April 5, 2025, at 7:30 PM IST. The venue? The spanking-new Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur—Punjab Kings’ home turf. This early-season showdown promises fireworks, with both teams sporting refreshed lineups after the mega auction shook things up. Here’s your full scoop, with Dream11 picks and everything you need to know.
Match Details
- Teams: Punjab Kings vs. Rajasthan Royals, IPL 2025
- Date: April 5, 2025
- Time: 7:30 PM IST
- Venue: Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur
Preview
Punjab Kings roll into IPL 2025 with a bold new vibe. Shreyas Iyer, snagged for a whopping ₹26.75 crore, takes the captaincy reins, teaming up with coach Ricky Ponting to chase that elusive trophy. Their batting packs a punch, and Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis are ready to unleash chaos, while Arshdeep Singh and Yuzvendra Chahal lead a bowling unit that’s got bite. After a stunning 11-run win over Gujarat Titans on March 25, where Iyer smashed 97 not out, PBKS are riding high.
Rajasthan Royals, meanwhile, are shaking off a rocky start. With Riyan Parag as interim captain (Sanju Samson’s easing back from surgery), they’ve had ups and downs—think a six-run thriller win over Chennai Super Kings on March 30 after a 44-run loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad. Yashasvi Jaiswal’s yet to ignite, but Jofra Archer’s pace and Wanindu Hasaranga’s spin are keeping them in the fight. Historically, RR lead PBKS 16-11 in 27 clashes, but Punjab’s recent form makes this a toss-up.
Team News and Predicted XIs
Punjab Kings Predicted XI
- Batting First: Prabhsimran Singh, Shreyas Iyer (c), Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Shashank Singh, Sam Curran, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Lockie Ferguson, Harshal Patel
- Bowling First: Prabhsimran Singh, Shreyas Iyer (c), Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Sam Curran, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Lockie Ferguson, Harshal Patel, Rahul Chahar
- Impact Players: Rahul Chahar/Shashank Singh, Ashutosh Sharma, Nathan Ellis
Rajasthan Royals Predicted XI
- Batting First: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson (impact sub), Riyan Parag (c), Dhruv Jurel (wk), Shimron Hetmyer, Shubham Dubey, Nitish Rana, Jofra Archer, Sandeep Sharma, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana
- Bowling First: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Riyan Parag (c), Dhruv Jurel (wk), Shimron Hetmyer, Shubham Dubey, Nitish Rana, Jofra Archer, Sandeep Sharma, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Akash Madhwal
- Impact Players: Sanju Samson/Akash Madhwal, Tushar Deshpande, Rovman Powell
Players to Watch
- Punjab Kings: Shreyas Iyer’s leadership and batting (97* vs. GT) scream captain material. Glenn Maxwell’s overdue for a big knock, and Arshdeep Singh’s early wickets could rattle RR.
- Rajasthan Royals: Yashasvi Jaiswal’s itching to break out, Jofra Archer’s heat (despite 0/76 vs. SRH) is a game-changer, and Riyan Parag’s dual role keeps him in focus.
Dream11 Fantasy Picks
- Wicketkeepers: Dhruv Jurel, Jitesh Sharma
- Batters: Shreyas Iyer (vc), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Glenn Maxwell
- All-rounders: Sam Curran, Riyan Parag
- Bowlers: Jofra Archer, Arshdeep Singh (c), Yuzvendra Chahal
- Composition: PBKS 5 | RR 5 | Credits Left: 11
- Backups: Marcus Stoinis, Shimron Hetmyer, Wanindu Hasaranga
Pitch and Conditions
Mullanpur’s pitch has been a batter’s paradise—think PBKS’ 243/5 vs. GT’s 232/5 earlier this season. Pacers get some early zip, but dew could tilt things toward chasing sides under lights. Expect the captains to bowl first if they win the toss.
This clash pits PBKS’s momentum against RR’s resilience. Will Iyer’s crew keep roaring, or can Parag’s Royals strike back? Either way, it’s prime IPL drama—don’t miss it!