Punjab Kings’ unbeaten run in IPL 2025 came to a halt on Saturday night with a 50-run defeat to Rajasthan Royals at the New PCA Stadium, Mullanpur.

Chasing a challenging target of 206, the Kings were restricted to 155/9 in their 20 overs. After a shaky start that saw the top order fall early, it was Nehal Wadhera who brought a sense of calm and control to the innings. The 24-year-old left-hander displayed maturity beyond his years, counter-attacking with purpose and stitching a vital partnership with Glenn Maxwell.


Wadhera reached his first half-century of the season in style, bringing it up in 33 balls with a clean six off Wanindu Hasaranga. His 62-run knock, laced with five boundaries and two maximums, gave Punjab a fighting chance. Alongside Maxwell (30), the pair added 66 runs for the fifth wicket, momentarily reviving hopes in the chase. However, both batters were dismissed in quick succession, leaving the lower order with too much to do in the final overs.

With the season still in its early stages, Punjab Kings will look to take the lessons from this defeat in stride and focus on making a strong comeback when they face Chennai Super Kings on April 8.