Rajasthan Royals gain the upper hand as former CSK pacer Tushar Deshpande rattles Punjab Kings’ batting lineup with two key wickets inside four overs
May 18, 2025: Match 59, IPL 2025 – Rajasthan Royals vs Punjab Kings | Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur
Punjab Kings’ decision to bat first after winning the toss backfired early as their top order crumbled against a fiery Rajasthan Royals pace attack. At 50/3 in just 5.2 overs, PBKS were left reeling after a flurry of wickets sparked by former CSK star Tushar Deshpande and debutant Kwena Maphaka.
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Tushar Deshpande struck twice, first removing Priyansh Arya for 9 and then sending Prabhsimran Singh back for a quickfire 21. Maphaka, brought in for the injured Jofra Archer, cleaned up debutant Mitchell Owen for a duck, showcasing composure under pressure.
Earlier, Prabhsimran Singh and Arya gave PBKS a bright start, smashing 11 runs off the opening over from Fazalhaq Farooqi. However, the momentum quickly shifted when Arya fell in the second over, triggering a collapse.
Punjab skipper Shreyas Iyer, who elected to bat, is now anchoring the innings with Nehal Wadhera after the early loss of three wickets. PBKS are desperate to stabilize after the initial jolt to keep their playoff hopes alive.
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Notably, the match began with the Indian national anthem as a tribute to armed forces, following recent border tensions.
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