RR vs PBKS IPL 2025 Match 59 Highlights: Has PBKS qualified for the playoffs?

Rajasthan Royals vs Punjab Kings IPL 2025 Match 59: Man of the Match

Harpreet Brar was named the player of the match for his incredible bowling performance. The left-arm spinner picked up three wickets and bowled an economical spell. In a game where PBKS had to defend 219 runs, Brar, with his four overs, proved to be the difference between a win and a loss for the visitors. He broke the dangerous opening stand in his first over by dismissing Vaibhav Suryavanshi. His next two scalps included Yashasvi Jaiswal and Riyan Parag.

Rajasthan Royals vs Punjab Kings IPL 2025 Match 59: Top Performers

Nehal Wadhera - 70 (37)

Nehal Wadhera scored an important half-century for the visitors. The left-handed batter came to the crease in the power play itself at number four. Punjab Kings were in a tumultuous period when Wadhera came to bat as they lost a couple of wickets in the power play. He was given a promotion in the batting order as he walked ahead of Shreyas Iyer. 

The left-handed batter made full use of the opportunity given to him as he smashed the RR bowlers all around the park. The 24-year-old batter from Ludhiana played with positive intent and struck at a rate of almost 190. He scored 70 runs in 37 balls, hitting five fours and five sixes in his knock. 

Shashank Singh - 59* (30)

Shashank Singh provided a great finish in the first innings. Before standing in as a skipper in the second innings, he was in the middle of all the action. The right-handed batter smashed five fours and three sixes as he scored 59 runs in only 30 balls. His knock allowed PBKS to end up with a huge score of 220 runs. 

Harpreet Brar - 3/22

In a game where Punjab Kings had to defend 220 runs, Harpreet Brar, with his spell of four overs, was the game-changer. The left-arm spinner broke the dangerous opening stand in the power play by dismissing Vaibhav Suryavanshi. He was among the wickets once again when he dismissed Yashasvi Jaiswal, who had scored a half-century. Coming back to finish his spell, the left-arm spinner dismissed Riyan Parag. The left-arm spinner not only picked up three wickets but was highly economical as well, giving away only 22 runs in his four overs.

Tushar Deshpande - 2/37

Tushar Deshpande was at his best against the Punjab Kings. The right-arm pacer not only picked up some timely wickets but also bowled economically. He picked up his first in his very first over, breaking the opening partnership. He then dismissed the other PBKS opener, Prabhsimran Singh, on the first ball of his second over. Barring his last over, where he conceded 17 runs, Deshpande was pretty economical and went for only 20 runs in his first three overs. 

Yashasvi Jaiswal - 50 (25)

Yashasvi Jaiswal scored his sixth half-century of the season. He was looking in great touch from the first ball itself, where he smashed a four. He collected 22 runs in the first over from Arshdeep Singh. He continued with an attacking intent and scored his fifty with a strike rate of 200. He smashed nine fours and a solitary six in his knock of 50 runs. He shared a great partnership with Viabhav Suryavanshi worth 76 runs for the first wicket.

Vaibhav Suryavanshi - 40 (15)

Vaibhav Suryavanshi played another high-calibre cameo with the bat in hand. The 14-year-old opening the innings scored 40 runs. What made his knock really fantastic was that all of his runs came in boundaries. He struck four fours and sixes each. Like he did against the Gujarat Titans during his record-breaking century, Suryavanshi was pretty lucky with some edges going to the boundary. 

Rajasthan Royals vs Punjab Kings IPL 2025 Match 59: 1st Innings Summary

Rajasthan Royals had started the first innings on a great note. The hosts picked up three wickets in the power play and dismissed the opening batters from Punjab Kings, who had been in great touch during the season. Tushar Deshpande was the pick of the bowlers in the first six overs as he picked up a couple of wickets while giving away 17 runs in his two overs. 

At the fall of the third wicket, Shreyas Iyer walked in to bat and joined Nehal Wadhera at the crease. The two batters steadied the crease for the visitors with a solid partnership. The fourth-wicket stand between them was worth 67 runs before Uyer was dismissed. However, Wadhera remained at the crease and registered his highest-ever score in the IPL. 

Shasank Singh came in the middle and played with an aggressive mindset. The right-handed batter struggled a bit in his first few deliveries but made up for it with a powerful finish. While he scored a half-century, Azmatullah Omarzai too played a blistering 21-run-nine-ball knock. 

Rajasthan Royals vs Punjab Kings IPL 2025 Match 59: 2nd Innings Summary

It was a brilliant start in the second innings for the Royals. Yashasvi Jaiswal smashed 22 runs in the first over from Arshdeep Singh. His opening partner, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, not only provided great support but was equally impressive with the bat in hand. Both left-handed batters were going all guns blazing, and it looked like they would repeat their performances, which they produced against the Gujarat Titans. 

Harpreet Brar came into the attack in the fifth over after the pacers had been smashed all over the park. The left-arm spinner proved to be the difference between a win and a loss for the visitors. He broke the opening partnership by dismissing Suryavanshi. The left-arm spinner then went on to dismiss Yashasvi as well before picking Riyan Parag in his final over. Not only was he among the wickets, but he was also the most economical bowler across both teams. 

Dhruv Jurel, having blown hot and cold throughout the season, played a handy knock. The wicketkeeper batter scored 53 runs in 31 deliveries, but it was not enough as the Rajasthan Royals for the eighth time in this season, failed to close off a chase.