XI vs PBKS- Match 18

The inaugural champions of the Indian Premier League (IPL), Rajasthan Royals (RR), didn’t start on a high note with two consecutive defeats against the Sunrisers Hyderabad and Kolkata Knight Riders.

But they held their nerve in the last encounter against the Chennai Super Kings to earn a small victory at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati.

Now they have a huge challenge in hand at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur, Chandigarh, to take on the Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the evening of April 05, 2025.

IPL 2025: RR Playing XI vs PBKS- Match 18

Openers- Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sanju Samson (c & wk.)

Yashasvi Jaiswal hasn’t done well in the first three games of the IPL 2025, with several low scores. In the very first game against the Sunrisers Hyderabad, he nailed the short ball straight into the hands of the point fielder before repeating the same mistake against KKR.

The southpaw started well with a boundary against the Super Kings but failed to get the momentum and found the fielder on the very next ball.

For Sanju Samson, it’s a story of two halves. In the first game, the wicket-keeper batter, playing as an impact subfielder, thumped a fine half-century at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Hyderabad. But he failed in two successive games since then.

Going into the PBKS vs RR game, the Royals’ veteran will be back in the leadership department as he has passed the fitness test and will be doing the keeping job.

Also Read: PBKS vs RR Dream11 Prediction, Fantasy Cricket Tips, Dream11 Team Today- IPL 2025, Match 18

Middle order- Nitish Rana, Riyan Parag, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dhruv Jurel, Shimron Hetmyer, Shubam Dubey (Impact)

Nitish Rana was going a bit cold so far in the tournament, but he looked in a different zone against the Super Kings with 81 runs in 36 balls at a strike rate of 225, shouldering on 10 boundaries and five sixes. He was the reason behind RR getting to 182 in the end.

Riyan Parag, the standing captain of the three games, nailed 37 runs in 28 balls. But apart from that, the entire middle order struggled. They were in a very good position to get to 250 in the first inning, but ended way short of the score.

Wanindu Hasaranga and Shimron Hetmyer, especially the latter, will be eager to contribute to the Punjab game. Dhruv Jurel will not get the gloves back from now on as Samson is back in the position.

Bowlers: Jofra Archer, Mahesh Theekshana, Tushar Deshpande, Sandeep Sharma

Jofra Archer had a terrible start to the IPL 2025 but made a strong comeback in the powerplay against CSK with figures of 1/13 in three overs, including a maiden at an economy rate of 4.30. Mahesh Theekshana went for 0/30 in his four overs.

Tushar Deshpande and Sandeep Sharma went for so many runs, which kept Chennai in the chase despite losing so many wickets in the middle overs. Hasaranga bowled well to end with figures of 4/35 in four overs.

For RR to do well in Mullanpur, their pacers need to stand up and improve their performance. On a surface that helps the first bowling, it becomes important to pick up wickets with the new ball in the first four overs of the innings.

RR Predicted Playing XI vs PBKS- IPL 2025, Match 18

Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson (c & wk), Nitish Rana, Riyan Parag, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dhruv Jurel, Shimron Hetmyer, Jofra Archer, Mahesh Theekshana, Tushar Deshpande, Sandeep Sharma.

Impact Sub: Shubham Dubey

Also Read: IPL 2025: PBKS Playing XI vs RR- Match 18