Rajasthan Royals defeated Punjab Kings by 50 runs, with Jofra Archer starring with 3/25 in a crucial IPL 2025 performance.
Archer rips through Punjab as Royals seal big IPL win
Jofra Archer delivered a vintage performance with the ball on Saturday night, helping Rajasthan Royals secure a dominant 50-run win over the previously unbeaten Punjab Kings in Mullanpur.
Heading into the match as slight underdogs across IPL betting sites, Rajasthan made an early statement after being sent in to bat first, racing to 4/205 thanks to a strong platform from openers Yashasvi Jaiswal (67 off 45) and Sanju Samson (38 off 26).
Their 89-run opening stand gave the Royals momentum, which was maintained through the middle overs by in-form Riyan Parag, who continued his bright 2025 IPL with a sparkling unbeaten 43 off 25 balls.
Cameos from Nitish Rana (12 off 7), Shimron Hetmyer (20 off 12), and Dhruv Jurel (13* off 5) ensured the Royals posted a par-plus total.
The Kings’ chase never got going, with Jofra Archer making an immediate impact in the opening over.
The English speedster dismissed Atharva Taide and Jonny Bairstow to leave Punjab in early trouble at 2/11, and never let up, finishing with figures of 3/25 from his four overs.
“Happy to contribute to the team,” Archer said post-match.
“When there are days like this, you got to make sure you cash in.
“Enjoy the good ones, take the bad ones in your stride. Every day is not going to be a great day, but on the good days, you have to enjoy because the bad day could be around the corner.”
Despite Nehal Wadhera’s fighting 62 off 41 balls and a brief cameo from Glenn Maxwell (30 off 21), Punjab’s innings lacked the depth to mount a serious challenge.
Their eventual total of 155/9 never threatened Rajasthan’s score, with wickets falling steadily and support lacking for the two main contributors.
The Royals’ win sees them move to 2-1 on the season, level on points with Royal Challengers Bengaluru but sitting seventh on the ladder due to a poor net run rate.
Cricket sportsbooks still have Rajasthan outside the main contenders for the 2025 IPL title, with Nags.bet listing them at +1200 .
Punjab, despite their first loss, remain high in the betting markets, with Picklebet placing them on the second line at +550 — just behind early favorites Sunrisers Hyderabad.
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