Punjab Kings vs Rajasthan Royals saw a dramatic turn on Sunday’s IPL 2025 match as Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer was replaced at the innings break.
During Sunday’s IPL 2025 match against the Rajasthan Royals, Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer was replaced at the innings break. During PBKS’ bowling, Shreyas did not field at all and was substituted off after scoring 30 from 25 deliveries due to a finger injury. The Indian cricket team’s batter still got involved even if Shreyas wasn’t playing. He was observed conversing with fielders at the boundary line throughout the game and even assisting substitute captain Shashank Singh with field setup. In the end, PBKS prevailed by a margin of 10 runs.
Following blistering fifties from Nehal Wadhera and Shashank Singh, left-arm spinner Harpreet Brar bowled a game-changing spell as Punjab Kings defeated Rajasthan Royals by 10 runs here on Sunday, moving them one run closer to an IPL playoff place.
In the fifth over, Brar was sent in as a replacement for captain Shreyas Iyer, who may have been ill from the intense heat. The left-arm spinner dominated with a remarkable 3/22 in four overs, assisting PBKS in limiting RR to 209/7 in the chase for 220.
Earlier, Shashank and Wadhera (70, 37b, 5×4, 5×6) had scored an undefeated 59 off 30 deliveries to help the Punjab team reach 219 for five.
Punjab Kings vs Rajasthan Royals: Brar’s Spell and Captaincy Twist Turn the Game
After gaining this victory, PBKS (NRR: +0.38) moved up to 17 points, trailing leaders Royal Challengers Bengaluru (17 points, +0.48) in terms of net run rate differential.
For the first time since 2014, the team led by Ricky Ponting needs only one more point to guarantee a postseason participation.
That was largely due to Brar’s skillful blending of angles, trajectory, and tempo.
His victims were Indian opener Yashasvi Jaiswal, who had begun a vicious attack up front with his (50 off 24), and 14-year-old wonder Vaibhav Suryavanshi (40 off 15; 4×4, 4×6).
With a standoff of 76 runs in only 4.1 overs, they took off together. Then, as RR’s pursuit stalled, Azmatullah Omarzai (2/44) delivered a twin punch, dismissing Shimron Hetmyer (11 off 12) and captain Sanju Samson (20 off 16).
His second fifty of the season was reached by Dhruv Jurel (53 off 31 balls; 3×4, 4×6), but it was in futile as Marco Jansen (2/41 in three overs) dismissed him and Wanindu Hasaranga in consecutive balls in the final over to terminate their pursuit.
For more updates and other exciting news, visit our website now!
