Rajasthan Royals showcased their batting firepower in emphatic style on Saturday by powering to a 50-run win over Punjab Kings in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season.
All six of the Royals batters had a strike rate of over 145, helping post a total of 205/4 and setting up a commanding win at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh.
Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar believes that the breakneck pace at which the Rajasthan players scored their runs was a game-changer.
“Five Rajasthan Royals batters scored at strike rates of 140, 160, 180 and 200. That’s the real secret to their success,” Manjrekar told JioHotstar after the match. “Sometimes you get a great start, but if no one follows it up, you fall short. That didn’t happen.”
Yashasvi Jaiswal (67 off 45 balls at a strike rate of 148.88) and Sanju Samson (38 off 26 balls at a rate of 146.15) laid the foundation for the Royals. But it was Riyan Parag’s unbeaten 25-ball 43 at a strike rate of 172.00 that helped the team finish with a flourish and Manjrekar was quick to underline the significance of the late onslaught.
“I really feel Riyan Parag’s innings was even more important for Rajasthan Royals. Yes, Jaiswal gave them a good start, but he was dismissed in the 14th over. After that, Parag took his time and I was a bit worried he might be going too slow, but then he exploded. He now knows and trusts that he can make up for a slower start,” he said.
“In the first 13 balls, his strike rate was just over 100. In the next 13–14 balls, it was touching 200. That innings is what put Rajasthan Royals in a great position. The moment he got width—you could see his strengths: shots down the ground, that helicopter-flick six over square leg,” Manjrekar added.
Shimron Hetmyer (20 off 12 balls at 166.66) and Dhruv Jurel (13* off five balls at 260.00) also scored briskly during their brief stays at the crease as Rajasthan became the first team to score 200 in the IPL in New Chandigarh.
While the batters set up the game, Rajasthan Royals' bowlers sealed it with a clinical performance, restricting Punjab Kings to 155/9 in the chase and Manjrekar noted that their bowling unit was also beginning to hit its stride, complementing the batting firepower.
“They’ve got a very interesting bowling combination as well. In (Jofra) Archer, one of the best new-ball bowlers; in Sandeep Sharma, one of the best death-over specialists; and players like Maheesh Theekshana in the middle overs are beginning to shine,” he said.
With two wins from four matches, the Royals are currently seventh in the IPL 2025 standings with four points and a net run rate of -0.185.
The Royals will take on Gujarat Titans next at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Wednesday.
