IPL 2025 | Harpreet Brar shines as Wadhera-Shashank power Punjab's playoff charge

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ByDebayan Sinha, SportsCafe Editor

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Punjab Kings beat Rajasthan Royals by 10 runs at Jaipur. Powered by quickfire fifties from Shashank Singh and Nehal Wadhera, Punjab posted 219/5 while the hosts fought hard with half-tons from Yashasvi Jaiswal and Dhruv Jurel, but Harpreet Brar’s three-wicket haul ensured a crucial win for Punjab.

‌The much-anticipated IPL action finally resumed with Rajasthan Royals taking on Punjab Kings at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium. Punjab skipper Shreyas Iyer won the toss and chose to bat first, but the decision didn’t yield early rewards. Their top-order crumbled inside the powerplay as Prabhsimran Singh, Priyansh Arya, and debutant Mitchell Owen were dismissed cheaply. However, Iyer and Nehal Wadhera stabilised the innings, taking the score to 97/3 by the 10-over mark. Just as the partnership looked promising, Iyer was dismissed by Riyan Parag in the 11th over. Wadhera, though, kept the momentum going with an aggressive half-century, reaching 50 off just 25 balls. Teaming up with Shashank Singh, Wadhera built a crucial 58-run stand that propelled Punjab to 159/4 in 16 overs. Wadhera eventually fell for a superb 70 off 37 deliveries, dismissed by Akash Madhwal. Shashank continued the charge, bringing up a brisk half-century off just 27 balls. His late flourish powered Punjab Kings to a strong total of 219/5 at the end of 20 overs. 

Playing for pride, Rajasthan Royals openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and Vaibhav Suryavanshi got off to a flying start, racing to 51/0 in just three overs. However, the blistering opening stand was broken in the fifth over when Harpreet Brar dismissed Suryavanshi. With Sanju Samson joining Jaiswal, the Royals kept the tempo high and finished the powerplay strongly at 89/1. Jaiswal continued his rich vein of form, bringing up a quickfire fifty off just 24 balls. But his innings came to an end in the ninth over, once again at the hands of Harpreet Brar. Skipper Sanju Samson, returning from injury, couldn’t make a big impact either and fell for 20 off 16 in the 11th over. Dhruv Jurel and Riyan Parag then took charge, guiding Rajasthan to 143/3 in 13 overs. With 77 needed off the final seven overs, all eyes were on the Jurel-Parag partnership. But Brar struck again, removing Parag in the 14th over to shift the momentum back in Punjab’s favour. Jurel kept Royals in the hunt with a gritty 41 off 25 balls, narrowing the equation to 41 required from the last three overs. However, the tide turned when Azmatullah Omarzai dismissed Shimron Hetmyer in the 18th over. Despite Jurel’s efforts to keep the chase alive, Arshdeep Singh bowled a brilliant 19th over, conceding just eight runs. With 22 needed off the final over, Marco Jansen held his nerve, claiming wickets on the third and fourth balls to all but seal the game. Though Kwena Maphaka struck back-to-back boundaries, it wasn’t enough as Punjab Kings clinched a 10-run win. The victory propelled Punjab Kings to second place on the points table with 17 points, inching them closer to a playoff berth.

RCB it is!

LOL!

Yupe!

He's so good!

Hilarious!

PBKS deserved it!

Good going!

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