IPL 2025: Undefeated Punjab Kings Choose to Bowl First Against Rajasthan Royals
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Synopsis
Punjab Kings have secured the toss and chosen to bowl first against Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2025's Match 18 at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium. With Shreyas Iyer leading them and a strong bowling unit, PBKS aims to continue their winning streak.
Key Takeaways
- Punjab Kings won the toss and elected to bowl.
- Shreyas Iyer has been a standout player with back-to-back half-centuries.
- Rajasthan Royals make one change to their squad.
- Sanju Samson captains Royals for the first time this season.
- Both teams are looking to secure crucial points in IPL 2025.
New Chandigarh, April 5 (NationPress) Punjab Kings have won the toss and opted to bowl first against Rajasthan Royals in Match 18 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium here on Saturday.
PBKS are filled with confidence as they head into their inaugural home match of the season, having started their campaign with two consecutive victories under the captaincy of Shreyas Iyer, who has scored two successive half-centuries amassing 149 runs in two matches at a strike rate exceeding 200.
In their bowling lineup, spearheaded by Arshdeep Singh, keep an eye on Vijaykumar Vyshak. The 28-year-old newcomer made a significant impact in PBKS' opening win against Gujarat Titans, delivering pivotal performances as an impact substitute that captured everyone's attention.
“Reflecting on the last game, we were playing on a new pitch, and we want to see how it plays. We aim to maintain the rhythm established from game one, which has been achieved. It’s crucial to stabilize our approach from here; the boys are in high spirits. We need to remain composed and calm throughout the season. We've practiced here, so we understand the wicket's behavior. Our last two matches were on red soil, so we hope to adapt quickly,” stated Iyer during the toss.
After serving as the Impact Player for the initial three games of the season due to a finger injury, Sanju Samson will captain the Rajasthan Royals for the first time in IPL 2025 during this match.
The Royals triumphed over Chennai Super Kings by six runs in their last game, with Nitish Rana and Wanindu Hasaranga excelling with the bat and ball, respectively. They currently occupy the 9th position in the standings, having lost two out of their first three matches. The Royals made a single change in their lineup as Tushar Deshpande is sidelined due to a minor injury, with Yudhvir Singh stepping in.
“I’m quite pleased to bat first and set a solid total. I could sense the coaches' anxiety, feeling a bit restless and helpless. But I’m excited to be back. It’s a new team and management, and we've begun to bond, which takes time. We feel better now; our last game was nearly flawless. Due to a slight issue, Tushar Deshpande is out today, and Yudhvir comes in for him,” Samson remarked at the toss.
Playing XIs:
Punjab Kings: Prabhsimran Singh (wk), Shreyas Iyer (c), Marcus Stoinis, Nehal Wadhera, Glenn Maxwell, Shashank Singh, Suryansh Shedge, Marco Jansen, Arshdeep Singh, Lockie Ferguson, Yuzvendra Chahal
Impact players: Priyansh Arya, Harpreet Brar, Pravin Dubey, Vishnu Vinod, Vijaykumar Vyshak
Rajasthan Royals: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson (c), Nitish Rana, Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Shimron Hetmyer, Wanindu Hasaranga, Jofra Archer, Maheesh Theekshana, Yudhvir Singh Charak, Sandeep Sharma
Impact players: Kunal Singh Rathore, Shubham Dubey, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Kumar Kartikeya, Akash Madhwal
