The 18th Match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 lit up the Mullanpur night time on April fifth because the Punjab Kings took on the Rajasthan Royals in what was a high-energy contest with feelings flaring and tempers examined. PBKS skipper Shreyas Iyer received the toss and elected to bat first, setting the stage for a power-packed sport on the new cricketing hotspot in Punjab.
However whereas the batters from Rajasthan got here out swinging, it was a second of uncooked emotion from Sanju Samson that took heart stage. The Royals captain, identified for his calm and composed manner, shocked followers and pundits alike as he misplaced his cool after his dismissal — a uncommon sight that underscored the depth of the match.
Sanju Samson’s outburst after getting out to Lockie Ferguson
It was the ten.2 over of the innings. Rajasthan Royals have been cruising at 89 for no loss, with Sanju wanting in tremendous contact, having already cracked 6 boundaries in his 38 off 26. Then got here Lockie Ferguson, with fireplace in his eyes and tempo on his thoughts.
Ferguson bowled a full supply simply exterior off — nothing too extravagant, however sufficient to tempt. Samson, eyeing a boundary over mid-off, went for the lofted drive. However he didn’t get below it cleanly. The ball flew straight to PBKS skipper Iyer stationed at mid-off, who held on with ease.
What adopted was uncharacteristic and dramatic. Sanju, visibly pissed off, flung his bat towards mid-off in pure anger. It wasn’t aimed toward anybody, however the emotion was uncooked. He stormed off the sector together with his helmet nonetheless on, disillusioned not simply on the dismissal, however maybe at lacking a golden probability to publish an enormous one in a dominant place. The digital camera caught each second of it — a captain’s fury unveiled on the most important stage.
Right here’s the video:
A well timed wicket for #PBKS & Sanju’s response says all of it 🥲
Watch LIVE motion ➡ https://t.co/Ydn8W1CxFx#IPLonJioStar 👉 #PBKSvRR | LIVE NOW on Star Sports activities Community & JioHotstar! pic.twitter.com/Dz1bTMp0hU
— Star Sports activities (@StarSportsIndia) April 5, 2025
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Rajasthan Royals in command
Regardless of the emotional blow of shedding their captain, the Royals remained on track for a robust complete. On the finish of their 20 overs, Royals stood tall at 205/4 with Dhruv Jurel and Riyan Parag on the crease. Jaiswal was anchoring the innings superbly earlier than shedding his wicket to Ferguson with 67 off 45 deliveries, peppered with 2 fours and 5 sixes, placing at 148.88.
Riyan Parag too joined the occasion and scored 43 with Jurel contributing with fast cameo of 13 in simply 5 balls. The autumn of Sanju didn’t appear to gradual the Royals’ momentum, because the run price remained excessive at 10.25 runs per over.
PBKS struggles to include RR batters
Punjab Kings’ bowlers discovered little success within the opening overs. Arshdeep Singh and Marco Jansen have been costly early on, whereas Yuzvendra Chahal struggled to seek out management, leaking 32 runs in 3 overs with out a wicket. Ferguson, nonetheless, was the standout — not only for the wicket of Samson but in addition for his economical spell, conceding simply 32 runs in 4 overs and sustaining a decent leash together with his tempo. Glenn Maxwell, introduced in to shake issues up, bowled only one over for six runs, whereas Marcus Stoinis had an costly outing of 4 overs for 48 runs.
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