Match overview
Rajasthan Royals beat Punjab Kings by 50 runs at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh on 5 April 2025. Rajasthan posted 205/4 after Punjab won the toss and chose to field. In reply, Punjab never got going at the top of the order and were eventually bowled out for 155/9 in a chase that was effectively over before the halfway stage. Jofra Archer took the Player of the Match award. It was a result that restored some pride for Rajasthan, who had lost to Punjab by 10 runs earlier in the 2025 season.
The chase fell apart in the powerplay. Punjab Kings lost 3 wickets for 43 runs in the first six overs, against a target that required sustained pressure from the outset. From that point, the middle order was always going to be playing catch-up. They managed 88 runs from overs 7 to 15 but at the cost of 2 more wickets, and the death overs brought 4 further dismissals for just 24 runs. That is a brutal return when 80-plus were still needed from the final phase.
For Rajasthan, the 50-run winning margin keeps them competitive in the points table despite an inconsistent run of form. They had won only one of their three previous 2025 outings before this game.
Venue and conditions
The Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium at Mullanpur is still a relatively new IPL venue, with 14 matches on record. Its average first-innings score of 175 is respectable for T20 cricket in India, and the average second-innings total of 165 suggests the surface does not change dramatically between innings. Chasing sides have won half of those 14 fixtures, so neither outcome is unusual here.
Rajasthan's 205/4 comfortably outstripped the venue average. Their powerplay of 53 for no wicket tracked close to the ground's powerplay norm of 56 runs; crucially they didn't lose a wicket, which allowed the middle overs to extend the innings without interruption. The death overs produced 63 runs for 1 wicket, well above the ground's average death-over return of 42 runs.
The toss has proved significant at this ground. 71% of toss winners have chosen to field at Mullanpur, suggesting the surface can be more favourable to batting once the dew sets in or the evening air eases conditions. Punjab followed that instinct here, but a total of 205 left their bowlers with nowhere to hide.
How to watch
IPL 2025 is broadcast in the United Kingdom on Sky Sports Cricket. Matches can be streamed live through Sky Go for existing subscribers, or via a NOW TV day or monthly pass for those without a full Sky package. Coverage typically starts 30 minutes before the first ball, with studio analysis and pitch reports.
Most IPL fixtures start at either 15:30 or 19:30 Indian Standard Time, which translates to 10:00 or 14:00 UK time during British Summer Time. Check Sky Sports' schedule for specific UK kickoff times on upcoming fixtures.
Recent form
Rajasthan Royals came into this fixture with a mixed recent record: a win against Chennai Super Kings in 2025 sandwiched between losses to Kolkata Knight Riders and Sunrisers Hyderabad. The 50-run win here gives them momentum and a significant boost to their net run rate heading into the remainder of the tournament.
Punjab Kings, by contrast, had looked in reasonable shape before this game. They had beaten Lucknow Super Giants and Gujarat Titans in their two most recent 2025 outings and came in off the back of that victory over Rajasthan earlier in the season. The collapse at Mullanpur will concern their think tank, particularly the fragility at the top of the order that left the middle overs so exposed. Their next matches will quickly reveal whether this was a one-off or a deeper structural issue.
