Jaipur: Led by Shreyas Iyer, Punjab Kings (PBKS) will attempt to strengthen their chances of reaching the playoffs in their upcoming clash against a Rajasthan Royals (RR) team that has already been eliminated from the race. The match is scheduled at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Historically, RR holds a slight edge in head-to-head meetings with 17 wins to PBKS’s 12, including one match ending in a tie. Their last encounter this season saw RR win by 50 runs in Mullanpur, marking PBKS’s first loss of the tournament.
Currently sitting third in the points table with 15 points from 11 matches, PBKS are eager to regain momentum and boost their chances of finishing in the top two. Opener Prabhsimran Singh has been in excellent form, with four consecutive half-centuries, supported by Priyansh Arya’s aggressive batting at the top. Captain Shreyas Iyer has led smartly and contributed with the bat, while pacer Arshdeep Singh continues to impress with 16 wickets—making him the fourth-highest wicket-taker in the competition. Despite the absence of Josh Inglis and Marcus Stoinis, PBKS possesses enough firepower to cover their gaps.
Meanwhile, this match also marks RR’s final home game of a largely disappointing season. They hope to finish their home campaign on a high note, even without Jofra Archer, though the fitness of captain Sanju Samson remains uncertain. Young star Vaibhav Suryavanshi made headlines with a stunning 35-ball century in Jaipur, but the team has struggled with batting consistency overall. Yashasvi Jaiswal and Riyan Parag will need to step up to help RR leave their home matches on a winning note.
Match Details:
- When: Sunday, May 18 at 3:30 PM IST
- Where: Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur
- Broadcast: Star Sports Network and JioHotstar (live streaming)
Squads:
Punjab Kings: Shreyas Iyer (captain), Nehal Wadhera, Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh (wicketkeeper), Shashank Singh, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal, Harpreet Brar, Marco Jansen, Harnoor Singh, Pyla Avinash, Aaron Hardie, Azmatullah Omarzai, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Owen, Musheer Khan, Suryansh Shedge, Josh Inglis (wicketkeeper), Vishnu Vinod (wicketkeeper), Kuldeep Sen, Praveen Dubey, Kyle Jamieson, Vyshak Vijaykumar, Xavier Bartlett, Yash Thakur
Rajasthan Royals: Sanju Samson (captain & wicketkeeper), Shimron Hetmyer, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel (wicketkeeper), Shubham Dubey, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Wanindu Hasaranga, Yudhvir Singh, Kunal Singh Rathore (wicketkeeper), Lhuan-dre Pretorius (wicketkeeper), Akash Madhwal, Ashok Sharma, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Kumar Kartikeya, Kwena Maphaka, Maheesh Theekshana, Tushar Deshpande.