Punjab Kings Inch Closer To IPL 2025 Playoffs With 10-Run Win Over Rajasthan Royals

Jaipur: Nehal Wadhera's 70 coupled with Harpreet Brar's 3-22 helped Punjab Kings to edge out Rajasthan Royals by 10 runs in a high-scoring IPL 2025 clash at Sawai Mansingh Stadium here on Sunday.

With the win, Punjab have solidified their hopes of qualifying for the playoffs with 17 points in 12 games to occupy second spot in the points table, only behind Royal Challengers Bengaluru. The Ricky Ponting-coached side needs just one more point to secure a play-off berth for the first time since 2014.

Brar, who came in as the Impact Substitute for skipper Shreyas Iyer -- who suffered a finger injury -- was introduced in the fifth over and the left-arm spinner walked away with an impressive 3/22 in four overs, helping PBKS to restrict RR to 209/7 in the chase of 220.

Punjab Kings had posted a hefty 219/5 riding on an unbeaten on 59 off 30 deliveries by Shashank and a brilliant 70 from 37 balls by Wadhera.

Brar, who mixed up his angles, trajectory, and pace with precision, played a big part in that.

His scalps included the 14-year-old sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi (40 off 15) and Indian opener Yashasvi Jaiswal, who had launched a brutal assault up front with his (50 off 24).

Together they flew off the blocks with a stand off 76 runs in just 4.1 overs. Azmatullah Omarzai (2/44) then landed a double blow, sending back skipper Sanju Samson (20 off 16) and Shimron Hetmyer (11 off 12), as RR's chase lost steam.

Dhruv Jurel (53 off 31 balls; 3x4, 4x6) hit form to score his second fifty of the season but it went in vain as Marco Jansen (2/41 in three overs) removed him and Wanindu Hasaranga in successive balls in the last over to end their chase.

Opting to bat, PBKS made a quick start but lost Priyansh Arya in the second over when the opener chipped in a simple catch to Shimron Hetmyer off the bowling of Tushar Deshpande (2/37).

Prabhsimran had the most of Kwena Maphaka's over as the opener smashed him for two fours and a six before the pacer bagged IPL debutant Mitchell Owen on a duck.

Punjab suffered another blow when Deshpande dismissed Prabhsimran in the next over to bring them three down inside the powerplay. Prabhsimran played a knock of 21 in 10 balls including three fours and a six.

Captain Shreyas Iyer, who came in at No. 5, and Nehal Wadhera made sure that the side didn't lose another wicket in the powerplay while maintaining the flow of runs. Punjab Kings were 58/3 after the end of the powerplay.

Meanwhile, Iyer carried the momentum and hit Akash Madhwal for two fours in the ninth over to bring up the 50-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Punjab Kings were 97/3 at the halfway mark.

Wadhera completed his second half-century of the season with a boundary off Madhwal to reach the milestone in 25 balls.

Azmatullah Omarzai and Shashank took the responsibility of taking the side to a massive total in the death overs. Shashank completed his half-century in 27 balls in the final over of the innings.

The duo added 60 runs off 24 balls to make the most of the last four overs of the innings. Shashank remained unbeaten on 30-ball 59 laced with three sixes and five fours while Omarzai struck nine-ball 21, including a six and three fours.

For Rajasthan, Deshpande returned with the figures of 2-37 while Parag, Maphaka and Madhwal claimed one scalp each.

Brief scores: Punjab Kings 219/5 in 20 overs (Nehal Wadhera 70, Shashank Singh 59 not out; Tushar Deshpande 2-37) beat Rajasthan Royals 209/7 in 20 overs (Yashasvi Jaiswal 50, Dhruv Jurel 53, Vaibhav Suryavanshi 40, Riyan Parag 13; Harpreet Brar 3-22) by 10 runs. Agencies

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