In an impressive display during the 18th season of the IPL on Saturday, Rajasthan Royals secured a commanding victory over Punjab Kings by 50 runs at Mullanpur, marking Punjab’s first defeat of the season while signaling Rajasthan’s resurgence. After winning the toss, Punjab captain Shreyas Iyer chose to bowl first. Rajasthan posted a formidable total of 205 runs, with standout performances from Yashasvi Jaiswal, who scored 67 runs off 45 balls, and Riyan Parag, who remained unbeaten on 43. Sanju Samson added a vital 38 runs to the innings.
Punjab’s batting response faltered from the outset, with Jofra Archer dismissing Priyansh Arya in the first over and Shreyas Iyer shortly after. Despite Nehal Wadhera (62 runs) and Glenn Maxwell (30 runs) forming an 88-run partnership, the team struggled after their dismissals. Ultimately, Punjab managed only 155 runs in 20 overs. Archer took three wickets for Rajasthan, while Sandeep Sharma and Matheesha Pathirana took two each. This victory also saw Sanju Samson surpass Shane Warne’s record for most wins as Rajasthan captain, achieving 32 victories in 62 matches.
