April 6, 2025: Punjab Kings’ (PBKS) unbeaten run in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 came to a halt on Saturday as they were defeated by Rajasthan Royals (RR) by 50 runs in their first home game at Mullanpur. While RR’s bowlers, spearheaded by Jofra Archer, delivered an outstanding performance, PBKS were left reflecting on missed opportunities, particularly in their bowling strategy.
During the post-match press conference, PBKS spin bowling coach Sunil Joshi acknowledged that the team may have made a tactical error by not fully utilizing their spin options during RR’s innings. The decision to restrict the spin overs came under scrutiny, especially with the Mullanpur pitch offering considerable grip and turn for the spinners.
“We have a long season ahead. I think we missed the trick—we could have bowled a couple of more overs with spin, with Maxi [Glenn Maxwell] and Chahal [Yuzvendra Chahal]. So we missed the trick, and going forward, we will look into it,” Joshi remarked, indicating that the team would revisit their tactics for future matches.
PBKS, chasing a challenging total set by Rajasthan, struggled to find the necessary momentum with the bat. RR’s bowlers consistently applied pressure throughout, ensuring PBKS couldn’t recover. The spin duo of Maxwell and Chahal, who are usually key players for PBKS, bowled only a combined total of three overs during RR’s innings. This limited usage of spin came under the spotlight after the match, as the pitch conditions appeared to favor spinners.
With this loss, PBKS now find themselves in fourth place on the IPL 2025 points table with two wins and one defeat. Meanwhile, Rajasthan Royals continue their strong run, securing their second consecutive win, placing them in seventh position with two wins from two matches.
The defeat serves as a wake-up call for Punjab Kings, who will be looking to adjust their tactics and bounce back stronger in their upcoming matches.