RR vs PBKS Match Prediction, Fantasy Cricket Tips, Pitch Report, and Playing XI of 59th Match of IPL 2025

Indian Premier League 2025, 59th Match played between RR vs PBKS at Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur, stay updated with ScoreWaves for Indian Premier League 2025 59th Match fantasy tips, Playing 11, Pitch reports, Fastest cricket score, fastest updates, sports news and more

As the IPL 2025 season finally gears up for its long-awaited restart, fans are in for a thrilling finish to what's shaping up to be one of the most unpredictable editions in recent memory. With the competition so tight, even 16 points might not be enough to guarantee a playoff berth this time – something that’s never happened before. That makes every game crucial, especially for teams like Punjab Kings, who are still in the thick of the playoff hunt and desperately hoping to end their long postseason drought. 

It’s been a full decade since PBKS last made it to the playoffs, and Sunday’s clash against Rajasthan Royals in Jaipur could be the key to changing that. While the Royals have had a forgettable campaign – managing just three wins so far – Punjab can’t afford to take them lightly. After all, one of those three victories came at PBKS’ expense. Back on April 5 in Mullanpur, RR cruised to a 51-run win, and you can bet Punjab haven’t forgotten that. 

This time, though, things are a bit different. RR will be without their strike weapon Jofra Archer, which gives PBKS a great opportunity to flip the script. And the stakes couldn’t be higher. A win here would take Punjab to 17 points, essentially locking in a playoff spot and sending their long-suffering fans into celebration mode. So, with revenge on their minds and everything to play for, expect PBKS to come out firing. This could be the moment that defines their season. 

Head-to-Head: RR vs PBKS - Who Holds the Advantage?

The head-to-head record between Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Punjab kings (PBKS) has been evenly matched over the years, RR win 17 match and PBKS wins 12 out of their 29 encounters. Additionally, 0 matches ended without a result, highlighting the competitive nature of this rivalry.

However, in the last 5 meetings, Rajasthan Royals have had the upper hand, winning 3 of those matches, while Punjab Kings managed 2 victories. This recent dominance gives RR a slight psychological advantage heading into their next clash in IPL 2025.

With key players like Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Dhruv Jurel, and Riyan Parag, RR has looked in great form recently. PBKS will be aiming to level the scores and reached on the top of the points table with 17 points in their next encounter. The competition is sure to be intense, with both teams hungry for a crucial win in their IPL 2025 campaign.

Total Matches Played: 29

RR Wins: 17

PBKS Wins: 12

No Result/Abandoned Matches: 1

Despite RR having the firepower of Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Yashaswi Jaiswal, Riyan Parag and Hetymer, PBKS's all-around strength and explosive players Marco Jansen and Marcus Stonics them the upper hand in this head-to-head contest. However, it’s always been a close battle, with both sides frequently trading blows in IPL clashes.

Recent Forms of Rajasthan Royals and Punjab Kings:

RR: L L W L L

PBKS: W W L W W 

Predictions: Who Will Win the Match?

As far as fantasy cricket is concerned, RR might have the edge with their explosive batting lineup led by Vaibhaw Suryavanshi, Yashaswi Jaiswal, Riyan Parag and Hetmaire, and Dhruve Jurel but PBKS's balanced squad and the presence of all-rounders like Marco Jonsen and Marcus Stonics make them a formidable opponent. Sawai Mansingh Stadium, with its high-scoring potential, might slightly favor the batting-heavy teams, so expect a run-fest. 

Injury Update:

Yes, Sanju Samson may be not available due to Abdominal Injury.

RR vs PBKS Match, Date, Time, & Venue: 

Match: RR vs PBKS 59th Match of IPL 2025

Date: 18 May 2025

Time: 7:30 PM

Stadium: Sawai Mansingh Stadium  

Location: Jaipur

RR vs PBKS Match Pitch Report:     

The iconic Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur has been a key IPL venue since 2008, offering a pitch that has consistently provided exciting contests between bat and ball. As the venue for numerous thrilling IPL matches, SMS Stadium has become renowned for its balanced surface, which slightly favours chasing teams. In the 57 IPL matches played here, 37 have been won by teams batting second, giving chasing sides a 65% success rate.

The pitch at SMS Stadium offers a fair contest for both batters and bowlers. Early on, batsmen enjoy good bounce and pace, allowing them to score freely. However, as the game progresses, bowlers — particularly spinners and medium pacers — can extract valuable assistance. The pitch is known to be unpredictable, with scores fluctuating greatly. The highest team total here is 217/6 (SRH vs RR, IPL 2023), while the lowest is 59 (RR vs RCB, IPL 2023).

