Resilient Nehal Wadhera, explosive Shashank Singh power Punjab revival

A pair of gritty and fluent half-centuries from Nehal Wadhera and Shashank Singh steered Punjab Kings to a formidable total of 219 for five against Rajasthan Royals in their IPL 2025 clash on Sunday. The duo’s counterattacking partnership lifted PBKS from a precarious position and ensured the team stayed firmly in the hunt for a playoff berth.

With 15 points already on the board, Punjab entered the match with momentum, but their innings got off to a stuttering start after being asked to bat first. By the fourth over, they found themselves reeling at 34 for three, courtesy of an incisive opening spell from Rajasthan pacer Tushar Deshpande. The right-arm seamer struck twice in quick succession, dismissing Priyansh Arya for nine and the in-form Prabhsimran Singh for a brisk 21, putting the Kings under early pressure.

However, Wadhera rose to the occasion with a commanding display of strokeplay. The left-hander played with a mix of composure and aggression, crafting a superb 70 off just 37 deliveries. His knock, laced with five boundaries and five towering sixes, injected life back into the innings. Wadhera first stitched together a 67-run stand with skipper Shreyas Iyer, who contributed a steady 30, providing the much-needed stability in the middle overs.

After Iyer’s departure, Wadhera continued to dominate alongside Shashank Singh, adding 58 crucial runs for the fifth wicket. Shashank carried the momentum forward after Wadhera’s dismissal, playing a blistering unbeaten knock of 59 off just 30 deliveries. His innings featured an array of powerful shots and was instrumental in pushing Punjab past the 200-run mark.

The well-paced recovery ensured that the early wickets did not derail PBKS’s plans. Their total of 219 gave the bowlers a solid platform to defend, especially on a surface that offered little margin for error.

On the team front, Rajasthan Royals welcomed the return of captain Sanju Samson, who came back into the XI after a brief injury layoff, replacing Nitish Rana. The Royals also made a strategic change in their bowling department, drafting in young South African left-arm pacer Kwena Maphaka in place of the experienced Jofra Archer.

As the match progressed, the stage was set for a high-octane run chase, with both teams eyeing valuable points in the race to the playoffs.

Brief Scores:

Punjab Kings 219/5 in 20 overs (Nehal Wadhera 70, Shashank Singh 59*; Tushar Deshpande 2/37) vs Rajasthan Royals

This article first appeared on Mid Day