RR vs PBKS match prediction The 59th match of IPL 2025 pits Rajasthan Royals (RR) against Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur on Sunday, May 18, 2025 (3:30 PM IST). Stakes are high: PBKS are battling for a top-two finish (currently 3rd with 15 points), while RR’s playoff hopes are long gone (sitting 9th with 6 points). In fact, as ESPN notes, PBKS are chasing a top-two slot, whereas RR are “fighting to avoid the wooden spoon” with just three wins from 12 games. The teams met earlier in the season at Mullanpur, where RR’s batting attack (led by Yashasvi Jaiswal’s 67) and Jofra Archer’s 3/25 with the ball powered a 50-run win over PBKS. Going into this Jaipur encounter, RR must rally for pride and future planning, while PBKS will look to maintain momentum.
Match Overview
Match | RR vs PBKS, 59th Match, Indian Premier League 2025 |
Date | Sunday, May 18, 2025 |
Time | 3:30 PM IST |
Venue | Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur |
Umpires | Abhijeet Bengeri, Chris Gaffaney |
Third Umpire | Jayaraman Madanagopal |
Match Referee | Daniel Manohar |
Live Streaming | Available on official broadcasters and OTT platforms |
RR vs PBKS Head to Head Record
Rajasthan Royals and Punjab Kings have met 29 times in IPL history. RR hold a slim edge: they’ve won 17 of those encounters, compared to 12 for PBKS. The teams first met in 2008, and over the years the rivalry has featured many close contests. The Royals’ biggest thrashing of PBKS came by 78 runs in 2009, while PBKS’s biggest win was by 9 wickets in 2023. In Jaipur specifically, RR enjoy a significant advantage: in their six home games against PBKS at SMS, the hosts have won five and lost only one.
Historically, this venue tends to favor the side batting second – chasing teams have won nearly 64% of IPL games. Recent meetings have tended to be run-fests; for example, in the earlier encounter RR batted first and posted 205/4, then bowled PBKS out for 155. This balance suggests the match could be high-scoring, with both sides putting batsmen and bowlers to the test.
RR vs PBKS Match Ground – Pitch & Weather Report
Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur
The venue has traditionally supported batters in the first innings, but as the game progresses, bowlers—especially spinners—come into play. The average first-innings score here is around 165-175 runs, with chasing sides facing a slight disadvantage due to the pitch slowing down. Weather Forecast– Jaipur is expected to remain dry and hot on match day, with temperatures around 36–38°C and no significant chances of rain. Dew may play a small role in the second innings.
Team Standings Before the Match
Team | Position | Matches Played | Wins | Points |
Rajasthan Royals | 9th | 12 | 3 | 6 |
Punjab Kings | 3rd | 12 | 7 | 15 |
Recent Form Guide
Rajasthan Royals – Last 5 Matches
Opponent | Venue | Result | Date | Margin |
KKR | Kolkata | Lost | May 4 | 1 run |
MI | Jaipur | Lost | May 1 | 100 runs |
GT | Jaipur | Won | April 28 | 8 wickets |
RCB | Bengaluru | Lost | April 24 | 11 runs |
LSG | Jaipur | Lost | April 19 | 2 runs |
Analysis: The Royals have had a tough run, losing four of their last five matches. Their narrow losses show resilience but lack of finishing strength.
Punjab Kings – Last 5 Matches
Opponent | Venue | Result | Date | Margin |
LSG | Dharamsala | Won | May 4 | 37 runs |
CSK | Chennai | Won | April 30 | 4 wickets |
KKR | Kolkata | Abandoned | April 26 | – |
RCB | New Chandigarh | Lost | April 20 | 7 wickets |
RCB | Bengaluru | Won | April 18 | 5 wickets |
Analysis: PBKS are in good form, with strong wins and only one loss recently. Their batting lineup is firing, and bowlers are stepping up in key moments.
Key Players to Watch
Rajasthan Royals
- Yashasvi Jaiswal – 473 runs in 12 matches, leading from the front.
- Riyan Parag – In form with the bat, scoring 43 in their previous PBKS encounter.
- Maheesh Theekshana – Crucial spinner with consistent performances.
- Jofra Archer – Has picked up key wickets, including 3/25 in their last win over PBKS.
- Vaibhav Sooryavanshi – Youngster with 155 runs in 5 games.
Punjab Kings
- Prabhsimran Singh – PBKS’s top scorer with 437 runs.
- Shreyas Iyer – A steady contributor, with 405 runs and strong leadership.
- Arshdeep Singh – 16 wickets, spearheading the bowling attack.
- Marcus Stoinis – A utility all-rounder who can shift momentum with bat or ball.
- Yuzvendra Chahal – A threat on spin-friendly pitches like Jaipur.
