Cricket Prediction | PBKS vs RR | IPL 2025 | 18th Match | April 05 – Can PBKS Extend Their Perfect Start against an Inconsistent RR?

PBKS vs RR Match Analysis

The 18th match of IPL 2025 will be held on April 5, 2025, between Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) at the IS Bindra Stadium, Mohali. The match will begin at 7:30 PM IST under the floodlights, with a high-scoring contest expected at this pace-friendly venue.

Punjab Kings are riding high on confidence after a dominant display against LSG. With a new-look squad under the leadership of Shreyas Iyer, PBKS are showing both firepower and composure. 

Rajasthan Royals continue to be one of the most consistent franchises this season, led by Sanju Samson. Their lineup is packed with in-form Indian stars and seasoned overseas pros like Hetmyer and Hasaranga. 

Punjab Kings vs Rajasthan Royals Team Preview & Squads

Punjab Kings

Shreyas Iyer has brought calmness and control to PBKS’s campaign this year. Known for his classical batting and tactical nous, Iyer has been instrumental in leading from the front. His composed leadership has helped PBKS gel quickly as a competitive unit.

PBKS boast an explosive top order with Josh Inglis, Prabhsimran Singh, and Shreyas Iyer himself anchoring the innings. The middle order features hard-hitters like Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, and Nehal Wadhera, giving them power through the innings. 

The bowling unit is full of variety, with Yuzvendra Chahal bringing in quality spin, and pacers like Arshdeep Singh and Lockie Ferguson offering pace and aggression. Xavier Bartlett and Marco Jansen provide excellent seam options. The inclusion of Harpreet Brar and Kuldeep Sen gives the team more depth and versatility.

In their last match against Lucknow Super Giants (13th Match at Lucknow), PBKS put up a clinical performance. They restricted LSG to 171/7 with disciplined bowling. The chase was effortless, with Punjab reaching 177/2 in just 16.2 overs. Josh Inglis and Shreyas Iyer led the way, guiding the team to a dominant 8-wicket victory.

Punjab Kings

Punjab Kings

Shreyas Iyer (C), Arshdeep Singh, Priyansh Arya, Pyla Avinash, Azmatullah Omarzai, Xavier Bartlett, Yuzvendra Chahal, Praveen Dubey, Lockie Ferguson, Aaron Hardie, Harnoor Singh, Harpreet Brar, Josh Inglis, Marco Jansen, Glenn Maxwell, Musheer Khan, Prabhsimran Singh (Wk), Kuldeep Sen, Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Suryansh Shedge, Vishnu Vinod, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Nehal Wadhera, Yash Thakur.

Rajasthan Royals

Sanju Samson continues to lead Rajasthan Royals with flair and maturity. His aggressive batting and composed decision-making have been key to RR’s strong start this season. Samson’s leadership is marked by flexibility and faith in his young Indian core.

RR’s top order is dangerous with Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sanju Samson in fine form. Middle-order hitters like Hetmyer, Riyan Parag, and Dhruv Jurel provide aggressive options through the innings. The team has finishing depth too, with Hasaranga and Archer capable of contributing valuable runs.

The Royals’ bowling attack is a mix of pace and spin threats. Jofra Archer and Sandeep Sharma spearhead the pace department, supported by left-arm quick Fazalhaq Farooqi. In the spin department, Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, and Kumar Kartikeya ensure RR can adapt to different pitch conditions.

In their last game against Chennai Super Kings (11th Match at Guwahati), RR held their nerves in a close encounter. They posted 182/9, thanks to strong contributions from Hetmyer and Parag. The bowlers did well to restrict CSK to 176/6, winning the match by 6 runs. It was a well-rounded performance that kept them near the top of the table.

Rajasthan Royals

Rajasthan Royals

Sanju Samson, Jofra Archer, Ashok Sharma, Tushar Deshpande, Shubham Dubey, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Wanindu Hasaranga, Shimron Hetmyer, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel (Wk), Kumar Kartikeya, Akash Madhwal, Kwena Maphaka, Riyan Parag(C), Nitish Rana, Kunal Singh Rathore, Sandeep Sharma, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Maheesh Theekshana, Yudhvir Singh.

PBKS vs RR Outfield Report

Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur

The Mohali pitch is traditionally pace-friendly with good bounce and carry. Fast bowlers can extract movement early on, while batters who settle in can score heavily. The average first-innings score is generally around 180, making it a good venue for chasing teams too.

Mohali will experience a warm evening with temperatures hovering around 28°C at match time. The humidity will be moderate, and there is no threat of rain. Dew is likely to come in during the second innings, aiding teams batting second.

The pitch at Mohali has seen scores of 200+ regularly when the top order gets going. The highest team score at this venue is 221, while totals below 150 often prove tough to defend. A score of 175–190 is considered competitive here, especially when batting first.

Punjab Kings vs Rajasthan Royals Head-to-Head Stats of Last 5 Matches

In their last 5 encounters, Rajasthan Royals have won 3, while Punjab Kings have taken 2 matches. The rivalry has delivered high-scoring thrillers and is expected to be another exciting clash this time around.

PBKS vs RR Prediction

According to cricket analysts Punjab Kings have a 56% chance of Winning.