IPL 2025, Match - 18 | PBKS vs RR | Fantasy Tips, Prediction & Preview
Punjab Kings (PBKS) will lock horns with Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the 18th game of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. PBKS have won their first two games and are at the top of the points table with an NRR of 1.485. Whereas, RR have one win in three games and are in ninth place.
Punjab Kings have had an impressive start to their IPL 2025 campaign, securing two consecutive victories. In their opening match on March 25, 2025, against the Gujarat Titans, they clinched the win by 11 runs after posting a formidable total of 243/5. Building on this momentum, PBKS beat LSG by 8 wickets in the second game with Prabhsimran Singh and Shreyas Iyer scoring half-centuries. This will be the first home game for the PBKS franchise under the leadership of Shreyas Iyer, and they have so far given some incredible performances this season.

On the other hand, Rajasthan Royals have had an up-and-down start to IPL 2025, winning one out of their first three matches. They began their season with a high-scoring encounter against SRH, where they fell short by 44 runs while chasing a massive 286 target. Their struggles continued in the second game against KKR, managing only 151/9, which KKR comfortably chased down to hand RR their second consecutive loss. However, RR bounced back strongly in their third match against CSK, defending 182 runs successfully to register a much-needed 6-run victory, thanks to Nitish Rana’s explosive 81 and disciplined bowling at the death.
Match Timings
Match Toss Time - 07:00 PM IST (01:30 PM GMT)
Match Start Time - 07:30 PM IST (02:00 PM GMT)
Match Venue - Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur, Chandigarh
Head to Head
Matches Played - 28
Punjab Kings won - 12 Rajasthan Royals won - 16
Last 5 meetings
Punjab Kings won - 2 Rajasthan Royals won - 3
Pitch Report
The surface at this venue is expected to be batting-friendly. Batters will enjoy playing their shots on the surface while bowlers are likely to struggle.
Weather Report
The weather forecast is expected to be hot and clear. There are no chances of rain during the game. The temperature is likely to be around 34°C with 33% humidity.
Probable Playing XI
Punjab Kings (PBKS) - Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh(wk), Shreyas Iyer(c), Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, Suryansh Shedge, Marco Jansen, Lockie Ferguson, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh
Impact Player - Nehal Wadhera
Rajasthan Royals (RR) - Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson, Nitish Rana, Riyan Parag(c), Dhruv Jurel(wk), Shimron Hetmyer, Wanindu Hasaranga, Jofra Archer, Maheesh Theekshana, Sandeep Sharma, Tushar Deshpande
Impact Player - Shubham Dubey
Must Picks
PBKS - Shreyas Iyer, Marcus Stoinis
RR - Sanju Samson, Nitish Rana
PBKS vs RR Fantasy Team
Wicket-Keeper : Sanju Samson, Prabhsimran Singh
Batters : Shreyas Iyer
All-rounder : Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, Nitish Rana, Wanindu Hasaranga, Riyan Parag, Marco Jansen
Bowlers : Sandeep Sharma, Arshdeep Singh
Captain and Vice-Captain picks
Captain : Shreyas Iyer
Vice-Captain : Nitish Rana
Prediction
Punjab Kings have looked more confident compared to the Rajasthan Royals this season. The bowlers were always the plus side of the RR, but this season, they have lacked consistency. Considering the current form of both teams, PBKS are favorites to win this contest.
Sportco predicts Punjab Kings to beat Rajasthan Royals in the 18th game of the Indian Premier League 2025.
Disclaimer
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Cover Credits - IPL.com
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