RR vs PBKS Dream11 Prediction – Fantasy Cricket Tips
Dream11 Team Picks
Category | Players |
Wicket-Keepers | Dhruv Jurel, Josh Inglis |
Batters | Yashasvi Jaiswal, Prabhsimran Singh, Riyan Parag, Shreyas Iyer |
All-Rounders | Marcus Stoinis, Riyan Parag |
Bowlers | Arshdeep Singh, Jofra Archer, Maheesh Theekshana, Yuzvendra Chahal |
Captain/Vice-Captain Choices
- Captain: Yashasvi Jaiswal / Prabhsimran Singh
- Vice-Captain: Marcus Stoinis / Arshdeep Singh
Fantasy Tip– Favor players with strong records at Jaipur and include at least two frontline bowlers, considering the pitch’s tendency to assist spin in the second innings.
For fantasy (Dream11) team selection, focus on in-form batsmen and wicket-taking bowlers:
- Yashasvi Jaiswal (RR) – A strike-hitting opener. Coming off a 67-ball half-century in the earlier match, Jaiswal is a must-have. He can be a captain choice for his consistent big scores.
- Sanju Samson (RR) – RR’s skipper and destructive middle-order batter. Passed fitness tests and in form (recent 95). Ideal for vice-captain, given his match-winning ability with the bat.
- Prabhsimran Singh (PBKS) – Young opener with a sweet batting style. Among top run-getters this season, he scores quickly in powerplays.
- Shreyas Iyer (PBKS) – Captain and anchor for PBKS, bats in the middle. Consistent run-scorer who can accumulate points. Good choice for captaincy or vice, especially in first innings.
- Praveen Dubey / Maheesh Theekshana – Spin-bowling all-rounders (RR’s Theekshana and PBKS’s Dubey) who can chip in with both bat and ball.
- Arshdeep Singh (PBKS) – Key death-overs bowler. With 16 wickets so far, he should be in everyone’s XI. Likely to pick crucial wickets. Great vice-captain choice if not already used.
- Yuzvendra Chahal (PBKS) – Leg-spinner and wicket-taker in middle overs. If conditions favor spin late, he’ll be among wicket-taking picks.
RR vs PBKS match prediction Captains and Vice-captains: A popular combo would be Shreyas Iyer (captain) and Yashasvi Jaiswal (vice), or vice versa, leveraging their high scores and batting volumes. Alternatively, Arshdeep Singh is a strong bowling pick to pair with either. The strategy is to pick a balance of top-order batters (who face many balls) and bowlers with high wickets. Keep an eye on toss and playing XIs to adjust picks last-minute (e.g., if Samson is rested, swap in another RR batter like Riyan Parag).
Squad Updates & Injuries
Rajasthan Royals Squad
Riyan Parag (c), Dhruv Jurel (wk), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Kunal Singh Rathore, Wanindu Hasaranga, Shimron Hetmyer, Shubham Dubey, Maheesh Theekshana, Yudhvir Singh Charak, Akash Madhwal, Sanju Samson, Tushar Deshpande, Kumar Kartikeya, Nandre Burger, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Kwena Maphaka, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Ashok Sharma
Injuries: Sandeep Sharma and Nitish Rana are out. Replacements: Nandre Burger and Lhuan-dre Pretorius.
Punjab Kings Squad
Shreyas Iyer (c), Josh Inglis (wk), Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh, Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Marco Jansen, Azmatullah Omarzai, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Harpreet Brar, Suryansh Shedge, Praveen Dubey, Yash Thakur, Kyle Jamieson, Xavier Bartlett, Vishnu Vinod, Aaron Hardie, Kuldeep Sen, Mitchell Owen, Harnoor Singh, Musheer Khan, Pyla Avinash
Injury News: No significant injuries reported.
RR vs PBKS Match Prediction
RR vs PBKS match prediction Given the current form, squad depth, and venue advantage, this Rajasthan Royals vs Punjab Kings clash could go either way. While PBKS have the upper hand in the points table and recent form, RR have traditionally dominated in Jaipur.
Prediction Summary
Factors | Rajasthan Royals | Punjab Kings |
Recent Form | Below Par | Strong |
Head-to-Head at Jaipur | 5 Wins | 1 Win |
Key Player Form | Mixed | High Impact |
Team Momentum | Slowing | Rising |
Prediction Verdict | Slight Edge at Home | Stronger Overall |
Final Prediction– A close contest, but Punjab Kings are favorites due to recent consistency. However, if RR can leverage home support and put runs on the board, they may pull off an upset.
Punjab Kings vs Rajasthan Royals at Jaipur promises an intriguing battle. PBKS enter with momentum and playoff aspirations, boasting solid batting starts and sharp bowling. RR, by contrast, must arrest a slide and capitalize on home advantage (where they’ve historically dominated PBKS). Key players like Jaiswal, Iyer, Arshdeep, and Samson will likely decide the match. Fantasy players can bank on these stars for their Dream11 teams, while punters will weigh PBKS’s form against RR’s home history. Given the stats and form, PBKS look favorites, but nothing is certain in T20. For our RR vs PBKS match prediction, expect a close contest – likely a chase well within reach due to Jaipur’s nature, favoring the better-paced bowling side. Good toss call could be bowling first, and if PBKS tick all boxes, they should sneak through. Nonetheless, RR have shown they can upset PBKS (as when they won by 50 runs earlier), so an explosive batting performance could turn the tables.
