Top 5 players to watch out for in the PBKS vs RR IPL 2025 match

The likes of Rajasthan Royals, Punjab Kings, and Delhi Capitals seem to flow under the radar amid the roaring fanfares behind CSK, MI, and RCB. However, in IPL history, RR and PBKS have staged some of the most thrilling battles. The hype behind the PBKS vs RR IPL 2025 match is amplified further by the unmatched performance of Punjab Kings. The team, with their new captain, Shreyas Iyer, at the fore, has seamlessly outclassed its opponents to remain unbeaten in the season so far. With Iyer in red-hot form and Arshdeep Singh headlining the bowling attack, PBKS looks poised for big things this season. However, RR seems to be lagging much behind in the tussle this edition, with only one win in the three matches they have played so far.

Key players to watch out for in the PBKS vs RR IPL 2025 match

Rajasthan Royals kicked off IPL 2025 with a heavy defeat as Sunrisers Hyderabad accumulated a 280+ total. With Sanju Samson playing only as a batter, coming in as an impact sub, Riyan Parag handled the captaincy in the three matches played so far by RR. After their 44-run defeat in the SRH vs RR IPL 2025 campaign opener, the IPL 2022 runners-up went on to lose their second consecutive match, this time against the defending champions by 8 wickets at their home ground in Guwahati. 

The massive nature of the defeats pushed RR to the bottom of the table early in the season. However, a breakthrough finally arrived when the team hosted Chennai Super Kings in Guwahati. In a tightly contested match, Rajasthan, with Sandeep Sharma at the fore, successfully defended 20 runs in the last over against MS Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja. Now, Sanju Samson is set to return in his full-time captaincy role as the team gears up for the PBKS vs RR IPL 2025 match.

PBKS, meanwhile, have stunned the audience so far with their all-round performance in the season. In two matches, Punjab Kings, with Shreyas Iyer in the lead, have collected commanding victories to sit at the top of the points table. In IPL history, RR boasts an edge with 16 victories in 28 matches. However, coming to the IPL 2025 clash, Punjab Kings arrive as the favorites for the victory. Meanwhile, RR will eye to build on their last win to keep the streak up and track their way back into the season.

Shreyas Iyer

Shreyas Iyer is redefining the famous "leading from the front" aspect of the game in the PBKS camp. In the GT vs PBKS IPL 2025 campaign opener, Iyer knocked an unbeaten 97-run score to push the total to 243 in the away fixture. While GT tried to fight back, the total proved too far to chase, as PBKS opened their campaign with an 11-run victory. In their next fixture, Iyer came with another spectacular knock, hitting another half-century, this time in the chase against LSG. With two half-centuries in two matches, Iyer has scored 149 runs at a strike rate of 206.94. Interestingly, Iyer is yet to get dismissed in IPL 2025, a feat RR bowlers will hope to beat in the PBKS vs RR match.

Arshdeep Singh

The leader of the bowling pack, Arshdeep has showcased his top-notch form in the season. The pace spearhead has scalped five wickets in two matches, with three of them coming in the LSG vs PBKS fixture. Now, as the team arrives at their home in Mullanpur to take their campaign forward, Arshdeep sits as one of the most crucial players to watch out for in the PBKS vs RR IPL 2025 match.

Prabhsimran Singh

While faltering at just 5 in the campaign opener against Gujarat Titans, the PBKS opener came through with a fiery 69-run knock in the team's last IPL 2025 clash. Firing right from the word go, the opening batter smashed three sixes and nine fours to claim his first fifty of the season. While he fell at 69 off 34, his knock up the top set the tone for Punjab's victory in the chase, completed by Iyer in just the 17th over. The batter is anticipated to keep up his form now that the team travels to the New Chandigarh venue, the home for the Punjab-based player. 

Sanju Samson

In an ordinary return by the team, none of the RR batters have come up with defining knocks in the season so far. Sanju Samson (66) and Dhruv Jurel (70) put up a mighty fight in the chase against SRH. However, their bats fell silent following the opening fixture. Now, with a clearance from the NCA, Samson is ready to return to his full-time role as the wicket-keeper and the captain of the side. In three matches, Samson has accumulated 99 runs at a strike rate of over 155.

Wanindu Hasaranga

Much like the batters, the RR bowlers have faced their share of significant struggles in the IPL season so far. However, after the thrashing by SRH in the opener, the bowlers have managed to pull back things in their favor, as evident in the RR vs CSK IPL 2025 fixture. Before things came down to the last over in the chase, Wanindu Hasaranga rattled the CSK batting lineup with a 4-fer, which included the crucial wicket of CSK skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad. The spinner is poised as a game-changer for Rajasthan Royals in the season ahead.