Final result
Punjab Kings won by 10 runs
Player of the match: Harpreet Brar
Result · Indian Premier League
Punjab Kings vs Rajasthan Royals
Result · Indian Premier League
H2H · PBKS 12–17 RRVenue par · 165Chase success · 64%POTM · Harpreet Brar
Match preview & overview
Punjab Kings hold nerve to beat Rajasthan Royals by 10 runs in Jaipur
Punjab Kings beat Rajasthan Royals by 10 runs at Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur on 18 May 2025, defending a total of 219/5 to win a high-scoring IPL encounter. Rajasthan gave themselves every chance, blasting 89/1 in their powerplay, but their chase stalled badly through the middle overs and they finished on 209/7. Harpreet Brar was named Player of the Match. Punjab won the toss and chose to bat, a decision that ran against the ground's historical trend.
The margin looks comfortable on paper, but Rajasthan were very much in the contest deep into the second innings. Their powerplay score of 89 runs was the highest of the two sides by some distance and significantly above the venue average of 46. The issue was what came after: Rajasthan lost 3 wickets for 65 runs in the middle phase and a further 3 for 55 in the death overs, leaving too much to do in the final stages.
For Punjab, this was a result that continued a reasonable run of form. They have won three of their last four completed matches in IPL 2025, with losses only to Royal Challengers Bangalore, while Rajasthan's fifth defeat in six matches will concern their management considerably.
Pitch report & venue insights
Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur — 97-match sample
Aggregate conditions from 2006–2025. Numbers that tend to decide matches at this ground — par score, chase success, powerplay averages and toss bias.
97
T20 matches hosted
165
Avg 1st-innings score
153
Avg 2nd-innings score
64%
Chase success rate
43
Avg powerplay runs
60%
Toss-field rate
Head-to-head record
Rajasthan Royals lead the series 17–12 from 30 completed matches
Seasons 2007–2025
Series standing
Punjab Kings
Rajasthan Royals30
Total meetings
0
No results
10
In last 10
Recent encounters
Last 102025PBKS won by 10 runs
2025RR won by 50 runs
2024PBKS won by 5 wickets
2024RR won by 3 wickets
2023RR won by 4 wickets
2023PBKS won by 5 runs
2022RR won by 6 wickets
2021RR won by 2 runs
2021PBKS won by 4 runs
2020RR won by 7 wickets
Key talking points
Moments the match hinged on
Headline angle
Punjab post a well-above-par 219 on a 165-average ground
Sawai Mansingh Stadium's average first-innings score across 97 matches is 165. Punjab Kings' 219/5 was therefore a significant overshoot. Their middle-overs phase was particularly productive: 89 runs for just 1 wicket across overs 7 to 15 laid the platform after a slightly stuttering powerplay of 58/3.
Angle 02
Rajasthan's blistering powerplay wasn't enough in the end
Angle 03
Harpreet Brar collects Player of the Match
Angle 04
Rajasthan's recent form makes this loss harder to absorb
Angle 05
Toss bias at this venue favours chasing. Punjab ignored it
Betting & analytical angles
Angles the data surfaced
- Top batter markets may reflect the ground's batter-friendly history; the average first-innings score here is 165 across 97 matches, but this fixture saw 219, suggesting big individual scores are achievable.
- With a chase success rate of 64% at this venue, outright result markets for future fixtures here may undervalue the team batting second.
- Powerplay dismissal markets could be interesting in future Punjab Kings matches given their 58/3 powerplay in this game contrasted with Rajasthan's 89/1. A wide variance in early-wicket outcomes.
- Player of the Match markets in high-scoring T20s often favour all-rounders; Harpreet Brar's win here in a 10-run finish is a reminder that bowling contributions in the final phases can swing those markets significantly.
For editorial context only. Not a forecast and not betting advice. 18+ only, please gamble responsibly.
Frequently asked
Questions about Punjab Kings vs Rajasthan Royals
Who won the Punjab Kings vs Rajasthan Royals IPL match on 18 May 2025?
Punjab Kings won the match by 10 runs. They posted 219/5 batting first, and Rajasthan Royals fell short on 209/7 in their 20 overs at Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur.
Who was the Player of the Match in Punjab Kings vs Rajasthan Royals on 18 May 2025?
Harpreet Brar was named Player of the Match. The all-rounder's contribution was central to Punjab's ability to defend their total in what was a tight finish by T20 standards.
What is the head-to-head record between Punjab Kings and Rajasthan Royals?
Across 30 T20 meetings, Rajasthan Royals lead 17 wins to 12 for Punjab Kings, with no no-results. Rajasthan had won three of the previous four encounters before this match.
Where can I watch IPL matches in the UK?
IPL fixtures are broadcast in the UK on Sky Sports Cricket, with streaming available via Sky Go and NOW TV. Check the Sky Sports schedule for specific match times, which are typically in the afternoon or early evening UK time given the five-and-a-half-hour difference with India.
What is the average first-innings score at Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur?
The average first-innings score at Sawai Mansingh Stadium is 165 across 97 T20 matches played there. Punjab Kings' total of 219 in this fixture was well above that average, which put significant pressure on Rajasthan's chase.
What was Rajasthan Royals' recent form heading into this match?
Rajasthan had won just one of their previous five completed IPL 2025 matches, beating Gujarat Titans. They had lost to Kolkata Knight Riders, Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bangalore, and Lucknow Super Giants in that run of form.
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Photo credits (2)
- Virat Kohli — photo by Prime Minister's Office, GODL-India · source
- James Faulkner — photo by Eoin_Morgan_and_James_Faulkner.jpg: Nic Redhead from Birmingham, UK derivative work: StAnselm, CC BY-SA 2.0 · source