In what promises to be an exciting clash, the unbeaten Punjab Kings (PBKS) will take on Rajasthan Royals (RR) in Match 18 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. The encounter will be held at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, a venue known for its low-scoring thrillers and spin-friendly surface.

PBKS have made a dominant start to their campaign, registering victories in both of their opening matches. The team currently sits comfortably at the top of the points table and will be eager to maintain their winning momentum.

Rajasthan Royals, meanwhile, have had a shaky start to the season. With just one win from their first three games, the 2008 champions find themselves languishing near the bottom of the standings. A loss in this match could further dent their hopes of a strong comeback in the tournament.

PBKS vs RR Head-to-Head record

Matches played: 28 | Pbks won: 12 | RR won: 16

Match details: PBKS vs RR, IPL 2025

• Date and Time: April 5, 07:30 pm is / 2:00 pm GMT
• Venue: Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur, Chandigarh

Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium Pitch Report:

The Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, known for its tight, low-scoring T20 contests, poses a unique challenge for both batters and bowlers. In recent matches, the pitch has tended to support slower bowlers—especially wrist spinners and off-spinners—bringing a strategic edge to the upcoming clash. Batters will have to rely on solid technique and smart shot selection to find consistent success on this spin-friendly surface.

PBKS vs RR Dream11 Prediction Picks:

• Wicketkeepers: Sanju Samson, Prabhsimran Singh
• Batters: Shreyas Iyer, Yashasvi Jaiswal
• All-rounders: Glenn Maxwell, Marco Jansen, Riyan Parag, Wanindu Hasaranga, Nitish Rana
• Bowlers: Arshdeep Singh, Jofra Archer

PBKS vs RR Dream11 Prediction Captain and Vice-Captain:

• Choice 1: Shreyas iyer (c), Nitish Rana (VC)
• Choice 2: Sanju Samson (c), Glenn Maxwell (vc)

PBKS vs RR Dream11 Prediction Backups:

Shimron Hetmyer, Sandeep Sharma, Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis

PBKS vs RR Dream11 Team for today’s match (April 5, 7:30 pm IST):

Squads:

Rajasthan Royals: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson (C and WK), Nitish Rana, Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, Shimron Hetmyer, Wanindu Hasaranga, Jofra Archer, Maheesh Teekhana, Sandeep Sharama, Tushar Deshpande, Shubham Dubey, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Kunal Singh Rathore, Kumar Kartikyeya, Yudhvir Singh Charak, Kwena Maphaka, Ashok Sharma, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Akash Madhwal

Punjab Kings: Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh (WK), Shreyas Iyer (C), Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, Suryansh Shedge, Marco Jansen, Lockie Ferguson, Yuzvendra Chahal Singh, Nehal Wadhera, Praveen Dubey, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Vishnu Vinod, Harpreet Brar, Josh Inglis, Xavier Bartlett, Yash Thakur, Aaron Hardie, Azmatullah Omarzai, Kuldeep Senn, Kuldeep Sennoor Singh, Musheer Khan, Pyla Avinash