Adapting on the fly, Royals put on a show in Kings' den

In modern T20 cricket, high-scoring 200+ matches are increasingly common, while low-scoring games also surface occasionally. However, the most tactically rich contests are the ones that lie in between – multi-layered games that unfold over several phases. These are matches that demand a balanced execution across batting, bowling, and fielding.

IPL 2025's first match in Mullanpur falls into that third category. Rajasthan Royals' win over Punjab Kings was a game full of nuance, shaped by key moments and a well-rounded team performance across departments.

Royals' calculated build-up

The Royals were put in to bat at a venue where totals of 170 or more had been successfully defended in seven out of eight T20 matches prior to this game. They navigated the powerplay without losing a wicket, scoring 53 runs in the first six overs and adding another 32 in the next four to reach 85 at the halfway mark. Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sanju Samson focused on pacing the innings, laying a solid platform and setting their team up for a strong finish in the second half.

Kings' poor start

In contrast, Punjab Kings were blown away right at the start as a menacing Jofra Archer accounted for Priyansh Arya and Shreyas Iyer in the first over. Marcus Stoinis and Prabhsimran Singh also departed as PBKS lost four wickets inside the first seven overs without much on the board.

Royals' adaptability pays off

The Royals' win was a case study in adaptability – reading the pitch, adjusting batting tempos, rotating bowlers smartly, and never letting momentum slip away. Despite the margin of victory, it wasn't dominance but smart, calculated cricket that allowed them to outthink and outplay the Kings.

Key quotes

• "The way we started in the powerplay, we thought we were running a bit short but the quality of the batters we have got, 205 was a very good score on the board," – Sanju Samson
• "Credit goes to our batters who gave us an above-par score to defend. After that, credit goes to every bowler, especially Archer who took two wickets in the first over. He gave us an upper hand." – Sandeep Sharma