The average first-innings score at Sawai Mansingh Stadium is around 161.5, though recent matches have seen an increase to 179.5. This trend reflects the growing emphasis on aggressive batting in modern IPL cricket. The outfield at SMS Stadium is among the largest in the IPL, making it difficult for players to clear the boundary, with more than 60% of dismissals coming from catches, many of them in the deep.

While batters can post big scores on their day, bowlers also have their say, especially with accurate lines and variations. The average runs per over at the stadium is 8.14, suggesting a competitive balance between bat and ball. IPL teams often prefer bowling first due to the surface's tendency to ease out under lights, which makes chasing more manageable. The average second-innings score stands at 148.8, further reinforcing the advantage for sides chasing targets.

IPL Stats	Value
Total Matches	61
Batting First Won	21
Bowling First Won	40
1st Innings Average Score	162
2nd Innings Average Score	149
Highest Total	217/6
Lowest Total	59/10
Highest Chased	217/6
Lowest Defended	144/6

Possible Playing 11 for RR:

Yashasvi Jaiswal, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Nitish Rana, Riyan Parag(c), Dhruv Jurel(w), Shimron Hetmyer, Wanindu Hasaranga, Jofra Archer, Maheesh Theekshana, Tushar Deshpande, Sandeep Sharma

Impact Subs: Kunal Singh Rathore, Shubham Dubey, Akash Madhwal, Kumar Kartikeya, Kwena Maphaka

Possible playing 11 for PBKS:   

 Priyansh Arya, Shreyas Iyer(c), Nehal Wadhera, Josh Inglis, Shashank Singh(w), Marcus Stoinis, Harpreet Brar, Marco Jansen, Xavier Bartlett, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal  

Impact Sub: Praveen Dubey, Vijaykumar Vaishak, Harpreet Brar, Prabhsimran Singh

Rajasthan Royals Key players:

Vaibhav Suryavanshi: 4 (2), 0 (2), 101 (38), 16 (12), 34 (20)

Yashasvi Jaiswal: 21 (34), 13 (6), 49 (19), 74 (52), 51 (37), 75 (47), 6 (7)

Dhruve Jurel: 0 (1), 11 (11), 47 (34), 6* (5), 26 (17), 5 (4)

Riyan Parag: 95 (45) + 1/21, 16 (8), 22 (10) + 0/30, 39 (26) + DNB, 8 (11) + 0/6, 30 (22) + 0/10, 26 (14) + 2/21

Wanindu Hasaranga:   0/35 + 0(2), DNP 1/30 +  1 (3),  2/31 + DNB,  1/38 + 2 (4),  0/33 + DNB, DNP

Jofra Archer: 1/30, 0/42, 1/32, 1/32, 2/32, 0/36, 1/30

Punjab Kings Key players:

Priyansh Arya: 1 (4), 23 (15), 69 (35), 22 (15), 16 (11), 22 (12)

Prabhsimran Singh: 91 (48), 54 (36), 83 (49), 33 (17), 13 (9), 30 (15)

Shreyas Iyer: 45 (25), 72 (41), 25* (16), 6 (10), 7 (10), 0 (2)

Shashank Singh: 33 (15), 23 (12), DNP, 31* (33), 1 (5), 18(17)

Marco Jansen: DNB + 1/31,  2/30 + 4 (2), 0/20 + 25*(20), 2/10 + DNB, 3/17 + 1(2), 0/39 + 5(5)

Arshdeep Singh: 3/16, 2/25, 1/26, 2/23, 1/11, 1/37

Yuzvendra Chahal: 1/50, 4/32, 1/36, 2/11, 1/5, 1/56

RR vs PBKS Fantasy Team:

Wicketkeepers: Dhruv Jurel, Prabhsimran Singh

Batsman: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Priyansh Arya, Shreyas Iyer 

All-rounders: Riyan Parag, Marco Jansen

Bowlers: Nandre Burger, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal

RR vs PBKS Team for Today Match:

RR vs PBKS Prediction Captain and Vice-Captain:     

Choice 1: Riyan Parag (C), Shreyas Iyer (VC)

Choice 2:  Yashasvi Jaiswal (C), Prabhsimran Singh (VC)

RR vs PBKS Fantasy Prediction Backups:   

Shimron Hetmyer, Shubham Dubey, Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh

Disclaimer:

The author has provided you with the above-mentioned match prediction on the basis of his research, understanding, and analysis, consider the points and make your own decision

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