Match overview
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.
Venue and conditions
Sawai Mansingh Stadium is one of the older IPL venues and, based on 97 T20 matches, tends to produce mid-range totals. The average first-innings score is 165 and the average second-innings score is 153, which makes both teams' scores in this match unusually high. Punjab's 219 was more than 50 runs above the first-innings average; Rajasthan's 209 was more than 55 above the second-innings equivalent.
The powerplay average at the ground is 46 runs, which makes Rajasthan's 89/1 in that phase quite extraordinary in context. Teams historically prefer to field here if they win the toss: the toss field rate is 60%. That said, chasing sides succeed 64% of the time across matches at this ground, which suggests scores of 210-plus shift the dynamic considerably. Punjab's decision to bat first after winning the toss was a calculated risk that paid off.
Death-overs scoring tends to be moderate here, with an average of 39 runs in that phase. Both sides exceeded that figure significantly, which points to a very flat pitch with little for the bowlers in the closing overs.
How to watch
IPL matches are broadcast live in the UK on Sky Sports Cricket. Streaming options include Sky Go for existing subscribers and NOW TV for those who prefer a day or monthly pass without a full Sky contract. Given the time difference between the UK and India (five and a half hours during BST), most IPL matches start in the early afternoon UK time, with evening fixtures beginning around 3:30 pm BST. Check the Sky Sports schedule for the specific start time of each fixture.
Recent form
Punjab Kings arrived in Jaipur in decent shape. Their last five results in IPL 2025 include wins over Lucknow Super Giants and Chennai Super Kings, two no-results (against Delhi Capitals and Kolkata Knight Riders), and a single defeat to Royal Challengers Bangalore. Three wins from three completed matches in that run is a solid return.
Rajasthan's situation was markedly different. Four losses in their previous five completed games, with only a win over Gujarat Titans to show, meant this was a must-win fixture at their home ground. Their powerplay batting suggested the firepower is there; the collapse across the middle overs suggests a vulnerability that opposing captains will look to exploit. With this defeat, Rajasthan's path to the knockout rounds becomes considerably more difficult.
